Sony’s latest team-based shooter, Concord, is already heading offline just two weeks after its launch. Developer Firewalk Studios has announced that the game will be pulled from servers on September 6, as they plan to “explore new options and find better ways to engage players.” The game’s short-lived debut has been met with disappointment, especially considering the significant backing it had from Sony, who acquired the studio in 2022.

As of now, Concord is no longer available for purchase in digital stores, and Sony has confirmed that anyone who bought the game for $40 on PlayStation 5, Steam, or the Epic Games Store will receive a full refund. Players who purchased physical copies can also return them to retailers for reimbursement.

Firewalk Studios addressed the situation through a blog post from game director Ryan Ellis, who acknowledged that some parts of the game resonated with players, but admitted that other aspects “didn’t connect as intended.” This statement reflects a launch that failed to meet both player and internal expectations, leaving the game’s future uncertain.

Though no official sales figures have been released, it’s clear that Concord struggled to gain traction from the start. The game launched to mediocre reviews and never managed to surpass 700 concurrent players on Steam, an extremely low figure for a game of this scale. Analysts estimate that the game sold around 25,000 copies across Steam and PS5 in the first six days—a far cry from what’s needed to sustain a live-service model.

The sudden shutdown of Concord is unusual, especially for a game published by a major player like Sony. It brings to mind Amazon’s Crucible, which was similarly pulled off the market in 2020 just after its launch due to poor reception.

Several factors likely contributed to Concord‘s rapid downfall. Players found its gameplay uninspired and the characters forgettable. Moreover, it faced fierce competition from heavyweight free-to-play shooters like Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, Call of Duty: Warzone, and even Sony’s own Destiny 2. With such formidable rivals, Concord failed to stand out in a highly saturated market.

While Firewalk Studios has hinted at possibly reworking Concord into a free-to-play model, this development marks a significant failure for Sony’s live-service strategy. The abrupt shutdown underscores the challenges of launching a new IP in a crowded and competitive multiplayer genre.