Summary
- Beta tests suggest upcoming PS5 console exclusive game Concord may struggle to attract players, with low interest on PC.
- Despite good gameplay and visuals, Concord's $40 price tag and PSN account requirement hinder potential success.
- Swap to a free-to-play model could be key to Concord's success, but maybe good word-of-mouth could help it build a player base.
Upcoming PlayStation 5 console exclusive game Concord may not stand much of a chance at drawing an audience, if its beta tests have been any indication. Concord was first announced at the end of May. A hero-shooter game in the vein of Blizzard's Overwatch, Concord features impressive graphics and an aesthetic that has been clearly inspired by Guardians of the Galaxy. As someone that has played the beta quite a bit, I can attest that Concord is also a straight-up great video game, with solid gunplay, intense fights, and a roster of characters equipped with fun abilities.
I personally have greatly enjoyed the Concord beta tests, but it seems that the game has simply been unable to drum up much interest. It's unclear how many people have been playing the Concord beta on PS5, but the interest is just not there when it comes to the PC version. According to SteamDB, the Concord Steam beat peaked at 2,388 concurrent players, which is abysmal considering the latest test was an open beta available to everyone regardless if they've pre-ordered. Now, it's entirely possible that the game has performed significantly better on PlayStation, but we do not have any numbers pointing in that direction.
Overwatch 2's New Support Hero Couldn't Have Come at a Worse Time for Concord
Overwatch 2's new Support hero is exciting for fans of the game, but she couldn't have come at a worse time for Concord.
The original Concord beta was only available to those that either pre-ordered the game or had a PlayStation Plus account handy. Considering these restrictions, it's not all that surprising it wasn't played by that many PC gamers. However, the second Concord beta was completely free and even came with an extra map and mode that weren't available in the original test. The fact that PC gamers still couldn't be bothered to play Concord is troubling, especially since the game is a multiplayer-only live-service title that will live and die by its player count. If PC gamers weren't willing to try Concord while it was free, it seems hard to believe that they will decide to commit $40 to buying the game come its August 23 launch.
Concord's Player Count on PC Hasn't Been Great
Despite being a live-service game, Concord costs $40, which is a questionable decision, to say the least. Combine this with the fact that Concord requires PC gamers to have a PlayStation account, and it's clear why many on the platform are seemingly deciding to skip the game. It doesn't help that Concord's character designs have been widely criticized. It seems that many are simply not willing to give Concord much of a chance, which is a shame. I think that if people actually played the game, a lot of them would like it, but the trick is getting people to play it to begin with.
Based on the interest shown to its beta tests, Concord may never have a chance to get off the ground. Shifting to a completely free-to-play set-up might help the game, but otherwise it's hard to see how it will be all that successful. Maybe word of mouth will help Concord reach a larger audience, but as someone that loved the beta tests, I am worried that the game may not have much of a shelf life.
Concord
- Released
- August 23, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
Assemble your crew of Freegunner space outlaws and team up online with friends for thrilling 5v5 PVP modes across the galaxy in Concord.
Concord is a new team-based first-person shooter for PS5® and PC*. Handpick your personal roster of Freegunners from the crew of the Northstar – a group of outlaws and adventurers working as guns-for-hire.
ASSEMBLE YOUR CREW
From powerful mystics to skilled gunslingers and helpful healers, each Freegunner brings their own unique skills, personality, and abilities that cater to a wide-range of playstyles.
Create your own custom squads of Freegunners with Crew Builder to bring an arsenal of different role types to the match or focus on your favourite characters to master their gameplay and unlock unique modifiers, cosmetics, background lore, and more – you decide when to play your characters and how you impact the match.
PLAY. PROGRESS. PERSONALIZE.
Earn and unlock a wide range of character customization items and learn more about the characters, worlds, and factions in the Concord Galaxy with the Galactic Guide.
You’ll also be able to progress toward and unlock Freegunner Variants—versions of each of the 16 Freegunners with added Combat Trait modifiers to their base abilities. As you learn and master the characters, Combat Traits empower you to tailor each character to your playstyle.
