Concord
News, coverage and analysis tracking Concord across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Just like Concord, Highguard is checking out; will Marathon go the same way?
The article discusses the challenges faced by games like Concord and Highguard, suggesting they may suffer a similar fate to Marathon due to premature grand launches without sufficient traction. It criticizes the generic visual identity of such games and advocates for a more humble, gradual development approach.
Marathon PS5 User Reviews Remarkably Positive After String of Live Service Disasters
Marathon has received a largely positive user reception on the PlayStation Store and Steam, with a 4.77 rating from 3k reviews on PS Store and 'Very Positive' on Steam. This contrasts with the mixed reviews for other recent live service shooters like Highguard and Concord. While player retention remains to be seen, Marathon had a strong launch day player count on Steam.
Highguard Shutdown Proves Sony’s Live-Service Strategy Is Failing
The shutdown of Highguard highlights Sony's struggling live-service strategy, with players and critics pointing to a market oversaturated with online-only games. This trend is blamed for studio layoffs and a lack of compelling single-player exclusives on PlayStation 5, despite the success of narrative-driven titles like The Last of Us and Elden Ring.
List of Games That Shut Down Soon After Launch
This article lists several live-service games that experienced extremely short lifespans after launch, with some shutting down within days or weeks due to low player counts or negative reception. Notable examples include The Day Before (4 days), The Culling 2 (8 days), and Concord (14 days), highlighting the challenges of sustaining online games in a competitive market.
Highguard will shut down just 45 days after launch — 'We are witnessing the era of two month lifespan…
Wildlight Entertainment has announced that its online shooter Highguard will shut down on March 12, 2026, just 45 days after its January 26, 2026 launch. The studio cited an inability to build a sustainable player base despite over two million players engaging with the game. This closure follows a trend of high-profile live-service game failures, including Sony's Concord.
Highguard has raided its last fortress, will shutdown on March 12
Wildlight Studios announced that its live-service multiplayer shooter Highguard will permanently shut down on March 12, just 46 days after its launch. Despite efforts to add new content and support from over two million players, the game failed to build a sustainable player base. Factors contributing to its demise include a lack of marketing post-announcement, dwindling player counts, and reportedly, Tencent pulling funding.
Marathon Season 1 “Death Is the First Step” revealed with a community unlocked content focus
Bungie has detailed the seasonal structure for its upcoming extraction shooter, Marathon, with Season 1: Death Is the First Step launching March 5th. This season will feature community-driven progression, unlocking new zones and content as players collectively complete objectives. Subsequent seasons will follow a three-month cycle, resetting player progression while retaining cosmetics and lore progression, similar to Destiny 2's model.
Highguard Joins The List Of Live-Service Games Axed Within Weeks Of Launch
Several live-service games, including Highguard, Concord, and RumbleVerse, have been shut down shortly after launch due to issues with player retention and funding. This article examines various titles that failed to sustain their player base or business models, leading to premature closures or development halts.
Ubisoft’s XDefiant Will Shut Down in June 2025
Ubisoft has announced that their free-to-play first-person shooter XDefiant will be shut down on June 3, 2025. The game, which launched in May 2024, struggled to compete with established titles like Call of Duty and will not receive further content updates beyond the upcoming Season 3. Players who made in-game purchases will receive refunds.
Sony pivoting to single-player games and away from PC ports claim insiders
Insiders suggest Sony Interactive Entertainment is pivoting its strategy, potentially focusing more on single-player games and reducing PC ports of its titles. This shift, which may take several years to fully manifest, comes as the company continues its pursuit of live service game success with titles like Marathon and Horizon Hunters Gathering.
Highguard's high-profile mistakes should be a lesson for other developers | Opinion
The article analyzes the significant missteps made by Wildlight Entertainment with their hero shooter Highguard, including a muddled pitch, a risky shadow-drop strategy, and a poor launch state, leading to layoffs. It argues that while the game faced criticism, much of the vitriol was disproportionate and highlights the challenges of launching live service games in a competitive market, drawing parallels to the failure of Concord.
