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[FunkMiller]

 

[Mr Hyde]

Firewalk and Concord is the very definition of 'came and went'. An unmitigated disaster. I wonder whose head will roll for this? Ain't no escaping it.

 

[clarky]

Haven is next? Bend will get closed with their crap gaas too. What will be of sony studios in 5 years? SSM, ND, SP, Guerrilla, Asobi Studios and Polyphony? 1 game released per 2 years? They are totally fucked.

Calm down.

 

[ComputerBlue]

I doubt they will learn from this, but voting with your wallet seems to work, and repeated flops like this might force them to learn.

 

[Topher]

They bought firewalk last year, firewalk has been making this game for 8 years. Sony thought they had a good GaaS on their hands and firewalk was so confident they accepted an offer. Regardless of anything firewalk was going to close with or without Sony.

In the end Firewalk thought they were much better than they were.

All true, but ultimately it was Sony execs who decided 1) Firewalk and their game was worth acquiring and 2) allowed the game to be released such as it was. They are not blameless.

 

[clarky]

Hopefully the Professor lands on his/her/they/them feet.

Hopefully she lands right on her arse.

 

[ResilientBanana]

All true, but ultimately it was Sony execs who decided 1) Firewalk and their game was worth acquiring and 2) allowed the game to be released such as it was. They are not blameless.

You’re not wrong. But at the same time, I think a lot of companies over the past few years have been betting on a woke aesthetic that clearly did not pan out now all those games that were being developed over the past 8 to 5 years are finally releasing creating a cascading effect Where people are simply not buying that shit

 

[JimmyRustler]

Will they finally learn that the audience they cater to is only whining online and does not actually play games? Time will tell.

 

[Plague Doctor]

They lost 400 million by appealing to such a small group that it was double digit CCU by the second week. Other studios were closed for far less than this.

The blame still lays at leadership in these corporations. Did no one fucking check during the 8 years and maybe question what was being made?

No one wanted this shit. Do market research and then do another round of research to be doubly sure before you invest 400 million.

The silver lining, and I know some may not agree and that is whatever, this will have ripples if not already - and maybe not with sony cause they are king shit of fuck mountain in the console space and dense as fuck - but with other companies. Shit has some of them scared.

Make games for the audience you have not the imaginary audience that narcissistic devs and grifting consulting groups sell you on.

 

[Topher]

You’re not wrong. But at the same time, I think a lot of companies over the past few years have been betting on a woke aesthetic that clearly did not pan out now all those games that were being developed over the past 8 to 5 years are finally releasing creating a cascading effect Where people are simply not buying that shit

I keep hoping that 'woke aesthetic' will run its course and these publishers/devs will get back to making games that actually look good.

 

[simpatico]

So the millions of dollars spent in salary between the shutdown on Concord and now was just for funsies?

 

[CuteFaceJay]

I legit can't wait to see her sequel in November.

 

[Kurimao]

Still not fast enough. They should have been close before releasing that turd.

 

[HogIsland]

hopefully sony learns the lesson not to do a live service game without steam deck support.

 

[KimDongHwan]

I doubt they will learn from this, but voting with your wallet seems to work, and repeated flops like this might force them to learn.

Problem is when they attach this stuff to established IPs. So whenever they sell "well", I am betting they use them as example of the opposite. I think the only learning will happen is when a) Couple of more IPs with forced DEI flop and/or b) Couple of established IPs start underperforming because of forced DEI. My hope is that there is at least one executive bringing this topic up.

 

[Jesb]

400m. Thats a lot of blow and escorts.

 

[xanaum]

Just that isn’t enough; Hermen Hulst needs to be fired as well.

 

[Rocco Schiavone]

So after this abysmal flop can we get a Socom I/II remake with all mp maps??

 

[Kindjal]

"Certain aspects of Concord were exceptional"

There wasn't a single aspect of the game that qualifies as exceptional, Herman.

The only exceptional thing involving Concord was the amount of money that went directly to the dumpster.

 

[Shin-Ra]

1. WTF is Neon Koi (don’t answer, no-one cares)
2. Is Hermen Hulst Still talking shit?

Expanding beyond PlayStation devices and crafting engaging online experiences

While mobile remains a priority growth area for the Studio Business

certain aspects of Concord were exceptional

I want to thank all of Firewalk for their craftsmanship, creative spirit and dedication.

We will take the lessons learned from Concord and continue to advance our live service capabilities to deliver future growth in this area.

I am a big believer in the benefits of embracing creative experimentation and developing new IP.

Lego Horizon, lol.

I remain confident that we are building a resilient and capable organization driven by creating unforgettable entertainment experiences for our players.  

Yes, yes he is.

More than half of WWS/PlayStation Studios’ lifetime studio closures have been under his leadership.

Firewalk Studio
Neon Koi
Pixelopus
London Studio
Japan Studio creative teams
Studio Cambridge / Guerrilla Cambridge
Manchester Studio

 

[PeteBull]

When will these Publishers learn??

Stop hiring unskilled activists using your game as a political platform.

 

[kubricks]

I think it is time for the lazy activitists to step up the game. Instead of going after easy targets like incels and normal customers, they should instead call out the misogynistic investors and bigot management for their poor decision.

The patriarchal system is clearly suppressing the creativity of the modern creators which are most definitely on the right side of history.

They should also critize the silent majority that is the modern audience too. They did not show their support enough for the right cause.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Guys.

Our Gravity Queen is proud of you.

Great job.

 

[Fbh]

An nothing of value was lost. The studio was dead after Concord.
You can recover from an underwhelming released but not from your debut game being so uninteresting to people it gets de-launched after 2 weeks with player numbers that can't even compete with small indie games.

What was the alternative? Give them tens (or potentially hundreds) of millions and 3-5 years to make another game you can then present as "from the creators of Concord"?

 

[ANIMAL1975]

To all the people affected wish them, they, him, it, who, the best of luck.

 

[MLSabre]

I keep hoping that 'woke aesthetic' will run its course and these publishers/devs will get back to making games that actually look good.

Even if they pivot right now, we won't see the fruits of their labor until half a decade later. Who knows how many more these mediocre games will be forced out because "we came too far."

 

[Putonahappyface]

That's going to far.

 

[freefornow]

Are there tax advantages when shuttering a studio? Capital loss tax deductable etc? (no idea of US tax system)

 

[Topher]

Even if they pivot right now, we won't see the fruits of their labor until half a decade later. Who knows how many more these mediocre games will be forced out because "we came too far."

Gamers gotta just keep saying "nope" to this junk and it will all work out.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Firewalk and Concord is the very definition of 'came and went'. An unmitigated disaster. I wonder whose head will roll for this? Ain't no escaping it.

it's way worse.

we know Sony does a lot of market research and focus testing. The game, aside from the drama, is completely creatively bankrupt; this speaks not only of the studio but of PlayStation as an institution.

 

[twilo99]

This guy doesn't miss tho

 

[CompleteGlobalSaturation]

- And ultimately ship and deliver a great FPS experience to players- even if it landed much more narrowly than hoped against a heavily consolidated market.

The talent at Firewalk and the level of individual craft is truly world-class, and teams within Sony Interactive Entertainment and across the industry will be fortunate to work with them. Please reach out to Recruiting at PlayStation for inquiries, and thank you to all the very many teams, partners and fans who supported us along the way.

I don't think any lessons will be learned. The 'toxic positivity' and delusion is deeply rooted.

 

[Gambit2483]

Rereeland in shambles...

 

[skit_data]

This guy doesn't miss tho

The previous catfish account or Dorito Pope?

 

[EDMIX]

This guy doesn't miss tho

Considering the people who probably follow him are gamers, I don't see how any of that would make sense anyway, they'd already know they are owned by Sony lol

 

[PeteBull]

Why it take so long? Sony should have shut that shit down the moment they saw the game.

Likely hermen hulst tried his best to salvage that team of woke untalented activists by giving them few weeks to switch game to f2p model, and even there they failed miserably, which was 100% expected from all of us, sane ppl

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

So true

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

I legit can't wait to see her sequel in November.

Jokes on you now is a he

 

[Reaseru]

I just noticed the internal mail from Hurst. It can be summarized in a few words.

Hurst:

Dear team,

It was either you or me. It was you.

 

[EDMIX]

I don't think any lessons will be learned. The 'toxic positivity' and delusion is deeply rooted.

that makes even less sense, this is being stated in a thread LITERALLY about the team closing down

They have it soooooo deeply rooted the closed the team down? Look, any team closed down, is not going to have the publisher talk shit about them on their way out, in fact I've never heard of a PR response just talking shit about a team as they closed down or something lol. So this "toxic positivity" thing literally sounds like some of you mean any fucking PR statement at this point lol

In the past, has Sony stated negative things about any team closing down?

I just noticed the internal mail from Hurst. It can be summarized in a few words.

Hurst:

Dear team,

It was either you or me. It was you.

I would just lie, be like "WOW, I was batting for you too bro, then Shu put in his vote and things got so wild"

 

[PeteBull]

Hermen needs to go too. We need a CEO that values and respects their legacy. We need backwards compatibility. We need PlayStation exclusives. We need Only on PlayStation back.

And investing in their amazing IPs, killzone, syphon filter would make great singleplayercampaing+ solid dark multiplayer shooters offerings, sony has so many amazing IP's on their hands, just give it to talented teams and dont try to make them for "modern audience" aka nobody

 

[lughnasadh123]

Not going to celebrate people losing their jobs even if it makes sense in the situation. Bummer they didn't make some different choices.

Hope some lessons were learned before Marathon gets popped out.

 

[twilo99]

The previous catfish account or Dorito Pope?

no idea but it's a top tier shill account

 

[kruis]

"Certain aspects of Concord were exceptional"

There wasn't a single aspect of the game that qualifies as exceptional, Herman.

Every aspect of the game was an exceptional waste of money.

 

[Represent.]

Lmao at Sony turning off comments on their official tweet about this. Hahahah.

All of their GAAS trash projects will fail. Men_in_Boxes thoughts?

 

[CompleteGlobalSaturation]

that makes even less sense, this is being stated in a thread LITERALLY about the team closing down

They have it soooooo deeply rooted the closed the team down? Look, any team closed down, is not going to have the publisher talk shit about them on their way out, in fact I've never heard of a PR response just talking shit about a team as they closed down or something lol. So this "toxic positivity" thing literally sounds like some of you mean any fucking PR statement at this point lol

In the past, has Sony stated negative things about any team closing down?



I would just lie, be like "WOW, I was batting for you too bro, then Shu put in his vote and things got so wild"

The team was closed as the game was an unmitigated financial disaster.

But it is quite clear much of the 'talent' will be reshuffled into existing studios.

 

[PeteBull]

Hopefully the Professor lands on his/her/they/them feet.

U never know, maybe its paws in this particular case, better not assume stuff xD

 

[Barakov]

Another incel win victim.

These incel wins are becoming less and less rare.

 

[Decal4]

That gif was from Doctor Strange Multiverse of Madness btw

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Lmao at Sony turning off comments on their official tweet about this. Hahahah.

All of their GAAS trash projects will fail. Men_in_Boxes thoughts?

Wow, they all did fail
Just look at HD2