Games

Sony officially closes Concord developer Firewalk Studios

BBG News

As a long-time gaming enthusiast with a deep appreciation for the creativity and hard work that goes into each game, I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness upon hearing about the closure of Firewalk Studios and Neon Koi. The news is particularly poignant given the recent release of Concord, which, despite its initial promise, has unfortunately become one of the biggest flops in gaming history.

Sony is officially shutting down these two studios.

Following the revelation of Sony’s newest game, Concord, being closed down shortly after its launch, the corporation has now disclosed that they will be closing down Firewalk Studios, the developers behind Concord. In their official announcement, it was also mentioned that Neon Koi, a mobile game studio owned by Sony, is set to close as well.

Here is the full scoop.

Sony to shut down Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios

Recently, a significant announcement was made through an internal email from Herman Hulst, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Unfortunately, this news was not positive for many employees and video game creators, as it revealed that their jobs would be ending.

In an effort to further bolster the Studio Business at SIE, a challenging choice has been made concerning two of our studios: Neon Koi and Firewalk Studios, as mentioned by Hulst in his recent communication.

Initially, Hulst’s theory centered on the idea that Neon Koi and Sony were both interested in delving deeper into the realm of mobile gaming.

Although mobile gaming is an important focus for our Studio’s expansion, we’re currently just beginning our mobile initiatives. To thrive in this sector, we should focus on creating games that align with PlayStation Studios’ reputation and have the potential to attract a wider global audience.

Hulst then broke the news.

Using a fresh strategy, Neon Koi is set to shut down, meaning the development of their mobile action game has been halted.

This news hit hard for many, but there was more to the email; Hulst unveiled the future plans for Firewalk Studios.

Firewalk Studios shuts down

After decades of pouring my heart and soul into Concord’s creation, watching it crumble under the weight of its own hype, I find myself standing here today with a heavy heart as Sony makes the tough call to close down Firewalk Studios, the team who breathed life into this dream.

Following careful deliberation, it has been decided that the most suitable course of action is to discontinue our game permanently and shut down the studio, as stated by Hulst. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to each member of Firewalk for their skillful work, imaginative thinking, and commitment.

It’s truly devastating to witness a team, who put in countless hours over many years into their game, being dispersed in such an abrupt manner. Here’s hoping that everyone who recently lost their jobs because of the studio closures finds a new work environment swiftly.

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2024-10-31 01:11

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