Concord game director Ryan Ellis has stepped down from his role following the decision to take the game offline. This news comes after Ellis announced the shutdown of Concord in a PlayStation Blog post, where he stated that the Firewalk team would be exploring options for what to do next with the game.
Developers at Firewalk Studios are uncertain of the future of the studio, with some being asked to explore pitches for something completely different. According to reports, some Firewalk developers are refreshing their portfolios in anticipation of potential layoffs, and a few have already left the studio.
Ryan Ellis’ Background
Ellis, whose resume includes more than seven years at Bungie, informed staff of the change in role last week. His LinkedIn still lists his title as “Game Director.”
Sony has had some struggles with its live service efforts. Bungie announced in July that it would be laying off employees and moving others to PlayStation. Late last year, Naughty Dog canceled its planned multiplayer game based on The Last of Us.
The future of Concord and Firewalk Studios remains uncertain, with no official comment from Sony on the matter. The decision to take the game offline has left many wondering what’s next for the studio and its developers.
In light of the shutdown, some key points to note include: