While 2024 may not have delivered many memorable video game blockbusters, the conversation about the year's biggest flops undoubtedly includes Sony Interactive Entertainment's "Concord," the PlayStation first-person shooter reportedly costing $150 million, which shuttered less than a month after its launch.
Beyond its character design, the game faced criticism for "boring gameplay" and controversial policies that angered players, leading to its widely mocked failure as a live-service title. Its developer, Firewalk Studios, has since been dissolved.
Despite this setback, Sony Interactive Entertainment remains optimistic, stating that "Concord's" failure will not deter its commitment to live-service games.
Hermen Hulst, Head of PlayStation Studios and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, recently told Japanese outlet Famitsu that Sony plans to continue developing more live-service games while also creating single-player titles to meet the diverse needs of the player community. 
A key factor fueling Sony Interactive Entertainment's optimism is the undeniable success of "Helldivers II."
While "Helldivers II" initially faced overwhelming negative reviews and delistings in multiple regions due to a controversial mandatory PlayStation Network account linking policy, Sony's swift reversal of the requirement led to a resurgence of positive reception. The game continues to maintain an active player base of over 60,000 concurrent users.
Hulst therefore believes the issue isn't with the game genre itself, but rather with how game design delivers results for players and for PlayStation. He also noted that PlayStation is currently collaborating with more third-party studios to develop both single-player and live-service titles.
via： ファミ通