Concord’s Beta Numbers: A Shiny Facade Hiding a Troubling Core
Firewalk Studios’ upcoming multiplayer shooter, Concord, is set to launch on August 23rd for PC and PS5. Despite the looming release date, the game has been met with a considerable amount of skepticism from the gaming community. Recent revelations about the game’s beta testing phase have only served to intensify these concerns.
Boasting Empty Numbers
In a bid to generate positive buzz around Concord, Firewalk Studios released a set of statistics highlighting player achievements during the open beta. The numbers are impressive, to say the least. Players captured over 537,000 zones, unlocked 1.7 million in-game rewards, and racked up a staggering 12.3 million kills. The data further revealed Theo as the most popular character, followed by Heimar and Lennox.
However, these figures paint a misleading picture of the game’s popularity. What’s conspicuously absent from the report is the most crucial metric of all: the number of concurrent players.
A Player Count Problem
Behind the curtain of impressive in-game achievements lies a stark reality: Concord struggled to attract a significant player base during its open beta. At its peak, the game managed to garner a mere 2,000 concurrent players on Steam. This is a disheartening figure for a game that aspires to be a major contender in the competitive multiplayer shooter market.
A low player count is a serious issue for any online game. It can lead to long matchmaking times, unbalanced gameplay, and ultimately, a decline in player interest. Concord’s beta numbers suggest that these problems could be exacerbated upon full release.
A Potential Free-to-Play Pivot?
Given the underwhelming performance of Concord during the beta, there’s growing speculation that Sony might consider shifting the game to a free-to-play model. This strategy has proven successful for other struggling multiplayer titles, as it can help to boost player numbers and generate revenue through in-game purchases.
While a free-to-play model could potentially revitalize Concord, it’s important to note that it’s not a guaranteed solution. To succeed, the game would need to offer compelling free-to-play mechanics and avoid predatory monetization practices.
Concord faces an uphill battle as it approaches its launch date. The game’s low player count during the beta is a significant red flag that should not be ignored. While Firewalk Studios may have succeeded in crafting an engaging core gameplay loop, the lack of player interest could ultimately doom the project.
Sony and Firewalk Studios must carefully consider their next steps. Addressing the game’s player count issues will be crucial to its long-term success. Whether they choose to refine the paid model or transition to free-to-play, they must prioritize creating a thriving online community.
