Sony ran into an unexpected challenge — not from players this time, but from British lawmakers. The catalyst was Concord, which the company shuttered just days after launch. The title, conceived as the flagship of PlayStation’s games-as-a-service strategy, quickly became one of the brand’s most high-profile failures.
The matter moved to the UK Parliament, where MPs debated consumer protections and the preservation of digital games. One lawmaker commented:
“The case of Concord, released in August 2024 on PlayStation 5 and PC, demonstrated that users must know how long a product will remain functional.”
He pointed out that Sony refunded buyers, “but that does not always happen.”
MPs emphasised that publishers should disclose in advance the expected availability period of their games. The new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 requires firms to provide “clear, timely and accurate information about the lifespan of digital products.” This is especially crucial for games-as-a-service, where players can lose access without warning.
MP Ben Goldsboro, citing the Stop Killing Games movement, reminded colleagues that the games industry contributes £7.6 billion to the UK economy and supports 75,000 jobs.
“Players invest not only money but emotion. When a game vanishes, a part of their life vanishes with it.”
The debate over Concord has become a symbol of how the industry treats its customers. Although the government does not currently intend to introduce further measures, the repercussions of Sony’s failure are clearly being felt.
Source: iXBT.games