Pushing Buttons: The largest failure in video game history concludes a challenging year for game development | Games

IIt’s official: After Sony pulled the struggling hero shooter Concord from sale shortly after its release, the studio that created it is closing down. Firewalk Studios was acquired by Sony less than two years ago as part of PlayStation’s strategy to improve its live services portfolio. The closure of Firewalk cemented Concord’s place as one of the biggest and most significant failures in gaming history. It cost Sony hundreds of millions of dollars, and Concord’s development costs are estimated to total between $200 million and $400 million.

Sony also shut down Neon Koi, a developer with offices in Helsinki and Berlin, which was focused on “mobile action games with epic storylines” but has yet to release any games. There wasn’t.

Sony, which together with PlayStation consoles collectively outsold Xbox for the second straight generation, has identified mobile and live service games (like Fortnite, Overwatch and Destiny) as growth priorities. There was one live-service hit, Helldivers 2, which was an unexpected success in January. However, due to the failure to launch Concord, Reports of continuous trouble At Sony’s other live services studio, Bungie (which developed Destiny and was acquired by Sony for $3.7 billion in 2022), this strategy doesn’t seem to be working.

“We have spent a considerable amount of time over the past few months evaluating all options,” Sony studio head Hermen Hulst said in a formal press release. “After much consideration, we have decided that the best path forward is to permanently end the game and close the studio. We would like to thank everyone at Firewalk for their craftsmanship, creative spirit, and dedication. It’s not easy hearing news like this, especially when a colleague or friend is retiring.

“Both decisions were seriously considered and ultimately we feel they are the right decisions to strengthen our organization. Neon Koi and Firewalk are home to a lot of talent, and I We will strive to place as many of those affected as possible in our studio’s global community.”

More than 150 people at the fire walk and an estimated 30 people at the neon carp Join nearly 13,000 other video game workers There have been layoffs around the world so far this year as the post-pandemic economic contraction reshapes game development.

Firewalk staff posted a final farewell message to X yesterday evening. “Firewalk started with the idea of ​​bringing the fun of multiplayer to a wider audience,” it reads.

“In the process, we assembled an incredible team that successfully grew a new startup into a team during a global pandemic…building a new customized next-generation FPS engine…and ultimately shipped and provided a great experience for players, landing much narrower than expected against a very consolidated market. We took some risks along the way – like Card Battler. It blended elements of fighting games with first-person shooters – and while some of these and other elements of the IP didn’t quite pan out as expected, the idea of ​​incorporating something new into the game was a great addition to this medium. The world is essential to moving forward.”

The fact that a studio can do so much and still fail so spectacularly is sobering. Concord had its challenges, but it wasn’t a bad game and it wasn’t a lack of investment. But there was no room for it in a shooter market that was already too crowded and dominated by big-name brands like Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Apex Legends. The timeline for all of this is incredibly shortened. In just over two months, Firewalk released its first game, which was pulled from sale and shut down for good. I have a lot of sympathy for everyone who worked there.

Unlike many live-service games before it, Concord never got the chance to evolve past its early problems. Rather, this year will be remembered as representing a shockingly cruel year in game development – the cruelest year I can remember. More than 30 video game studios have closed worldwide since 2023 as the risks of high-end game development have become unreasonably high. Concord is the biggest and costliest tragedy in this environment, but it wasn’t the first and it won’t be the last.

what to play

We have entered the traditional big game season. call of duty It came out last week and dragon age I’m finally back length We are closed this Friday. I’ve been playing Life is Strange: Double Exposurea new game in the supernatural murder mystery series about a young man with extraordinary powers.

This entry returns to Maxine Caulfield, the teenage time-rewind star of the first Life is Strange game in 2015. Double Exposure is by no means perfect, but returning to this character felt very meaningful. Max was the first relatable teenage girl I played like a video game. Back then, female protagonists, let alone queer female protagonists, were still rare. Now, nearly a decade later, I’m playing a game in which Max, a bisexual adult, seduces a small-town lesbian bartender in the first half-hour. Those who loved the original Life is Strange and its characters, and wondered what happened to Max and Chloe after the Arcadia Bay storm, will have a lot of fun with this game, despite its flaws.

Available: PS5, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC
Estimated play time: 12 hours

What to read

• With Halloween approaching, we sent two writers to visit a haunted prison. horror games All night long. It was like ideal Review of the environment.

• Nintendo to end service Smartphone version Release Animal Crossing in November, replacing it with a nickel-and-dimming premium version that includes all the same content but is free to play. it is called Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Complete – Initially priced at £10 and will be available in December.

• Despite rejecting all of the claims made by the Hindenburg Institute in a report a few weeks ago. roblox Insiders say the company plans to introduce a new type of parent-managed account. Emails viewed by Verge. It feels like damage control.

• Amazon Prime adaptations like a dragon will be released this week. I haven’t watched it yet. Reviews so far…opinions are divided..

What to click

question block

This week’s question comes from a reader. Johnny:

“Growing up, my wife fell in love.” Civilization IV. Now with many responsibilities, she wants to get back into gaming, but finds that most modern civilization-building games take too long and are too concerned with multiplayer battles. Is there a more relaxing civilization building game? you and other readers Would you recommend it? “

We recommend a game with all buildings without combat, perfect for stressed adults. dolph romantic. Choose matching hexagonal tiles to slowly and peacefully expand your micro world. There are no people fighting to disturb the peace. If it’s a little too much Take it easy and try it Anno 1800offers more traditional city building and civilization advancement. Usually it plays out as a competition between you and other countries, but you can actually turn it off and go completely at your own speed if you want.

Do you have more recommendations for Johnny’s Wife? Email us! As always, if you have a question for the questions block or something you’d like to say about the newsletter, Email us at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.