Sony's Shooter Game, Concord, Fails to Find an Audience

Sony’s recently launched multiplayer shooter, Concord, has been generating a lot of discussion online. However, the conversation is not about the game’s popularity, but rather its failure to attract players. Despite being a high-profile Sony first-party game, Concord has struggled to gain traction, particularly evident in its shockingly low Steam concurrent player numbers at launch. Since its debut on August 23, the game has only managed to gather 697 Steam concurrent players, with little to no increase since then. This poor performance is reflected on the PlayStation side as well, with Concord ranking 147th in US PS5 daily active players, accounting for less than 0.2% of the total player base.

So, what went wrong? Was Concord simply not selling well? According to industry analysts, the answer unfortunately is yes. With such abysmal numbers, there is no denying the game’s poor performance. The lack of sales can be attributed to a combination of factors, including inadequate marketing, a high price point, and a lack of differentiation in an already saturated genre.

Experts agree that Sony failed to effectively promote Concord, leading to low awareness and purchase intent among potential players. Promotional efforts were limited, with minimal web placements and lack of visibility across major retailers. Additionally, the game’s $40 price tag was considered too high, especially when competing against popular free-to-play games. This pricing strategy, coupled with the reluctance of players to switch from their current games due to time and monetary investments, further contributed to Concord’s failure.

Furthermore, the hero shooter market is already well-served, with games like Apex Legends, Valorant, and Overwatch 2 capturing players’ attention with unique gameplay features. Concord’s lack of differentiation in this crowded space made it challenging for the game to stand out and attract a dedicated player base.

In conclusion, Concord’s underwhelming sales can be attributed to poor marketing, a high price point, and a failure to differentiate itself within a saturated genre. While the game’s production quality and gameplay may be commendable, it seems that these factors alone are not enough to guarantee success in today’s competitive gaming landscape.

Additional Facts:
– Concord was developed by Sony Interactive Entertainment’s San Diego studio.
– The game was released only on the PlayStation 5 and PC platforms.
– Sony had high hopes for Concord as it was positioned as a flagship title for the PlayStation 5.
– The multiplayer shooter genre is highly competitive, with many established and popular games already dominating the market.
– Sony had previously experienced success with multiplayer shooters like the “Killzone” and “Resistance” series, but Concord failed to replicate that success.
– Reviews for Concord have been mixed, with critics praising the game’s visuals and mechanics but criticizing its lack of innovation and overall excitement.

Key Questions and Answers:
1. What are the reasons behind Concord’s failure to attract players?
– Inadequate marketing efforts, high price point, and lack of differentiation in a saturated genre are the primary factors contributing to Concord’s failure.
2. How did Sony’s promotional efforts fall short?
– Sony’s promotional efforts were limited, with minimal web placements and a lack of visibility across major retailers. This led to low awareness and purchase intent among potential players.
3. What impact did the high price have on Concord’s sales?
– The game’s $40 price tag was considered too high, especially when compared to popular free-to-play games in the same genre. This deterred potential players from purchasing Concord.
4. Why did Concord struggle to stand out among its competitors?
– The hero shooter market is already well-served by games like Apex Legends, Valorant, and Overwatch 2, which offer unique gameplay features. Concord’s lack of differentiation made it difficult for the game to attract a dedicated player base.

Advantages:
– Concord boasts commendable production quality and gameplay mechanics.
– The game is available on both PlayStation 5 and PC platforms, offering cross-platform multiplayer.

Disadvantages:
– Poor marketing and promotional efforts resulted in low awareness and purchase intent.
– The $40 price point was deemed too high, deterring potential players.
– Concord’s lack of differentiation within the competitive hero shooter genre made it challenging for the game to attract players.