Concord has made headlines once again, but not for reasons PlayStation fans might hope. Initially launched at the end of August 2024, this title quickly became one of Sony’s most notable commercial setbacks. Within just ten days, the game was pulled from shelves and its servers shut down, leaving players unable to enjoy its online-only gameplay. Recently, a group of dedicated fans managed to revive Concord through custom servers, offering a glimmer of hope to those holding legal copies. However, this effort was swiftly curtailed by Sony’s recent actions.
Sony’s Response to Fan Efforts
Reports suggest that Sony has initiated a series of DMCA takedowns targeting YouTube videos showcasing gameplay from these fan-created servers. The takedowns were executed by a company called MarkScan, which frequently handles such claims on behalf of Sony. While the developers behind the custom servers have not been directly targeted, the removal of gameplay videos signaled Sony’s awareness and potential readiness to take further action. One of the project’s lead developers mentioned in their Discord channel, “Due to worrying legal action we’ve decided to pause invites for the time being.”
Legal Concerns and Community Response
Despite Sony’s indirect approach, the development team remains cautious. They have made concerted efforts to ensure only players with legally obtained copies can join the custom servers, strictly prohibiting any sharing of illegal game copies. “I know this sucks for people who got forcefully refunded, but lawyers are most likely already watching everything we do and I want to ensure this project stays as legal as we realistically can do,” wrote the team. They also committed to removing posts with links to copyrighted content to maintain their project’s legality.
Although Sony has not formally shut down the custom server project, their actions against related video content serve as a clear warning of their stance on the matter.