Sony Interactive Entertainment is closing the chapter on Concord and Firewalk Studios. Originally announced as an exciting PvP shooter for the PlayStation 5, it encountered a crowded and demanding market environment from the outset. After just a few days, Sony shut down the servers and refunded the purchase price. Concord from the outset, it encountered a crowded and demanding market environment. After just a few days, Sony shut down the servers and refunded the purchase price, which clearly contradicted the expectations of a stable and long-term player base. For Firewalk Studios, this rapid setback was a bitter blow – a project that set itself high standards simply could not gain a foothold in a highly competitive genre.
CEO Hermen Hulst confirmed that Sony had explored extensive options to revive Concord , but ultimately without success. In addition to the general lack of interest among gamers in the market for PvP first-person shooters, Sony also cited the internal goals that were repeatedly missed during the course of development. While Sony values the developers involved and wants to offer them alternative jobs within the company, the failure of Concord primarily reflects the high expectations that weigh on manufacturers in the rapidly growing and demanding live service sector.
Sony’s change of strategy: the impact on the mobile sector
However, Sony is not limiting the restructuring process to Firewalk Studios. The mobile studio Neon Koi, previously known as Savage Game Studios, has also not been left untouched by the changes. Neon Koi, which Sony acquired in 2022, was originally intended to expand the PlayStation Mobile division. Now, Sony has decided to no longer support the studio and its existing projects. Instead, the company plans to focus more on mobile games that align with the core values of PlayStation Studios in its mobile gaming division.
These steps point to a major realignment that is intended to position the company specifically in its mobile and live service areas in particular.Sony With these decisions, Sony is showing that it is striving for long-term success with well-known brands while also endeavoring to meet challenges in an increasingly dynamic market environment.
