Hero Shooter Concord's Fall: Lessons from Sasser on Originality and Market Saturation

In the world of competitive gaming, the landscape is ever-evolving, and few genres have captured the imagination of players quite like hero shooters. Titles like Overwatch have set the standard, but recent attempts to carve out a niche in this crowded space have met with varying degrees of success. Among the most notable failures in recent memory is Concord, a game that was meant to be a contender but instead fell flat, leading to its quick demise. Thaddeus Sasser, the director of the recently successful game Marvel Rivals, recently weighed in on the Concord controversy during a discussion on the VideoGamer Podcast. Sasser offered a candid analysis of what went wrong with Concord, attributing its lack of impact to a fundamental issue of originality. “From the start, it seemed like Concord was fighting a losing battle,” Sasser stated, noting that divisive character designs and a premium price tag in a genre that typically leans towards free-to-play models severely hampered the game’s appeal. The crux of Sasser's argument hinges on the "switching cost" for gamers already invested in other titles. “I’ve already invested in Overwatch, I’ve got 15 skins for Pharah, I’m not going anywhere,” he remarked, highlighting how player loyalty can be a barrier to entry for new games. With a saturated market of hero shooters, convincing gamers to abandon their current favorites for a pricier alternative is no small feat. As Sasser further elaborated, predicting the success of a game is an arduous task fraught with uncertainty. “The truth is that I don't think anybody can accurately predict this or the game industry would be radically different today,” he noted, acknowledging the unpredictability that plagues the industry. Many games that seem destined for success can flop, while others that appear doomed can flourish unexpectedly. This inherent uncertainty adds pressure to developers, who must constantly strive to fulfill player expectations. In the realm of live-service games, the stakes are particularly high. Sasser's comments underscore a crucial point: when launching a game, it needs to be fully developed and engaging right from the start. In contrast, Marvel Rivals has thrived by adopting a free-to-play model, providing players with a wealth of unique skins and a smoother entry point that has proven successful. The contrast between the two titles could not be starker. Reflecting on his own experiences, Sasser recalled his initial reviews of games like Babylon's Fall, which he recognized as a project likely doomed from the outset. Such games serve as cautionary tales in the industry, often resulting in job losses and damaged reputations. “There are still people’s lives on the line when it comes to creating a game like this,” he pointed out, emphasizing the real-world implications of a game’s failure. While it remains speculative whether a different approach, such as a free-to-play model, would have salvaged Concord, the sentiment among those who did engage with the game was generally positive before its servers were ultimately shuttered. Unfortunately, what could have been an opportunity for growth has turned into a costly miscalculation for both the developers and the industry at large. In stark contrast, Marvel Rivals has garnered over 10 million players in just three days, showcasing a successful formula that resonates with gamers. It’s a bittersweet reality—while one game rises to prominence, another is lost to the annals of gaming history. As the gaming community reflects on Concord’s rapid downfall, the industry must take heed of these lessons, striving to foster creativity and originality in an increasingly competitive market. The fate of passionate developers hinges on it, and the potential for innovation is too great to dismiss.