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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on October 29, 2024, that it would permanently sunset Concord and close Firewalk Studios, the game’s developer. Sony said the game had not attracted enough players in a competitive player-versus-player shooter market, despite strengths in some of its elements.
What happened to Concord and Firewalk Studios?
Sony’s decision unfolded in two stages. First, Concord went offline in September while Sony stopped sales and offered refunds. On October 29, Sony made the shutdown permanent and announced Firewalk Studios’ closure.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 3, 2024 | Firewalk game director Ryan Ellis announced that Concord would go offline beginning September 6. Sales would cease, and Sony would issue full refunds to buyers on PS5 and PC. |
| September 6, 2024 | Concord went offline. |
| October 29, 2024 | Sony announced that Concord was permanently sunset and Firewalk Studios would close. |
Why did Sony close Firewalk and sunset Concord?
Sony’s stated reason was that the game did not bring in enough players. In its October 29 announcement, Hermen Hulst, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Studio Business Group, said some aspects of Concord were exceptional, while others “did not land with enough players.” He described PvP first-person shooters as a competitive, continually evolving genre and said Sony had not met its targets with the game.
Hulst said Sony had spent considerable time exploring options before deciding that permanently sunsetting the game and closing the studio was the best path forward. In September, Ellis had similarly said the launch and some elements of the experience had not landed as intended.
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Those statements explain Sony’s public rationale, but they are not a detailed independent postmortem. Sony’s announcements did not provide sales totals, player counts, development budget, or a full account of internal decisions.
Did Sony refund Concord players?
Yes. Sony’s September 3 notice said it would provide full refunds to people who purchased Concord on PS5 or PC. For purchases through the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Direct, refunds were to go to the original payment method. Sony warned at the time that a refund could take 30–60 days to appear on a bank statement; that was the 2024 notice’s guidance, not a current estimate for an individual refund claim.
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Can you still play Concord?
No. Sony said the game was taken offline on September 6, 2024, and permanently sunset it on October 29. The official announcements establish that the game’s service ended; they do not describe later unofficial means of access.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What happened to Firewalk’s staff?
Sony said it would seek opportunities to place some people affected by the Firewalk and Neon Koi closures within its global studio community where possible. The announcement did not say how many people would be placed or establish their later employment outcomes.
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