Sony has taken legal action against a fan project trying to revive Concord. This game, launched for PS5 and PC, was pulled from sale just two weeks after its release, reportedly selling fewer than 25,000 copies. Sony announced that the game would stay offline indefinitely while Firewalk Studios explored options for its future. Shortly after, Ryan Ellis, the game director, stepped down, and by October 2024, Firewalk Studios was shut down.
Fast forward to today, a group of dedicated developers has been working hard to get Concord back online. They’ve made progress, with the primary menu, character selection, and matchmaking functioning on private servers. One volunteer shared on the Concord Delta Discord, “The project is still WIP but playable, though buggy.”
They recently celebrated being able to play a match for the first time. “After a long time of reverse engineering and server development, we just managed to play a match of Concord!” the team announced. They plan to conduct private playtesting once their servers are fully set up, inviting others to join if they own the game files legitimately.
To comply with copyright laws, they’ve been careful not to share any unauthorized files, stating, “We will be removing any posts with links to copyrighted files.” They’ve emphasized their commitment to keeping this project legal, particularly in light of the legal scrutiny they’re facing. “Due to worrying legal action, we’ve decided to pause invites for the time being,” one developer explained.
Recently, this situation attracted attention in the UK’s House of Commons, where members discussed consumer protections in video gaming. Concord’s abrupt closure highlighted the need for stronger safeguards for players. One MP noted, “A recent example is Concord, released for PlayStation 5 and Windows in August 2024. After a disappointing launch, Sony made the decision to shut it down. While they refunded all purchases, this isn’t always guaranteed.”
Public sentiment around Concord has been mixed. Many gamers expressed disappointment over its closure, with some taking to social media to share their frustrations. In a survey conducted by IGN, 68% of gamers indicated a desire for better consumer rights regarding game preservation and refunds.
As fan-driven projects like this gain momentum, they continue to push the boundaries of gaming culture. However, the tension between these communities and big corporations like Sony raises critical questions about ownership and the future of gaming.
