Concord: A Colossal Fallout

Introduction

• Discussion on the situation surrounding the game Concord.
• Mixed feelings about covering the topic due to extensive prior discourse.
• Importance of laughter in the face of failure.

Alleged Budget Crisis

• Initial budget estimates ranged from $200 million to $250 million.
• New estimates suggest development costs may exceed $400 million.
• Discussion includes input from anonymous developers.
• Current state of Concord considered a major financial disaster for Sony.
• Unique nature of video game recovery: unlike movies or TV shows, a game must sell to recoup its costs.

Industry Impact

• Concord's situation highlights significant issues within the video game sector.
• Comparison made to other entertainment industry failures, noting Concord's brief studio life (only two weeks).
• Suggests potential dissolution of the studio due to lack of faith in future projects.

Leadership Concerns

• Criticism of Herman Holst's leadership and vision for PlayStation.
• Initial excitement about Concord being the "future of PlayStation".
• Reception of the game was largely negative; characters and lore did not engage gamers.

Gameplay and Development Issues

• Questions raised about what justified the $400 million budget.
• Suggestion of previous gaming trends influencing initial development concept (hero shooter mechanics).
• Notion of possible mismanagement leading to substantial budget overruns.

Culture of Toxic Positivity

• Reference to a tweet discussing "toxic positivity" in game development.
• Ethan Gotch's remarks about a culture that assumes success without critical feedback.
• Critique of industry 'yes-men' who fail to provide honest opinions on game quality.

Broader Implications

• Over 12,000 layoffs in the gaming industry, highlighting the fragility of the market.
• Toxic positivity may contribute to failures in major AAA games.
• Need for developers, journalists, and critics to adopt more realistic perspectives on game quality.

Conclusion

• Call for reflection on toxic positivity's impact on the gaming industry.
• Final thoughts on the potential for learning from Concord's failures.
• Encouragement for audience engagement in discussion.
• Mention of personal projects (book sales and merchandise) as a way to support the channel.