Well, at least one (potential) positive may come from Concord's unprecedented failure: the disastrous PS5 and PC shooter is now being used to push for stronger consumer rights in the UK.
As reported by Eurogamer, the 2024 title, which was shut down just two weeks after launch, has been mentioned by name in the House of Commons — essentially a key part the UK's government structure.
Basically, representatives have been debating on whether improvements need to be made in regards to protecting consumers.
There's an ongoing argument that video games in particular are getting away with shortchanging buyers. For example, when a title is permanently taken offline, there's not much that can be done from a consumer point of view — and this kind of thing ties into digital ownership and all that stuff.
Labour Party MP (Member of UK Parliament) Ben Goldsborough led the charge, stating: "Gamers still feel the deep sense of personal possession, because they invest more than money. They invest time, effort, imagination, and friendship. When a game shuts down without notice, that investment is lost."
One MP actually brought up Concord as a bit of a positive, saying that Sony did the right thing in refunding those who bought it.
However, the flip side of this is that most publishers simply don't go down that road — although Concord was obviously an outlier in just how catastrophic its release was.
"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," said the MP.
They continued: "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."
Hey, sounds like a good idea to us!
What's your opinion on all of this? Should publishers be doing a lot better with explaining their plans for online games and digital releases? Sign some kind of petition in the comments section below.