Concord, a team-based shooter released by Sony on both PS5 and PC, has not made the impact that was expected of it. Despite being a first-party PlayStation game, the player numbers on Steam have been disappointing, with the game failing to break 700 concurrent players in its first weekend. This is a stark contrast to other games released around the same time, such as Galaxy Burger, which had more than four times the number of players on Steam.
The lackluster performance of Concord on Steam has raised concerns about its overall success. With only 444 reviews on Steam, analysts estimate that the game may have sold around 22,000 units on the platform. While sales numbers on PlayStation are not yet known, it is speculated that they may be three times higher than on Steam, bringing the total revenue to around $3.5 million.
One of the main reasons for Concord’s underwhelming reception could be attributed to its lack of novelty and engaging characters. Compared to popular titles like Apex Legends and Overwatch 2, Concord’s roster of characters falls short in terms of diversity and personality. Additionally, the $40 price point may have deterred potential players who have access to similar games for free.
Despite Concord’s struggles, Sony has had a successful year overall with other titles like Helldivers 2 and Stellar Blade performing well commercially. The strategy of bringing PlayStation exclusives to PC has also been fruitful, with games like Horizon Forbidden West and Ghost of Tsushima receiving positive feedback and strong sales numbers.
Looking ahead, Sony has more blockbuster PC ports planned for the year, including God of War: Ragnarök and an Until Dawn remake. The company also has new first-party games lined up for release, such as Astro Bot and Lego Horizon Adventures. Additionally, the PlayStation Portal accessory has been a surprise hit, exceeding sales expectations and becoming the best-selling games accessory of the year.
On the hardware front, Sony has seen success with the PS5, selling nearly 7 million units in the first half of the year. The PlayStation Portal and PS VR2 have also seen increased sales, indicating a positive trend for Sony’s hardware offerings. Rumors of a PS5 Pro release later this year have also generated excitement among gamers, suggesting that Sony’s momentum is set to continue in the coming months.
In conclusion, while Concord may have stumbled out of the gate, Sony’s overall performance in 2024 has been strong. With a lineup of successful games, promising hardware sales, and exciting new releases on the horizon, Sony is poised to maintain its position as a leading player in the gaming industry.
