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PlayStation’s Concord Struggles on Steam with Low Player Count
PlayStation's latest foray into the first-person hero shooter genre, Concord, has had a rocky start on Steam. Launched on August 23, the game has faced significant challenges, with fewer than 700 concurrent players on its debut day. Despite this, the 200+ users who have reviewed the game have generally given it high ratings.
A Rough Start for Concord
Concord’s launch has been disappointing in terms of player engagement. The game peaked at just 697 concurrent players, according to SteamDB, and the low player count is notable for a first-party PlayStation title. For comparison, Overwatch 2, despite its controversial reception, maintains an average daily player count of around 55,000.
The game’s open beta, held in July, did little to boost its prospects. The beta's lukewarm reception among PC gamers set a low expectation for the full release. Many players feel that Concord would have fared better as a free-to-play title, similar to competitors like Overwatch 2 and Valorant. Instead, Concord launched with a $39.99 price tag, which may have contributed to its lackluster performance.
Timing and Competition
One possible reason for the low player count is Concord’s release timing. The game launched just days before significant content updates for Destiny 2 and Overwatch 2, and shortly before the first Black Ops 6 beta weekend. With gamers already invested in these major titles, Concord might have struggled to capture attention.
Future Prospects
The low initial player count is a tough blow for both Firewalk Studios and PlayStation, particularly considering the game’s nearly decade-long development. Despite the rough start, Firewalk Studios' developer Jon Weisnewski has expressed commitment to supporting the game “for years to come.” However, with the gaming industry’s history of studio closures and layoffs, Concord’s future could be precarious if it doesn’t see a significant boost in player numbers soon.
For now, Concord remains a cautionary tale of how even high-profile launches can falter in a crowded market, especially when faced with strong competition and a high price point.