A Video Game Flopped Harder Than Anything at the Box Office This Year, Unnoticed

In the summer of 2024, Sony's multiplayer shooter game, Concord, emerged as one of the most significant entertainment failures in history, reportedly costing around $400 million but generating only $1 million in revenue. Released on August 23, the game sold approximately 25,000 copies and peaked at 700 concurrent players on PC before being taken offline just two weeks later. Despite its monumental loss, mainstream media largely overlooked the story, reflecting a persistent disconnect between traditional news outlets and the gaming industry. While films like Joker: Folie à Deux received extensive coverage for their failures, Concord's collapse went unnoticed, highlighting a long-standing bias against video games as a serious form of entertainment. This disparity raises questions about the media's understanding of gaming's cultural significance, especially as the industry has grown to surpass movies and television in revenue. The lack of coverage suggests a failure in the mainstream press to recognize gaming as a vital part of contemporary entertainment, despite its widespread popularity and impact.

- Sony's Concord is considered one of the biggest entertainment flops, losing approximately $399 million.

- The game was taken offline just two weeks after its release due to poor sales and low player engagement.

- Mainstream media largely ignored Concord's failure, contrasting with extensive coverage of movie flops.

- The oversight reflects a long-standing bias against video games in traditional news outlets.

- The gaming industry has surpassed movies and television in revenue, yet remains underreported in mainstream media.