Firewalk Studios is being shut down

Fenton

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22 Feb 2023
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While mobile remains a priority growth area for the Studio Business, we are in the very early stage of our mobile efforts. To achieve success in this area we need to concentrate on titles that are in-line with PlayStation Studios’ pedigree and have the potential to reach more players globally.


With this re-focused approach, Neon Koi will close, and its mobile action game will not be moving forward. I want to express my gratitude to everyone at Neon Koi for their hard work and endless passion to innovate.


Regarding Firewalk, as announced in early September (An Important Update on Concord), certain aspects of Concord were exceptional, but others did not land with enough players, and as a result we took the game offline. We have spent considerable time these past few months exploring all our options.


After much thought, we have determined the best path forward is to permanently sunset the game and close the studio.   I want to thank all of Firewalk for their craftsmanship, creative spirit and dedication

 

Evilnemesis8

Veteran
19 Dec 2023
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I think we all saw this coming.
SIE has been in cost cutting measures recently and a studio that lost quite a bit of money and is looking at 5-6 years until their next game is not going to be kept, especially with Seattle/Bellevue Washington levels of salaries.
 

Entropi

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22 Jan 2023
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I believe this to be a mistake. Concord had several issues that weren’t directly related to the gameplay. The game itself was quite solid.

Or, maybe they did burn 4 billion dollars making it.
 
  • they're_right_you_know
Reactions: voke

Gediminas

Boy...
Founder
21 Jun 2022
7,307
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While mobile remains a priority growth area for the Studio Business, we are in the very early stage of our mobile efforts. To achieve success in this area we need to concentrate on titles that are in-line with PlayStation Studios’ pedigree and have the potential to reach more players globally.


With this re-focused approach, Neon Koi will close, and its mobile action game will not be moving forward. I want to express my gratitude to everyone at Neon Koi for their hard work and endless passion to innovate.


Regarding Firewalk, as announced in early September (An Important Update on Concord), certain aspects of Concord were exceptional, but others did not land with enough players, and as a result we took the game offline. We have spent considerable time these past few months exploring all our options.


After much thought, we have determined the best path forward is to permanently sunset the game and close the studio.   I want to thank all of Firewalk for their craftsmanship, creative spirit and dedication

great buy by Jimbo!

and of course, Amazing management from Hulst also!
 

Gediminas

Boy...
Founder
21 Jun 2022
7,307
9,004
Good call. Now learn from it Herman.
Trying Not To Laugh GIF
 

quest4441

Veteran
27 Feb 2024
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They should sue Probably Monsters for this scam and Sony shareholders in turn should sue Herman Hulst for running this irresponsible fiduciary scam. The useless people at Firewalk got salary for 2 more months than necessary

Dance Lol GIF by Endangered Labs


Now hopefully we can get rid of Bungie, Haven and Firesprite too
 

Dabaus

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28 Jun 2022
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If this Truly was Hermans "baby" i think he needs a demotion or needs to take a walk too. Such poor foresight at a time when sony is bleeding partners that used to exclusively work with them almost every day now. Imagine what a 400 million dollar investment in SE could do or 400 million in money hats.
 

FatKaz

Veteran
16 Jul 2022
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Wow i thought they'd give it a chance as an f2p, probably best to kill it off as initial impressions screwed it.

If this Truly was Hermans "baby" i think he needs a demotion or needs to take a walk too. Such poor foresight at a time when sony is bleeding partners that used to exclusively work with them almost every day now. Imagine what a 400 million dollar investment in SE could do or 400 million in money hats.
Herman is only part of the problem. Sony leadership as a whole are what's the problem.

Things won't change with one person gone.
 

quest4441

Veteran
27 Feb 2024
2,073
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Bwahahaha they closed the mobile game studio as well, As I have said repeatedly these bumbling idiots have no clue how to make a multiplayer game that sets the world on fire.

I foresee many future studio closures including the so called top tier first party studios. Abandoning your home market and roots, insult your customers and pander to modern audiences seems like a recipe for success alright
Thierry Henry Smile GIF by hamlet
 

ethomaz

Rebolation!
21 Jun 2022
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Brasil 🇧🇷
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ethomaz
Loud weirdos are not that influential.
The game was not the right fit for the market, consumers rejected it.
Rejected due anti-DEI agenda on social.

Anybody that played the game could have changed the impression.
But vast didn't give the game a chance due the "controversies".

It didn't have an already build up IP to counter it and make people try it.