Failed Concord's leaked build: a look behind the scenes of Firewalk Studios' closed shooter
A development build of the failed Concord game, which was made by Sony Interactive Studios and Firewalk Studios, has leaked online. This build, called FWChaos, was created on 14 November 2023. If this date is accurate, it means that the build was assembled nine months before the game's scheduled launch in August 2024.
Here's What We Know
VGC has already uploaded the build and confirmed its authenticity. When launching the game, you are taken to the login screen, which cannot be bypassed. However, the build uploader also added an .ini file that allows access to the developer menu. After applying it, the game is loaded into the menu.
From this point on, the player cannot move on, as no Freegunners appear on the screen, making it impossible to select a character. However, it is at least possible to enter the pause menu and from there access the Main Menu, where numerous sections can be viewed.
This includes a partially completed Galactic Guide, which provides information about the various planets in the galaxy, as well as a Crew section where you can find information about the 16 playable characters and their costume options. There is also a Job Board, which contains only placeholder text, and a Store option that does not work. In addition, there is a Settings menu with options for developers, such as Developer Matchmaking and a style guide for the game's various fonts.
Given the game's online requirements, it currently appears to be impossible to go beyond these screens or select "Freegunner" for the game. This means that, unless enthusiasts find a way to run the full game, these incomplete menus are all that the build provides.
Only two weeks after its release last August, Sony announced plans to disconnect Concord from the network, withdraw the game from sale, and offer refunds to all players who purchased it. The reason given was "poor player response".
At the time, Sony said that it would explore the possibility of bringing the game back in a revised form. However, a month later, PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst confirmed that the company had decided not to move forward with the title.
The game's developer, Firewalk Studios, was subsequently closed. Firewalk was founded in 2018 and acquired by Sony in 2023. Concord, its debut game, was reportedly in development for around eight years. The title received "mixed to average" reviews, with a Metacritic score of 62 for PS5 and 65 for PC. According to some reports, the PS5 and PC game may have sold as few as 25,000 copies.
Source: VGC
