Concord, a video game developed by Firewalk Studios and acquired by Sony Interactive Entertainment, has been the subject of much discussion following its shutdown just two weeks after launch. Sources claim that the game had a budget of $400 million, a figure that has been met with skepticism by some industry insiders. Colin Moriarty, owner of the Last Stand collection of gaming podcasts, cited a source involved in the game’s development who claimed the real cost was approximately $400 million.
However, Ethan Gach from Kotaku reported that he could not confirm the budget. At the same time, Christopher Dring, head of GamesIndustry.biz, expressed doubts, noting that “no game has that dev budget” and highlighting that Concord didn’t receive any significant marketing funds. Tom Warren from The Verge also pointed out the improbability of the figure when considering the funding history of the studio ProbablyMonsters. Despite the controversy, Moriarty defended his source, asserting that the provided information checked out.
Concord’s budget skepticism and controversy
Beyond the financials, the culture at Firewalk Studios may have also contributed to Concord’s downfall. Moriarty described a “dev culture of ‘toxic positivity'” where negative feedback was essentially discouraged, a detail corroborated by Gach.
Some sources attributed this mindset to residual influences from the studio’s origins at Bungie, fostering a belief that the talented team could not fail. Internally referred to as a “Star Wars-like project” and anticipated to be “the future of PlayStation,” Concord was seen as a high-stakes endeavor. It was notably considered a priority for Hermen Hulst, CEO of Sony Interactive.
As industry watchers continue to debate the facts, further details and insider accounts may eventually shed more light on the true story behind Concord’s demise. The game’s failure highlights the often-hidden struggles within large development teams and the dangers of ignoring critical feedback in the face of high expectations.
