Concord's suspension has been raised in the UK Parliament's debate on consumer protection

Concord is the boogeyman of the video game industry. It was seen as an obvious live service trend chaser by a huge company with hardly any creative risks, which was eventually shut down in no time. Every studio is worried about creating the next Concord, and what it might mean for their future.

But it's also an example of the publisher failing to clarify how long the game would be supported. Refunds were issued in Concord's case, but UK House of Commons MP Ben Goldsborough wants to ensure consumers aren't left in the lurch if a live service developer suddenly decides to end support.

The British Parliament debates Concord in the debate on consumer rights

Concord Selects 1-0FF on the Freegunner Select Screen.

“A recent example is Concord, a game released for PlayStation 5 and Windows in August 2024,” said an MP in his statement (thanks, Eurogamer). “After a disappointing launch, Sony Interactive Entertainment made a commercial decision to shut it down. To their credit, they refunded all purchases, but that's not always the case.

“I know honorable Members will agree that where publishers fail to make the game's shelf life clear at the point of sale, they must be held accountable. That 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 rightly requires traders to provide timely and functional clear information to consumer products, including digital products.”

Developers may end support for live service games for a number of reasons. Whether it's to move on to a new project, layoffs to protect shareholder bottom lines, or simply because no one is playing the game, as was the case for Concord. With this new legislation in place, consumers will have a better idea of what kind of support they can expect from developers and make a more informed purchasing decision.

It is, of course, easier said than done. Putting out new content for a live service game hardly goes according to plan. Delays and issues are common, but even a rough understanding of post-launch support can help consumers.