Concord
News, coverage and analysis tracking Concord across the outlets.
Latest coverage
You Might Not Want to Know How Much It Reportedly Cost Bungie to Make Marathon
A 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 mistakes
Taeseok 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 Fractal
Jason 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 cancelled
The 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 kookiness
ProbablyMonsters 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 - IGN
This 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 Support
Bungie 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 release
Dark 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 Claimed
Game 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 director
Sony 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 Games
The 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 Games
Despite 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 Concord
The 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 Graveyard
Highguard 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, anymore
Former 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.
How Marathon avoids the mistake that Concord and Highguard made
Marathon is praised for avoiding the "Blorko" problem that affected Concord and Highguard by implementing a unique "Shells" mechanic for combat avatars. The game, developed by Bungie, launched on March 5, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, offering a fresh take on shooter gameplay with depth and flexibility. The article also briefly mentions other games like Crabmeat, Pragmata, Fortnite, Super Mario Lego, Never's End, Crimson Desert, and the lawsuit against Valve regarding lootboxes.
One of Marathon's best tricks? It dodges the "Blorko" problem that doomed Concord and Highguard
Bungie's upcoming shooter Marathon distinguishes itself from recent hero shooter failures like Concord and Highguard by focusing on functional 'Shells' rather than heavily marketed individual characters. This approach allows players to engage with distinct playstyles without the pressure of immediately bonding with pre-defined personalities, a strategy that has proven challenging for other games in the genre.
Marvel Rivals devs couldn't help but "panic" at the thought of going into the live-service graveyard that just claimed Highguard: "It's not guaranteed"
Developers at NetEase expressed 'panic' about releasing their live-service hero shooter Marvel Rivals in 2024, given the recent failure of PlayStation's Concord. The team is focused on avoiding the pitfalls that led to the demise of other live-service games.
Is Marathon Heading for the Same Fate as Concord and Highguard? | Invision Game Community
The article analyzes the challenges faced by new live-service multiplayer shooters, using Concord and Highguard as examples of recent failures. It discusses how Marathon, Bungie's upcoming extraction shooter, faces similar retention hurdles despite initial testing interest, and its success hinges on Bungie's experience with Destiny 2 and creating a compelling gameplay loop.
