If you're a fan of collectibles and gaming memorabilia, here’s something that might catch your eye. A commemorative plaque marking the worldwide launch of Sony's ambitious shooter, Concord, is currently up for auction on a popular goodwill platform. With bids already surpassing $3,000, this piece holds both historical and sentimental value for gamers and collectors alike.
This plaque was gifted to Chelsea Grace, who played a key role as the outsourcing and co-dev lead for Concord during her tenure at Firewalk Studios. While it remains unclear whether she personally donated the plaque or if it surfaced through other means, its connection to the studio adds intrigue. It's worth noting that Firewalk Studios was shut down by PlayStation towards the end of the previous year, further heightening the plaque's significance.
*Concord*, developed by Firewalk Studios under Sony’s umbrella, went down in PlayStation history as one of the biggest commercial failures. Despite high expectations, the game struggled with abysmal player engagement and was taken offline just two weeks post-launch. Reports suggest it sold fewer than 25,000 copies, leaving many scratching their heads. In our review, we awarded *Concord* a 7, praising its competitive gameplay, diverse roster of characters, and well-designed maps, though we noted it lacked innovation compared to competitors.This plaque, now being auctioned, is not just a memento—it's a symbol of both triumph and tragedy in the gaming world. Its current price tag reflects its growing appeal among collectors, standing at $3,002 as of this writing, thanks to coverage from outlets like Dexerto. All proceeds will benefit Goodwill, an organization dedicated to helping individuals achieve self-sufficiency through employment opportunities. To date, they've impacted over 25 million lives.
Tim Miller, creative head behind Amazon’s upcoming Prime Video series Secret Level, expressed his thoughts on Concord's closure last November. He remarked, "I honestly don’t understand why it didn’t work. They were clearly giving it their all, and the team was incredibly skilled—I feel terrible about what happened."
Sony bore significant financial losses due to Concord. Initial development costs were pegged at around $200 million, yet insiders indicate this figure fell short of covering the full scope of the project. Moreover, the $200 million did not include acquiring the intellectual property rights or purchasing Firewalk Studios outright. ProbablyMonsters, Firewalk’s original parent company, reportedly raised $200 million in 2021, suggesting the scale of investment required was far greater than initially anticipated.
