The unexpected attempt to revive Concord—Sony’s short-lived hero shooter—has hit a major obstacle. The fan-led team working to bring the game back online has announced that all invites to their early build are now on hold, citing “worrying legal action” following a series of DMCA takedowns targeting their showcase videos.
A Troubled Game From the Beginning
Concord never found its footing. The game’s May 2024 State of Play reveal highlighted a flashy CG trailer reminiscent of Guardians of the Galaxy, only for gameplay footage to reveal that the project was actually another online hero shooter. Reception was lukewarm at best, with many criticizing its generic cast and uninspired presentation.
After a beta and a disappointing launch, Concord failed to gain traction. Sony ultimately issued refunds to players and shut down both the game and its development studio, marking the project as one of the company’s most expensive missteps—reportedly costing around $400 million and triggering a chain reaction of internal cancellations.
Yet despite its failure, the game still managed to build a small but loyal fanbase. One player continued to log in even after the servers were officially shut down, highlighting the lingering affection some had for the title.
DMCA Takedowns Disrupt the Revival Effort
More than a year after the shutdown, a dedicated group of fans unveiled early footage of their unofficial revival project, built through reverse engineering. These videos demonstrated the team’s progress, along with plenty of bugs that showed just how early the project still was.
Shortly after the reveal, the videos were removed through DMCA claims filed by MarkScan Enforcement—a group widely known for issuing takedowns on behalf of large companies when dealing with emulation projects, mods, and other community-led recreations. This legal activity prompted the revival team to pause all invites to their test builds as they assess the situation.
The group has not disclosed further details, but the message is clear: Sony appears to be aware of the revival effort, and the legal pressure suggests the company does not intend to let the project continue unchallenged.
Sony Reconsiders Its Live-Service Strategy
While the fate of the revival remains uncertain, Sony itself has spent the past year reflecting on the failure of Concord and other live-service initiatives. Sony Interactive CEO Hermen Hulst has stated that the company does not plan to repeat its mistakes, highlighting successes like Helldivers 2 as examples of what the company wants to replicate.
However, Sony’s broader live-service ambitions remain rocky. Destiny 2 continues to face community dissatisfaction, and Bungie’s upcoming extraction shooter Marathon still sits under heavy scrutiny. Other internal projects have already faced cancellation rumors, including titles reportedly in development at Bluepoint Games and Bend Studio. Meanwhile, Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Factions was shut down entirely in 2023, and Haven Studios’ Fairgames continues to lose key developers.
A Project in Limbo
The Concord revival team has not announced whether development will continue, nor whether they expect more legal action. With invites paused and videos removed, the project now sits in an uncertain position—a passionate community effort now overshadowed by corporate intervention and a troubled legacy.
For now, the fan-built revival remains in limbo, and its future depends heavily on whether Sony chooses to escalate or step back from the looming legal battle.
