Sony's latest live-service title is Concord, a 5v5 hero shooter that was developed by Firewalk Studios and will not be featuring a battle pass system.
The studio also said that players own Concord and not the other way around, which is a fresh point of view amid a slew of profit-based titles in recent times. In a series of posts on social media, Firewalk Studios explained the reasoning for the lack of a battle pass.
Concord Will Not Feature a Battle Pass System
The company said that it wanted to focus its attention on making Concord a rewarding and "robust experience" on the day that it launches.
It said that it hoped that just playing the game, leveling up accounts and characters, and completing jobs, would yield meaningful rewards.
Concord gameplay animation director Mark DeRidder also made a separate post where he confirmed that the game will not feature a battle pass. This was a surprising, but not unwelcome, change from what players have seen in other games, according to Eurogamer.
Other games, including Sony's Helldivers 2, usually come with a seasonal battle pass but Concord will instead take advantage of cosmetic customization items to make a profit. Firewalk Studios also said that the newest hero shooter will include additional cinematics.
These will be ones beyond those that will be featured in the game's recent open beta and will receive new Freegunners, maps, modes, and more in regular post-launch seasons and updates.
Setting Itself Apart From Competitors
On top of confirming that Concord will not have a battle pass system, the developer shared a series of slides that explained more about how its progression will work.
It was said that when the hero shooter launches, there will be hundreds of items to customize players' heroes, said Kotaku.
Another thing that the developer teased is a potential "leaver penalty system" that would incentivize players to finish matches instead of leaving early and abandoning their teammates.
It also sounds like Galactic Guide will give players a narrative-focused diversion from regular matches.
Sony's Concord has had a relatively short journey from when it was revealed to its beta to its expected official release in late August this year. It also recorded lower-than-expected player numbers during its recent Steam beta.
With how hype for the upcoming hero shooter is slow right now, it could struggle to get the jump on competitors when it actually releases later this year. But only time will tell whether or not Concord will be able to deliver what it promises, according to PCGamer.
