Thursday, 3 April 2025
31.1 C
Singapore
36.4 C
Thailand
26.7 C
Indonesia
28.6 C
Philippines

Sony’s latest big game, Concord, struggles to find an audience

Sony's new game Concord struggles to attract players, raising concerns over its future. Numbers suggest it could be one of 2024's biggest flops.

Sonyโ€™s latest big release, Concord, hit the shelves last week on PS5 and PC. Despite being an exciting and visually impressive online shooter, the game appears to be struggling, with early numbers suggesting that very few people are playing it.

A promising start followed by disappointing numbers

Concord was first introduced with a brief teaser last year, followed by a more detailed reveal in May through a CG trailer that didnโ€™t resonate with fans. However, a subsequent gameplay video showed more promise. This sci-fi PVP online-only FPS isnโ€™t free-to-play, with a US$40 price tag attached. During the beta phase in July, there were concerns about how the price might affect its reception in a crowded market. Now, with the game officially out, the numbers are in, and Concord could be one of the most disappointing launches of 2024.

Concord launched on both PC via Steam and PS5, giving us a clear view of its performance. Steam.db, a website that tracks player numbers on Steam, paints a grim picture of Sonyโ€™s new shooter.

Barely anyone is playing Concord on Steam

As of August 26, Concord has yet to surpass 1,000 concurrent players on Steam. The highest number of players recorded at once is just 697. For comparison, another PlayStation-published co-op shooter, Helldivers 2, averages around 18,000 active players daily, with a peak of 450,000. Even Valveโ€™s unfinished shooter, Deadlock, has over 80,000 players.

While itโ€™s important to note that a high player count isnโ€™t the only measure of a gameโ€™s success, it is crucial for an online-only multiplayer shooter like Concord, which relies on a robust player base to function. On PS5, where Sony does not publicly share player data, the gameโ€™s performance can be gauged by its position on PlayStationโ€™s best-seller list. Concord currently sits at 37th on the PSN best-sellers list, which is underwhelming for a new PlayStation exclusive.

This ranking might be acceptable for a game from a smaller publisher, but Concord is Sonyโ€™s latest exclusive, and itโ€™s not resonating with players as much as previous hits like God of War and The Last of Us have.

Whatโ€™s next for Concord?

So, whatโ€™s Concord’s future? Itโ€™s unclear, but there are some possible moves Sony might make. One likely scenario is the introduction of free weekends to encourage more people to try the game. However, it might also be time for Sony to acknowledge that the US$40 price tag was a misstep. The game could be re-released as a free-to-play title or offered free to all PS Plus subscribers for a limited time.

Without a significant shift in strategy, Concord risks fading into obscurity, leaving only a small group of dedicated fans still playing in the coming weeks.

Hot this week

Uwant D500 Pro Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner review: Designed for comfort and ease of use

The Uwant D500 Pro Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner offers powerful suction, real-time sterilisation, and ergonomic design for effortless cleaning. With self-cleaning, AI-powered drying, and intuitive controls, it ensures a seamless, low-maintenance experience for modern homes.

China-aligned hacker group FamousSparrow resurfaces in cyberattacks

ESET finds China-linked hacker group FamousSparrow still active with upgraded tools, targeting institutions in the US, Mexico and Honduras.

Anthropic introduces Claude for Education, a new AI chatbot plan for universities

Anthropic launches Claude for Education, an AI chatbot plan for universities that offers advanced learning tools and administration support.

RedCurl group linked to new ransomware strain in first documented attack

Bitdefender uncovers RedCurl's first ransomware campaign, revealing QWCrypt's unique tactics and the group's evolving cyber threat model.

Microsoft removes Windows 11 loophole for skipping account setup

Microsoft is blocking a well-known workaround that lets you set up Windows 11 without a Microsoft account, enforcing stricter installation rules.

YouTube expands shopping affiliate programme in Singapore through Shopee partnership

YouTube teams up with Shopee to launch its Shopping affiliate programme in Singapore, giving creators new ways to monetise their content.

Misconceptions about STEM careers continue to deter young women in Singapore

New research shows stereotypes and lack of support are deterring young women from STEM careers, posing a risk to Singaporeโ€™s innovation goals.

Synagie and HKT launch ShopHK to help Hong Kong brands expand into Southeast Asia

Synagie and HKT launch ShopHK, helping Hong Kong SMEs tap into Southeast Asia's booming US$600 billion e-commerce market.

Informatica introduces new AI features to boost cloud data integration and management

Informatica adds AI tools to simplify data integration and improve enterprise access to AI-ready data across its cloud platform.

Related Articles