Highlights
- Reportedly priced at $40, Concord offers a cheaper alternative to standard $70 AAA games, which could make it more accessible and appealing to players.
- The Digital Deluxe edition includes early access, character skins, and the Monarch pack, providing worthwhile perks for interested players.
- Despite a lukewarm reception so far, Concord’s pricing strategy mirrors successful games like Helldivers 2, hinting at a potential sleeper hit status.
According to an early storefront listing, PlayStation’s upcoming live-service hero shooter Concord may retail for a cheaper price than anticipated. After a year since its initial announcement, Concord was given a full gameplay trailer and an August 23 release date at PlayStation’s recent State of Play presentation. Many speculated the live-service game could be free-to-play at launch, but with preorders slated to go live on June 6, Sony will clearly charge an upfront cost for it.
Developed by PlayStation-owned Firewalk Studios, Concord is a 5v5 hero shooter that appears to be a cross between Overwatch and Guardians of the Galaxy. The game will be set in the namesake Concord galaxy, and revolve around a cast of mercenaries dubbed “Freegunners.” Firewalk first acknowledged the game in 2021 when it confirmed development of a AAA sci-fi first-person shooter, and will officially launch Concord on PS5 and PC on August 23.
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The pricing of the game has been a matter of confusion since its reveal, as AAA games today go for a standard $70 price tag. However, Concord is a live-service multiplayer title and Sony would ideally want to make it as accessible and appealing as possible. An early listing on the Australian PlayStation Store shows that the company will likely follow the latter strategy and price Concord at a conservative $40 price point. The listing shows a 60 AUD price for the base game, which converts to $40 in USD. Concord‘s Digital Deluxe version has also been listed at 95 AUD, which should round out to $60 for the American market.
Concord’s Digital Deluxe Offers Worthwhile Perks
Additionally, the listing reveals that the Digital Deluxe edition will include three days of early access, 16 character skins, and the Monarch pack. It must be noted that the latter will also be available as a preorder bonus, but the 72-hour early access is a compelling proposition for those interested in the game. The $40 price point should also be a relief for those anticipating a higher cost, and potentially even draw in skeptical players who aren’t sold on Concord‘s character designs or its hero shooter trappings.
As it stands, Concord isn’t being received as well as PlayStation may have hoped. Both of the game’s trailers have racked up far more dislikes than likes on YouTube, and the supposed “hero shooter fatigue” due to an abundance of them in the market also works against Concord‘s appeal. With the general perception this lukewarm, it appears PlayStation has thankfully priced Concord somewhat reasonably. In fact, Arrowhead Game Studios’ smash-hit shooter Helldivers 2 was also released at a $40 price point, and went on to become PlayStation’s fastest-selling first-party release. Concord could be another sleeper hit in the making, but only time will tell.