Concord’s Struggles: A Case for Free-to-Play or Subscription-Based Model
Concord, a recently launched game, has faced significant challenges in gaining traction. Estimates suggest the game sold just 25,000 copies, with around 10,000 units on Steam and approximately 15,000 on PlayStation, according to analyst Simon Carless via IGN.
Current Player Metrics
While real-time player numbers on PlayStation are not accessible, Steam shows only 71 players online currently, with a peak of 151 concurrent players in the last 24 hours. Circana analyst Mat Piscatella noted that Concord ranked 147th in US PS5 daily active players, engaging fewer than 0.2 percent of Monday’s active PS5 users.
Analysts’ Perspectives
Several analysts approached by IGN attribute Concord’s poor launch to factors like inadequate marketing, a high price point, and a lack of uniqueness in an already crowded genre. Rhys Elliott from Midia Research commented, “A tight-knit group of players might be willing to take a chance on a new game for free, but paying $40 is a big ask in today’s macroeconomic climate.”
He added, “Launching Concord as a premium game limited its audience numbers and user acquisition. The more people who play a game, the more appealing it is. Network effects are crucial for building a healthy, engaged ecosystem.”
Sales and Player Engagement
At launch, only 660 people played Concord on Steam, highlighting the game’s struggle to attract a significant player base. Analysts suggest that launching as a free-to-play game or as part of the PlayStation Plus subscription could have given Concord a better chance in its competitive genre.
“First impressions matter,” noted one analyst, suggesting it’s not too late for Concord to pivot to a different model, though the initial damage might already be done.
Review and Future Prospects
Eurogamer gave Concord three out of five stars, acknowledging its flaws but also its potential. The review stated, “The question now, given Concord’s allegedly poor uptake among players, is whether we’ll get to see that. I for one hope we do. Concord may be a flawed game, but it is far from a hopeless one.”
The review also emphasized that while the game currently misses the mark as a ‘hero’ shooter, heroes are ultimately defined by their actions, hinting at potential future improvements.
