Despite recent failures, Playstation wants fans to know that has no intention of abandoning the live service model. Sony’s controversial decision to double down on gaming as a service has been confusing, as it has managed to strike gold with titles like Helldivers 2 while also delivering some instant flops, like the ill-fated Concordia. However, these declines have not affected the company’s business plan, as it intends to maintain its current strategy and views its less successful efforts as opportunities for improvement.
Put GamesRadar+Sony executive Hiroki Totoki recently explained to investors, through a translator, that the company is “still in the learning process” about the live service modelremembering that the launch of new IP is always successful and Concordia probably required more pre-launch preparation:
So, probably, we need to have many doors, including user testing and internal evaluationand the timing of such gates, we need to anticipate them. We should have made these gates much sooner than we did [for Concord]. And also, we have an isolated organization, going beyond the limits of that organization in terms of development and also sales – I think it could have been much smoother.
Totoki continues to explain this more tests should have been carried out to ensure that Concordia would resonate with players. With more pre-release reviews, there’s a chance the hero shooter would have fared better, but even with those measures, that seems doubtful.
Concord was doomed to fail
A tragedy for Firewalk Studios
Despite Totoki’s claims that more quality “gates” would have improved ConcordiaTo increase the chances of success, the game was already fighting an uphill battle after its first gameplay trailers. Firewalk Studios was trying to break into the hero shooter genre, which is already saturatedwith a premium title that lacked many features seen in its free competitors. Regardless of the title’s overall polish, the gameplay itself felt undercooked and significantly less enjoyable than something like Surveillance 2.
Concordia was also widely criticized for the design of its main cast of characters with many complaining that the cast didn’t look heroic. Just two weeks after its release, Sony pulled the plug, providing everyone who purchased the game with a full refund. Firewalk Studios insisted it was working on a way to meet player demands, but this was put to rest when PlayStation confirmed it had no plans to re-release. Concordia.
PlayStation’s live service strategy is risky
Gamers just don’t want that
To stand out as a live service game, studios need to offer players an experience they won’t find elsewhere: That’s why Helldivers 2 proved to be a great success. I think PlaystationThe attempt to enter the hero shooter market was doomed from the start, as ConcordiaThe core experience of wasn’t unique enough to justify playing it over something else. I’m not a fan of the games-as-a-service model, and I hope Sony realizes that while some may be successful, most gamers don’t have the time to devote to multiple live service experiences.
Source: GamesRadar+