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Concord: Everything We Know

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Aside from the oddly appealing jiggle physics of a meat patty and a brief look at a mysterious fluorescent hyperspace, it's hard to say what else we can expect from Firewalk Studios' Concord. That said, it was a definite talking point in the aftermath of Sony's recent PlayStation Showcase — even if did leave us with more questions than answers.

In light of this, Firewalk Studios, a relatively new firm headed up by several ex-Bungie employees, will be bringing the sci-fi game out as early as next year. And with the full power of PlayStation Studios backing it, it's safe to say our expectations will most definitely remain at an all-time high with this one.

“I’m excited to announce that we’ve expanded our relationship with Firewalk Studios and are thrilled to welcome them to PlayStation Studios,” said Herman Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios. “Firewalk is home to a remarkably talented team of creatives who have launched some of gaming’s most celebrated experiences, and they’re already hard at work on their first original AAA multiplayer game for PlayStation.”

Introductory spiel out in the open, is there anything else you need to onboard ahead of its eventual launch date? Well, yes — if multiplayer sci-fi adventures are your cup of tea, that is. Either way, the burning question remains: what on earth is Concord, and how will it shape the future of PvP? Let's talk.

What Is Concord?

In spite of Firewalk Studios keeping a lot of its details on hot coals, we do know this: Concord is a sci-fi multiplayer game, exclusive to PS5. We've known this for a couple of years now, actually — ever since Firewalk Studios first announced its plans to partner up with PlayStation for an all-new project back in 2021. It was only during this month's PlayStation Showcase event, however, that a light was finally cast over its title and premise. Does that mean we're clued up on the ins and outs of its richest details? Not really, no. But we have an idea, alright. A very vague, watered-down idea.

“The Firewalk team is driven by the type of exciting, unexpected moments and shared experiences that multiplayer games create,” Firewalk Studios Game Director Ryan Ellis wrote in the PlayStation Blog post. “Every time you log on is the beginning of a new adventure, and every match is an opportunity for a new story. It’s these ideals that define Concord, its unique universe of vibrant worlds, and its rich cast of colorful characters.” That's a start, at least.

Story

It's a live-service IP, and one that will adopt a traditional PvP mode across a “vibrant sci-fi universe”, so expect plenty of spacey combat over a series of zero gravity terrains. However, as far as a genuine storyline goes, it's a little too early to tell whether or not it'll have one. Sure enough, there'll be something of the sort, what with Ryan Ellis saying each match you play will be “the beginning of a new adventure.” That said, until the guys over at Firewalk Studios make heads or tails of it, we're pretty much left to dig around in the dark on that front.

Gameplay

It's a first-person sci-fi shooter, so in theory, it could dabble along all the same lines as the likes of Apex Legends or Overwatch. Truth is, though, we don't actually know what the gameplay will look like, mainly down to the fact that Firewalk Studios hasn't shown anything yet. What's more, with no in-game screenshots to flesh out the canvas, one can only rely on the general consensus — and at this point, that's leaning more towards a retro-style Overwatch blueprint.

What's interesting is the sneak preview trailer that aired earlier last week; it featured five very specific colors. Could this be something to do with class types, characters, or locations? Who knows, but it is worth keeping a tab on, just on the off chance that it leads to something.

Development

Concord is being developed by Firewalk Studios, a firm that was put together back in 2018 by a slew of industry all-stars, whose works included Halo and Destiny. With the backing of PlayStation and ProbablyMonsters, the studio's first triple-A IP was able to launch later that year. Exciting times!

The bad news is, with the game being locked to PlayStation and PC, the chances of it reaching the Xbox and Switch shores are low. Although, at this point it's hard to say whether or not it'll shed its exclusivity in the distant future. It's not like it hasn't happened before, to be fair.

Trailer

Concord - Teaser Trailer | PS5 & PC Games

 

The good news is, there is in fact a trailer. Sadly, it doesn't give a huge amount away as far as gameplay goes. In fact, it barely sheds light on anything more than its technicolour sci-fi aesthetic (and a burger that just jitters in a refrigerator for some apparent reason, of course.) Nevertheless, you can catch a glimpse of what's to come by checking out the trailer embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

Concord will be coming to PlayStation 5 and PC at some point in 2024. Right now, though, we can't say for certain when in 2024 it'll release. Having said that, with the announcement trailer only coming into light this month, it's hard to imagine it'll be gearing up for an early 2024 launch. Our best guess — and you should take this with a grain of salt — would be a Q4 2024 release. Don't take our word for it, though.

As we're still tiptoeing between early development phases, it's understandable that Firewalk Studios hasn't announced any form of special editions yet. If the guys over at PlayStation Studios or Firewalk do happen to have anything or the sort stowed away in the pipeline, then news is sure to spread early next year.

Interested in keeping up to date with Concord and the guys over at Firewalk Studios? If so, be sure to check in with the team's official social feed here. We'll be sure to let you know just as soon as a release date gets hammered in.

 

So, what's your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Concord when it releases later this year? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.

Jord is acting Team Leader at gaming.net. If he isn't blabbering on in his daily listicles, then he's probably out writing fantasy novels or scraping Game Pass of all its slept on indies.