Concord has emerged as one of PlayStation's most notable disappointments in recent years, but Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hermen Hulst assures that the company has learned valuable lessons from this setback. While Sony is renowned for its critically acclaimed single-player titles like The Last of Us and God of War, its recent push into live-service gaming has faced challenges. Despite Concord's underwhelming performance, Sony remains committed to refining its approach in this competitive space.

The ill-fated hero shooter Concord struggled to capture players' attention from the outset. Shortly after its launch, Sony announced the game's shutdown on September 6, 2024, followed by the closure of developer Firewalk Studios. Hulst recently addressed investors, shedding light on the game's shortcomings and outlining PlayStation's future strategy for live-service titles.

During a Q&A session with investors, Hulst acknowledged that Concord represented a significant investment but ultimately failed to distinguish itself in an oversaturated market. This assessment aligns with feedback from players and industry experts, who criticized the game for lacking innovation in the hero shooter genre. As Hulst emphasized, succeeding in today's live-service landscape requires delivering unique value—even for established publishers like Sony.

Hulst confirmed that PlayStation has implemented a more rigorous evaluation process for future live-service projects to avoid repeating Concord's mistakes. While specific details remain undisclosed, he highlighted Helldivers 2 as a successful example of PlayStation's live-service potential, noting its growing player base following recent updates.

However, concerns persist regarding upcoming titles like Bungie's Marathon, with some skeptics dubbing it "Concord 2.0." Hulst assured that Sony is carefully monitoring feedback and using these insights to refine its approach. While the outcome remains uncertain, PlayStation's leadership appears confident in its revised strategy for live-service gaming.