Before its release, Concord’s devs explained why it does not feature a battle pass and why they’ll never add one, and players are puzzled by Firewalk’s decision.
Concord’s early access period is now underway, with the game only a day away from its global release on PC and PS5. The 5v5 shooter held an open beta in July, but it did not draw a large number of players.
Those who did appreciate the game lauded its gameplay, matchmaking, and retro-futuristic UI. Upon release, it will provide players with access to every character; however, the game itself costs $40 and needs a PlayStation Plus subscription and a PSN account linked to a PC to play.
Despite this, Concord’s creators have said that all forthcoming content on their roadmap will be free of charge, and owners will receive the latest content immediately. Yet, the game lacks a Battle Pass, which leaves many players perplexed given that it is a PvP shooter.
No Battle Pass, folks. You own Concord, Concord doesn't own you. https://t.co/lZ3Zkv2THD
— Mark DeRidder (@markderidder) July 24, 2024
Mark DeRidder, the game’s animation director, stated on X that the game will never contain a Battle Pass, telling users: “No Battle Pass, folks. You own Concord, Concord doesn’t own you.”
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This action by the developers split the community, with numerous users praising them for it, while those who don’t like the game being a paid purchase, outright rejected it.
One player said: “Bold move, but I like it! Everyone keeps screaming for a Battle Pass in every game nowadays. I liked the beta, so see you soon!” Another user who is a fan of the game wrote: “I really like this move. Makes me feel less hesitant to buy it at launch.”
However, a user who doesn’t like the game’s concept replied: “Another live service that nobody asked for into the meat grinder.” Another one chimed in: “I actually don’t own Concord, nor will I ever. Though I’m sure the devs and their modern audience prefer it that way.”
With the game already facing criticism for its character design since its reveal, read our preview on why Sony’s venture into the PvP shooter genre falls short of its potential.
