Director Ryan Ellis Quits on Concord While Staffs Are Afraid of Mass Layoffs

Firewalk Studios and Concord were supposed to usher in a new era for Sony’s endeavors into the live service genre. But the story couldn’t have been more lopsided. According to a new report, game director Ryan Ellis has stepped down from his role in the studio to a support role.

The decision comes just weeks after the game was removed from the market, leaving both the studio and its staff in a precarious position. As Firewalk waits for Sony’s next move, many employees fear that mass layoffs or even the complete closure of the studio could be imminent.

Will Firewalk Studios Join The List of One and Done Studios?

Ryan Ellis is known for his previous work at Bungie on Destiny 2 and was deeply involved in Concord‘s development. Despite his and the studio’s efforts, the game failed to find its footing, barely reaching 700 players globally at its peak, a figure far too low to sustain a live-service multiplayer game.

Following the game’s removal, Ellis has announced his transition to a support role as reported by Kotaku. The failure of the live service project has raised questions about Firewalk Studios’ future and put the team in a scary situation. Sony acquired Firewalk in 2023, and now the studio finds itself in a state of limbo.

The entire purpose of Firewalk Studios is now in question. They were supposed to support Concord for several years and now the entire team does what?

— Oliver Darko (@oliver_drk) September 19, 2024

The team is now reportedly exploring alternative projects unrelated to their last one. Some have been asked to pitch entirely new concepts, while others anticipate that the studio could become a support team for other PlayStation Studios games. Employees are also preemptively updating their portfolios or leaving the company entirely.

A good character design is one you can look at and instantly know what they’re all about without having to be told.

Would you have guessed that the character on the right is meant to be a healer?

I’m gonna look at the characters from Concord and see what I can guess about them. pic.twitter.com/Z36A8iUuM2

— Possum Reviews (@ReviewsPossum) September 18, 2024

Sources also noted that Ellis was visibly emotional during a post-launch meeting where the game’s failure became evident. He had poured a great deal of personal effort and belief into the project, which likely added to the stress. Despite the spectacular failure, it’s a rough situation for the devs.

The Studio Could Also Be Repurposed But We’ll Have to Wait and See

One of the more alarming possibilities for the studio is the potential for mass layoffs. With around 150-170 employees, the studio represents one of the more expensive operations within Sony’s portfolio. The failure of Concord has led many to speculate that downsizing may be inevitable.

Sony’s decision to pull back Concord was a big hit to the company’s ambitions in the live-service gaming market. This move follows a troubling trend within Sony’s first-party studios. Other planned online projects such as Naughty Dog’s planned The Last of Us multiplayer project, have also been canceled.

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The company has been grappling with the challenge of competing against free-to-play titles that dominate the first-person shooter market, and Concord was yet another casualty of this uphill battle.

For now, the staff at Firewalk are left in a state of uncertainty, waiting for Sony’s final decision. Can the studio find new life as a support studio for larger PlayStation projects or will we lose another studio?

What do you think the future has in store? Let us know in the comments!