Concord Revival Faces Legal Challenges as DMCA Takedowns Halt Progress
The attempted revival of Concord, Sony’s ill-fated online hero shooter, has hit a major setback. The fan-led project, which aimed to bring the game back online after its shutdown, has paused invites due to what the team described as “worrying legal action.”
Concord’s Troubled History
First revealed during Sony’s State of Play in May 2024, Concord debuted with a flashy CG trailer reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy. However, enthusiasm quickly faded once gameplay confirmed it was another online hero shooter. Fans criticized the generic character designs, and despite a beta test and full launch later that year, the game failed to resonate.
Sony ultimately shut down both the game and its development studio, issuing refunds to players. Reports suggest Concord cost the company nearly $400 million, making it one of PlayStation’s most expensive failures.
Fan Revival Project Hit With DMCA Takedowns
Over a year after the shutdown, a small group of dedicated fans began reverse-engineering Concord to bring it back online. Early footage showcased progress but also revealed numerous bugs. Shortly after these videos were published, they were removed following DMCA takedowns issued by MarkScan Enforcement, a group often linked to companies like Sony and Microsoft when targeting emulation, mods, and similar projects.
The revival team has since announced that invites to the current build are on hold, citing potential legal risks. While the future of the project remains uncertain, the move suggests Sony is aware of the effort and may not approve of the unofficial revival.
Sony’s Live-Service Strategy Under Scrutiny
Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hermen Hulst has acknowledged the company’s missteps with live-service titles, promising not to repeat the mistakes made with Concord. He highlighted the success of Helldivers 2 as proof that live-service games can thrive when executed properly.
Still, challenges remain. Bungie’s Destiny 2 continues to struggle with player retention, while questions surround the upcoming extraction shooter Marathon. Meanwhile, other PlayStation live-service projects have been quietly canceled or delayed, including rumored titles from Bluepoint Games and Bend Studio, as well as Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Factions, which ended development in 2023. Haven Studios’ Fairgames has also lost key developers, raising doubts about its future.
Whether the fan-led revival of Concord will survive legal pressure remains unclear. For now, the project is paused, and Sony appears focused on learning from past failures while cautiously navigating the risky live-service market.
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