Gaming News

Concord’s Shutdown Has Been Brought Up In UK Parliament’s Consumer Protections Discussion

On Nov 04, 2025 7:21 am, by NuclearCoffee

Concord is the boogeyman of the video game industry. It was viewed as a blatant live service trend-chaser by a massive corporation with barely any creative risks, which eventually got shut down in no time. Every studio is worried about creating the next Concord, and what it could mean for their future.

However, it’s also an example of the publisher failing to clarify how long the game would be supported for. Refunds were issued in Concord’s case, but UK House of Commons MP Ben Goldsborough wants to ensure that consumers aren’t left in a lurch if a live service developer suddenly decides to end support.

UK Parliament Discusses Concord Amid Consumer Rights Debate

“A recent example is Concord, a game released for PlayStation 5 and Windows in August 2024,” said one MP in their statement (thanks, Eurogamer). “Following a disappointing launch, Sony Interactive Entertainment made a commercial decision to shut it down. To their credit, they did refund all purchases, but this isn’t always the case.

“I know the honourable members will agree that where publishers fail to make the life span of a game clear at the point of sale, they must be held accountable. That’s why I welcome the strengthened consumer protections, including the digital markets, competition and consumers act 2024, which came into force earlier this year. This legislation rightly requires traders to provide clear, timely, and accurate information to consumers, including the longevity and functionality of digital products.”

Developers could end support for live-service games for a number of reasons. Whether it’s to move on to a new project, layoffs to protect the shareholders’ bottom line, or simply because no one is playing the game, as was the case for Concord. With these new legislations in place, consumers will have a better idea of the kind of support they can expect from the devs, and make a more informed purchasing decision.

Of course, that’s easier said than done. Putting out new content for a live service game barely ever goes according to plan. Delays and issues are common, but even a rough understanding of the post-launch support could help consumers.