Being pulled from stores and refunds offered only 11 days after its launch has marked Concord as one of the biggest video game failures of all time, costing Sony between $100 and $200 million. The reason for the choice to pull the game was reflected in the low player count on Steam and estimated sales of only around 25,000 units, with fewer actually playing the game. Concord is going to be a game discussed for decades to come when looking at the shortcomings and mistakes of the industry, which is currently struggling with many Western AAA titles failing to find an audience.
How did we get there? Concord was a huge misunderstanding of the market, offering a game that should have been free to play for a price in the crowded market of hero shooters. The character designs were hideous, and the gameplay lacked any originality to make it stand on its own. The online discourse around the game became contentious leading up to its release, but at the end of the day, Concord managed fewer players than many other games faced with similar controversies that managed to thrive.
The death of Concord was predicted far in advance by many online commentators and industry professionals. Its abysmal performance and quick death are embarrassing, which is why Secret Level should pull the planned Concord episode.
Secret Level Should Remove the Concord Episode
With the team behind the phenomenal Love, Death + Robots tackling some of the most beloved (and a few niche) gaming franchises, there has already been a lot of hype leading into the upcoming release of Secret Level on Prime Video. For old-school gamers, Mega-Man and Pacman are getting a chance to bank on that nostalgia of arcade gaming and the early days of NES/SNES. For modern gamers, there are standouts like the ultra-stylish action game Sifu and the adorably cute indie fan Spelunky to look forward to being adapted for the screen.
Secret Level makes itself out to be a treat for gamers celebrating the love of the medium, which is why the episode on Concord is going to stick out among the many other games that have proven their merit. The inclusion of Concord in the series will likely hurt the image of the show. Even if it is only a moderate deterrent for some, it shines a light on the cold, corporate side behind the series creation. Having Concord alongside proven franchises will be very awkward, and no one wants to watch a commercial for a dead game, which is all it would be seen as at this point.
The Concord episode will also remind viewers of the problems facing modern gaming, with many companies assuming success just because they have presented an approved “AAA” game. However, with recent failures like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Redfall, and Skull and Bones (Star Wars Outlaws has been reported to be falling below expectations via Forbes), the Concord episode will just sink viewers into the troubles facing the industry as opposed to the nostalgia-driven escapism they are looking for.
The downside behind the Concord episode in Secret Level, much in the same way as the game, is there are talented people behind the scenes whose work will be seen in a negative light because of the embarrassing failure of the game. Still, to keep its integrity, much like Sony pulling the game and offering refunds, the Concord episode of Secret Level should be pulled as well. Whether the Concord episode is included or not, fans can check out Secret Level when it releases on Prime Video on December 10, 2024.
