Threads
- Concord has failed as a major PlayStation launch, but it seems everyone is interested in standing up for it.
- Instead of acknowledging its flaws, media outlets are rallying in support of the hero shooter.
- This is the opposite of what happened with Redfall and Starfield, highlighting a big problem.
There’s no point beating around the bush. PlayStation’s Concord is a massive failure, perhaps the biggest a first-party team has produced in many years. You need only look at the Steam concurrent player counts for proof; the game is already on its last legs a week after release.
While player counts were never high, to begin with, I wouldn’t be shocked if this hero shooter soon began to consistently stay in double-digit figures on Steam. To nobody’s surprise, this failure has earned Firewalk and PlayStation a lot of criticism.
A bad game is, after all, just that and deserves criticism. However, it seems gaming journalists have a different energy this time around. Where Starfield and Redfall were lambasted for their failures and shamed publicly for their flaws, I’m seeing cries for sympathy in Concord’s case. In my opinion, this is a classic case of hypocrisy.
Why it matters: Objectivity is crucial to journalism, and it becomes a real problem when the industry begins to take obvious sides.
The Concord Apologists
First, let me set the record straight. I have nothing against Firewalk or any developers who worked on PlayStation’s hero shooter. For all my problems with the game, I don’t blame the developers or believe in unwarranted personal attacks.
I would hope that most journalists hold a similar opinion. It boggles my mind, then, that gaming media is approaching PlayStation’s failure with such a different angle. Consider this story for instance; it basically asks you to overlook Concord’s failure.
Before you accuse me of ignoring the nuance of this write-up, let me remind you that it comes from the same outlet that repeatedly reminded its audience about Starfield and Redfall’s failures.
Should Arkane Austin and Bethesda’s developers not be given the same benefit of the doubt? Why is the media so reluctant to call out Concord’s failure when it was parading reports of Redfall’s dwindling player counts?
It was all fun and games then, but the situation suddenly demands more nuance now? If this isn’t hypocrisy, I don’t know what is. I don’t mean to target a specific outlet or person; this is a broader problem that impacts everyone across the industry.
Look no further than this story from a different outlet that hopes you will give Concord another chance. Or this tweet that implies the game isn’t doing as bad as you might be led to believe. This analyst reports otherwise.
A Bad Game Is Still A Bad Game
As much as gaming media would have you believe, there is no secret behind Concord’s failure. The game is bland, uninspired, and about eight years too late to the hero shooter party.
It doesn’t help that Firewalk’s ambitions align with the free-to-play market, while PlayStation has slapped a $40 price tag on the hero shooter. Oh, and let’s not forget that this hero shooter has the same regional limitation on Steam that recent PlayStation games have been impacted by. (I still can’t play Helldivers 2 – thanks, Sony!)
The media can praise Firewalk’s work all it wants, but at the end of the day, the results paint a clearer picture of the situation. The same was true for the likes of Suicide Squad and Skull and Bones – I don’t remember anybody coming to their defense.
Keep The Same Energy
With how things currently are in the gaming industry, compassion is needed for all developers without exceptions. These professionals, often overworked and underpaid, spend countless hours contributing to a medium we all love.
I agree with the sentiment that audiences should not be so quick to dismiss a game or declare it dead.
However, no exceptions should be made in this regard. Whether it be Starfield, Redfall, Concord, or even Suicide Squad, it’s important to treat each game with an objective and fair perspective.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔
[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
Join Our Community
