Concord’s Open Beta Hits a Roadblock on Steam as Sony May Have Their First PC Flop on Its Hands

Sony’s new first-person shooter, Concord, seems to be struggling right out of the gate. With a peak of only 2,388 concurrent players on Steam, the game’s performance is underwhelming, to say the least.  

Despite being part of PlayStation’s promising lineup, the early signs are troubling, suggesting that Sony might have a flop on its hands. For a title that isn’t free-to-play, this low turnout is concerning, especially considering Sony’s hopes to capture the PC market.

The Concord Open Beta Isn’t Doing Too Hot With Fans

The initial reactions from players have been less than enthusiastic. Many criticized the game’s need for a PlayStation Network (PSN) account and its $40 price tag, especially compared to other free-to-play 5v5 shooters.

Comments from the gaming community suggest that Concord‘s graphics and gameplay don’t stand out enough to justify the cost. As one Reddit user pointed out, even if it were free, the game might still struggle to attract players.

Day 1 of the Concord Open Beta peaks at 2,388 concurrent players on Steam.#Concord #ConcordBeta pic.twitter.com/44RvdCf9R5

— KAMI (@Okami13_) July 18, 2024

Technical issues have further added to the problems. Players have reported frequent fatal errors that prevent the game from launching. This instability has likely contributed to the game’s low player count, as many who pre-ordered have been unable to participate in the beta.

This has led to a significant drop in player numbers, with concurrent users plummeting over the weekend. For a competitive shooter, and that too a first-person shooter that isn’t free to play? This spells trouble. Comparisons to other hero shooters like Overwatch have not been favorable.

Players have described the game as lacking originality. While some praise the game’s art style and character design, these positives are overshadowed by complaints about unbalanced gameplay and unremarkable maps. Many players have noted that the game does not feel worth its $40 price tag.

The Free Open Beta Weekend Has to Redeem the Game

The current free open beta weekend is a crucial opportunity for Sony to attract a bigger audience and improve its reception. If it cannot generate significant interest and positive feedback during this period, its long-term success on the PC platform seems doubtful.

This game has the potential to be the next overwatch. But it’s shooting itself in the foot

— A.Dot 🎬 🇳🇬 🇮🇷 (@VillainOTY) July 19, 2024

It’s likely Sony had high hopes for the game, especially following the success of Helldivers 2, another paid online shooter released earlier this year. Helldivers 2 continues to be one of the bigger games of the year and is one of Sony’s most successful launches.

Unfortunately, Concord‘s current trajectory suggests it might not replicate that success. The game’s developers will need to make significant updates and changes to bring the title back to the community’s goodwill.

The coming weeks will be critical, especially as the game prepares for its full release on August 23, 2024.

Can Sony turn things around and avoid what could be their first major PC flop? Do you have hope for Concord going forward? Let us know in the comments!