Timeline
Concord's timing should have been more aligned with the player base and competition. As a new IP, it should have avoided releasing close to other AAA titles and the major buying seasons.
Firewalk Studios is Created - 2018
The creation of the studio by ex-Bungie and Activision Developers
The Teaser Trailer is Released - October 2019
The teaser trailer would be much shorter than the one that was released by Sony in 2023. It would be 10 seconds or less and would tease a potential release date. This would be used to promote on social media and begin to establish an online presence. This would be accompanied by a brief description of what is to be expected.
First Official Trailer- February 2020
First fficial trailer to be released on all social media and the game's official website.
Begin Taking Preorders- April 2020
Digital pre-orders are opened to the public. This will give an infusion of funds for the continued development process.
Gameplay Trailer Released - May 2021
Most gameplay trailers are released 6 months to a year before the full release.
Paid Partnerships/ Gameplay Releases - June 2021
Beginning about 4-6 months before the full release, paid partnerships with content creators will begin. This will get more content out about the game on the social media platforms with the most reach. These players will have all the previously recorded content from the closed playtest at their disposal to promotethe game.
Closed Beta - November 2021
This closed beta will be exclusive to those who have preordered and content creators. One way to get more engagement would be to allow those who have access to get a code to share with a friend. Another way players could get codes would be to allow those who watch a paid partner's stream on Twitch for a set period. This would bring in players at a moderate rate, and we can observe how the servers handle the increased volume ahead of the open beta.
Roadmap Release - February 2022
This road map would lay out how the content would be released over the first year of the game. This would detail the first few seasons and give a preview of the events and new content to be expected. Driving interest in the game as well as the paid content.
Release of Overwatch 2 - October 2022
Concord was intended to compete with Overwatch 2. The developers should have intended to release their game in the next major buying season, either before or after this one.
Game Direction is Determined -Jan 2019
Once the Studio was created. They should have taken immediate action and determined the genre and direction of their game. This would prevent the 150+ employees from wasting time and they could get to work immediately.
First Game Assets Near Completion - Jan 2020
At this point, the majority of the characters and at least 2 of the game stages and peripheral assets should be completed. At this point, the full trailer and gameplay trailers should begin preparation
Closed Alpha - March 2020
After limited play testing, the closed alpha would be offered to FPS streamers. They would play the game behind closed doors, but should be allowed to speak publicly on their opinions of the game but are not allowed to record their gameplay. Their recorded gameplay should not be released until the studio releases their game play trailer, which would be made using this and future gameplay.
Acquired by Sony- April 2021
If we were to assume that Sony would have purchased the company at approximately the same time, this would have given a massive influx of funds and a revamping of the marketing campaign. From this point forward, the posting and engagement should have become much more consistent.
Closed Play Test May 2021-
This play test will be used to gather feedback from high-level players and gather data on unforeseen exploits. These exploits are often undiscovered before the full release due to the unpredictability of the high level of play from the pros. Also, since this game was meant to cater to the competitive game scene, their input is needed early and often. Lastly, those within this test who are content creators will be allowed to capture their gameplay and release it the following month.
Character Trailer Releases- June - August 2021
Short videos on the characters and their abilities are being released. This will allow the lore to begin to be formed for the community. They will begin to connect with the content that was previously sent out by the paid promoters.
Call of Duty Vanguard Release - November 2021
It is important to avoid the release of the Call of Duty games when releasing a first-person shooter. This particular Call of Duty was not well received and received lower ratings than expected. This left gamers hungry for an alternative and provided the perfect opportunity to introduce the public playtest.
Closed Beta - December 2021
The beta/stress test would be open to the public. Those who participate would be eligible to receive exclusive rewards. This data would be used for balance changes ahead of the full release. This time slot for the beta should coincide with the Christmas break to drive more engagement and give the players as much playtime as possible.
Full Game Release - March 2022
The game will be released for FREE in March of 2022. March is a desirable game release date that is approaching the summer and usually sees little competition. In March of 2022, there were no competitive shooters and no game of the year nominees released. For a brand new game, this is a good time to gain a foothold in the market ahead of the Overwatch 2 release and after the Call of Duty release.