With the much-anticipated launch of Concord on August 23, Sony and developer Firewalk Studios have unveiled exciting details about the game's post-launch content and roadmap. Dive into Firewalk's updates and their expert tips on maximizing your Concord experience.
Concord Reveals Roadmap Ahead of Launch Day
Concord Doesn't Require Battle Pass
Sony's latest hero shooter, Concord, is set to debut on August 23 for PS5 and PC following a successful open beta last month. Players can look forward to a continuous stream of updates starting from day one of the game's release.
In a recent PlayStation Blog post, game director Ryan Ellis shared insights into the seasonal updates that will bring new characters, maps, worlds, modes, stories, features, and more. "We see launch as just the beginning," Ellis stated. "The beginning of not only the vision we’ve set out for Concord, but also the beginning of how we support and grow the game with our players."
Concord breaks the mold by opting out of a traditional Battle Pass system, a common feature in many hero shooters like Overwatch. Firewalk Studios emphasized their commitment to creating a rewarding experience right from day one. "We wanted to focus our attention on making Concord a rewarding and robust experience on day one, where just playing the game, leveling up your accounts and characters, and completing jobs yields meaningful rewards," the studio explained. A Battle Pass typically involves a monetized progression system that offers rewards such as cosmetics, in-game currency, or even characters.
Concord Season 1: The Tempest Coming in October
New Character Coming to Season 1: The Tempest
Concord's first major post-launch update, Season 1: The Tempest, is scheduled for October. This update will introduce a new playable Freegunner, a brand-new map, additional Freegunner Variants, and a variety of new cosmetics and rewards. Season 1 will also feature weekly Cinematic Vignettes, expanding the narrative of the Northstar crew characters.
Concord In-Game Store
Season 1 will also see the introduction of an in-game store, offering additional customization options for players. These items will be purely cosmetic and won't affect gameplay. "These will supplement the hundreds of rewards earnable through progression and will be solely cosmetic, optional, and have no gameplay impact," Ellis assured players.
Season 2 Slated for January 2025
Looking ahead, Season 2 is already in development, with a planned release in January 2025. Firewalk Studios is committed to delivering regular seasonal updates throughout Concord's first year, ensuring a steady flow of new content. "We can’t wait to fully unpack what we have in store for Season 1 ahead of its launch in October," Ellis added.
Concord Tips and Gameplay Strategy
Ryan Ellis also provided valuable insights on the best ways to play Concord, emphasizing the game's unique "Crew Builder" system for team-building. Each Custom Crew comprises five unique Freegunners, but players can include up to three copies of any Freegunner’s Variants. This flexibility allows players to tailor their team composition to suit their playstyle, preferred game modes, or the specific challenges of each match, according to Ellis.
"Crew Builder also incentivizes you to populate your Custom Crews with characters of different roles," he added. In Concord, Freegunners are designed to deliver high DPS and be effective in gunfights, diverging from traditional roles like Tank or Support. Instead, the game features six distinct roles: Anchor, Breacher, Haunt, Ranger, Tactician, and Warden, each defined by their strategic impact on the match, such as controlling areas, leveraging long sightlines, or flanking enemies. Balancing your team with Freegunners from different roles can unlock special Crew Bonuses, enhancing mobility, improving weapon recoil, reducing cooldown times, and more.
