Concord's closure was raised during a consumer protection debate in the UK Parliament.

Concord is the boogeyman of the video game industry. It was seen as a blatant live service trend chaser for a huge company with little creative risk, but the company ended up shutting down quickly. Every studio is worried about creating the next Concord and what it will mean for their future.

However, this is also an example of the publisher not making it clear how long the game will be supported. Refunds have been issued in Concord's case, but UK MP Ben Goldsborough wants to make sure consumers aren't left in the lurch if the live service's developer suddenly decides to end support.

UK parliament debates Concord amid consumer rights debate

On the Freegunner selection screen, Concord selects 1-0FF.

“A recent example is Concord, a game released for PlayStation 5 and Windows in August 2024,” one MP said in a statement (thanks, Eurogamer). “Following a disappointing launch, Sony Interactive Entertainment has made the commercial decision to cease operations. We have refunded all purchases, but this is not always the case.

“I know honorable members will agree that publishers should be held accountable if they fail to clearly disclose the lifespan of their games at the point of sale, which is why I welcome the strengthened consumer protections, including the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act 2024, which came into force earlier this year. This legislation rightfully requires merchants to provide consumers with clear, timely and accurate information, including about the lifespan and functionality of their digital products.”

Developers may end support for a live service game for a variety of reasons. This could be due to a shift to a new project, layoffs to protect shareholder interests, or, as was the case with Concord, simply because no one is playing the game. With these new laws in place, consumers will be more aware of the kind of support they can expect from developers and will be able to make more informed purchasing decisions.

Of course, it's easier said than done. Releasing new content for a live service game rarely goes as planned. Delays and issues are common, but just having a general understanding of post-launch support can be helpful to consumers.