Oct. 30 (Portaltic/EP) –
sony has announced the closure of video game developer Firewalk Studios since, after fail to launch their Concord titleand due to the “competitive space” in which first-person shooter games are framed, they have failed to achieve their planned objectives.
The company acquired video game studio Firewalk in April 2023, which was already developing “its first original AAA multiplayer game for PlayStation”, which within the framework of the PlayStation State of Play event, held in May of this year, was revealed as Concord.
Specifically, Concord is a title first-person shooter multiplayer, which stars a group of mercenary gunmen known as ‘Freegunners’.
This game arrived in August for PS5 and PC. However, a month after its launch, PlayStation recognized that Some aspects of the game and its initial release “were not as successful” as expected the company.
As a result, Sony pulled the plug on this title on September 6 in order to explore other options, and offered a full refund to all players who had acquired Concord.
Now, the company has announced the closure of the developer in charge, Firewalk Studios and has confirmed the definitive cessation of the video gamesince, after “thinking a lot”, they have not managed to achieve the planned objectives with this title.
As explained in a releasehe PvP first-person shooter genre “is a competitive space that is constantly evolving” and, in this sense, the company has not achieved the desired objectives with Concord.
“We have decided that “The best way forward is to end the game and close the studio.”has stated the executive director of Studio Business Group, Sony Interactive Entertainment, Hermen Hulstin an internal email distributed to Sony employees and published on the company’s website.
However, Hulst stressed that they will take advantage of “the lessons learned” to continue improving its live service capabilities to “achieve future growth” in this area. Likewise, it has transferred its Thanks to the entire Firewalk team, of whom he has highlighted “his work, his creative spirit and his dedication.”
In addition to Firewalk Studios, Sony has also announced the closure of mobile game development studio Neon Koi. In this case, the company has detailed that, while mobile devices are a “priority growth area” for the company, they are currently in a “very early” stage in terms of the efforts invested in this area.
Therefore, he has stated that “to achieve success”, they will focus on titles that are aligned with PlayStation Studios and that have “the potential to reach more players worldwide.
210 JOBS AFFECTED
With the closure of both studies, the company has reported the dismissal of some developers. “Neon Koi and Firewalk were home to many talented people and We will work to find a place for some of the affected people within our global community of studies, whenever possible,” Hulst said.
Specifically, as confirmed by a company spokesperson to Bloombergthe closure of the two studies will affect around 210 jobs172 by Firewalk and 38 by Neon Koi.
With all this, Hulst concluded by indicating that, although Sony works to “embrace creative experimentation” and develop new intellectual properties, “Growing through sustainable finance, especially in a difficult economic environment, is essential.”
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