Concord is the boogeyman of the video game industry. It was viewed as a blatant live service trend-chaser by a massive corporation with barely any creative risks, which eventually got shut down in no time. Every studio is worried about creating the next Concord, and what it could mean for their future.
However, it's also an example of the publisher failing to clarify how long the game would be supported for. Refunds were issued in Concord's case, but UK House of Commons MP Ben Goldsborough wants to ensure that consumers aren't left in a lurch if a live service developer suddenly decides to end support.
"A recent example is Concord, a game released for PlayStation 5 and Windows in August 2024," said one MP in their statement (thanks, Eurogamer). "Following a disappointing launch, Sony Interactive Entertainment made a commercial decision to shut it down. To their credit, they did refund all purchases, but this isn't always the case.
"I know the honourable members will agree that where publishers fail to make the life span of a game clear at the point of sale, they must be held accountable. That's why I welcome the strengthened consumer protections, including the digital...
