Concord
News, coverage and analysis tracking Concord across the outlets.
Marathon is a good game, former FPS pro Shroud says, "the problem right now is it's too hard"Former FPS pro Shroud believes Bungie's Marathon is a good game but is currently too difficult, hindering player retention and first impressions. He suggests that while the high barrier to entry might be a positive in the long run as content is added, the game needs a better onboarding process to help new players get into it.- Snabbkollen – Spelar du något live-service-spel?This article discusses the live service game model, where companies like Epic Games aim for long-term revenue through free-to-play or initial purchase games. Examples of successful titles include Helldivers 2 and Sea of Thieves, while others like Marvel's Avengers have failed. The piece questions players about their current or past engagement with live service games.
Former Escape From Tarkov dev says "no amount of millions of dollars can save a weak product"Dmitri Ogorodnikov, co-head of Nomion Games and former developer at Battlestate Games, emphasizes that a game's quality is paramount, stating that marketing cannot save a weak product. He highlights the challenges in the current shooter market, citing examples like Concord and Highguard, and outlines Nomion's strategy for their upcoming game, Rush is Real, to focus on gameplay quality and unique ideas rather than market trends.
PUBG Dev On Highguard And Concord Struggles: It's "Really Hard To Succeed Every Time"PUBG franchise director Taeseok Jang reflected on the challenges of live-service games, citing the failures of Concord and Highguard as learning experiences. He emphasized the importance of rapid prototyping and community feedback, drawing lessons from PUBG: Blindspot's short early-access period. PUBG Studios plans to expand the PUBG franchise by adding new modes, including a Payday collaboration with Starbreeze, and exploring user-generated content.
You Might Not Want to Know How Much It Reportedly Cost Bungie to Make MarathonA new report suggests that Bungie's upcoming game Marathon has a development budget exceeding $200 million, potentially reaching over $250 million before ongoing costs. This figure is comparable to or even surpasses the reported budget for Marvel's Spider-Man 2. Despite financial concerns and past project cancellations following Sony's acquisition of Bungie, the studio is reportedly focused on creating new content for Marathon, which has received positive initial feedback.
PUBG boss was "sad" to see Concord and Highguard get shut down, but hopes to learn from their mistakesTaeseok Jang, IP franchise director for PUBG at Krafton, expressed sadness over the shutdowns of multiplayer games like Concord and Highguard, noting the inherent difficulty in developing successful multiplayer titles. He highlighted lessons learned from community messaging and the challenges of early access, referencing the short lifespan of PUBG: Blindspot.- Jason Blundell announces his new-new studio, Magic FractalJason Blundell, formerly of Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty: Black Ops series, has announced the formation of his new studio, Magic Fractal Studios. This marks Blundell's third studio since leaving Activision in 2020, following the closures of Deviation Games and Dark Outlaw Games. Little is known about Magic Fractal's projects, but it is confirmed not to be a live-service game.
Last Of Us Online took 7 years and was almost done when it was cancelledThe director of the cancelled The Last of Us Online, Vinit Agarwal, revealed that the live service game was nearly 80% complete when Naughty Dog decided to cancel it. The studio prioritized developing new single-player titles over the extensive post-launch support required for The Last of Us Online. This decision was made despite the game being a significant project for Sony, which had invested heavily in live service games.
ProbablyMonsters is betting on an Xbox 360-esque bonanza of single-player AA kookinessProbablyMonsters is focusing on the AA gaming space, aiming to create unique single-player experiences reminiscent of the Xbox 360 era. Despite initial low sales for titles like Storm Lancers and Ire: A Prologue, the company, led by new executives David Reid and Harold Ryan, is committed to this strategy, believing it allows for greater creative freedom and potential profitability compared to AAA or indie development.
Marathon Review - IGNThis article appears to be a review of the game Marathon, with user comments discussing expectations and comparisons to other titles like Concord and Crimson Desert. Some comments touch on market consolidation and game design criticisms.
Bungie Is "In It For the Long Haul" with Marathon SupportBungie has stated its commitment to supporting Marathon for many years, aiming for steady improvements rather than large, infrequent updates. This announcement comes as many other live service games are shutting down, with Marathon being one of the few Sony-backed titles to survive. The game, an extraction shooter praised for its gunplay, is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Cancelled PS5 project from Call of Duty vet and Dark Outlaw Games wasn't going to be a live-service releaseDark Outlaw Games, a studio founded by Call of Duty veteran Jason Blundell, has been shut down by Sony. Contrary to assumptions, the cancelled PlayStation 5 project was not a live-service game. Developers cited a tough business environment and shifting company focus for the cancellation.
Triple-A Game Budgets Now Over $300 Million, It’s ClaimedGame development budgets for AAA titles are reportedly exceeding $300 million, not including marketing costs, according to journalist Jason Schreier. This necessitates millions of sales just to break even, placing immense pressure on game sales figures. Games like Concord and Marvel's Spider-Man 2 are cited as examples of high-budget titles.- Sony is reportedly shutting down Dark Outlaw Games, run by former Call of Duty directorSony is reportedly shutting down Dark Outlaw Games, a studio led by former Call of Duty director Jason Blundell. This closure is part of broader staff cuts at PlayStation focused on mobile development, signaling a retreat from live-service multiplayer games. Several other studios and projects have also been affected or canceled recently.
"The thing we are trying to stop keeps happening": Highguard and other high-profile demises keep making the argument for Stop Killing GamesThe Stop Killing Games campaign highlights the ongoing issue of online-only games being shut down, using examples like Highguard and Wildlight to advocate for better game preservation. Campaign spokesperson Josh Hayes notes that the regular demise of popular titles, even those with significant artistic value, helps keep the issue in the public consciousness and encourages support for their efforts to prevent such losses.
How A Failed Multiplayer Game Just Set The Standard For All Live-Service GamesDespite FBC: Firebreak underperforming commercially, Remedy is keeping the multiplayer game online indefinitely with a final update and a friend pass system. This approach sets a new standard for live-service games, contrasting with the common practice of delisting and shutting down servers for underperforming titles. The article highlights this as a positive development for game preservation and player access in the industry.
Highguard just died and we are already being bombarded with another hero shooter being compared to ConcordThe hero shooter genre is facing intense player scrutiny, with games like Highguard shutting down shortly after release due to negative reception and comparisons to Concord. New titles like Time Takers are also facing early criticism, with players quickly forming opinions based on trailers and early gameplay, impacting their potential success.
Highguard Officially Shuts Down, Joins Concord in Digital GraveyardHighguard has officially shut down, with its servers going offline on March 12th and the game being delisted from all digital storefronts including Steam and PlayStation 5. The closure of this live service game is being compared to the similar fate of Concord, highlighting concerns about game preservation and the disposable nature of online-only titles in the industry.
Marathon Is Amazing, So Why Does It Already Feel Like It’s in Trouble?Despite positive reviews and engaging gameplay, Bungie's new extraction shooter Marathon has seen a significant drop in player count since its launch, falling far behind rivals like ARC Raiders. The article explores potential reasons for this decline, including pre-launch issues like delays, plagiarism accusations, and a problematic Server Slam weekend, as well as post-launch friction points such as difficult AI, a confusing UI, and unbalanced contracts.
Ex-Naughty Dog artist who helped design characters for Highguard promises to keep fighting the good fight - just not in the live-service sphere, anymoreFormer Naughty Dog artist Del Walker, who contributed to games like The Last of Us Part 2, is stepping away from live-service game development following the shutdown of Highguard. Walker, known for his character designs, stated he will continue to focus on creating diverse characters, particularly Black women, but will no longer invest his energy into games that risk disappearing shortly after launch. Highguard, a 3v3 shooter, was shut down just weeks after its January release due to dwindling player numbers and funding issues, mirroring the fate of other live-service titles like Sony's Concord.