How Concord Cuts Its Teeth On a Key Customization Feature For Hero Shooters

Highlights

• Concord stands out in the hero-shooter genre by forgoing the controversial battle pass system for a $40 base price and unique customization features.
• Firewalk Studios plans to launch Concord with 16 Freegunners, 12 maps, 6 modes, and hundreds of cosmetic rewards, showcasing a dedication to the game’s success.
• Concord’s attention to detail in customization, like altering glove colors, sets a new standard for first-person shooters and may inspire future games.

Concord, despite still being in its playtesting phase, has already made waves in the gaming world with its character vignettes and unique roster of Freegunners. Firewalk Studio’s hero-shooter, set to release on August 23, stands out for several reasons, most notably Concord‘s choice to forgo the controversial battle pass system often disparaged in similar games. Although the $40 base price might deter some, this PC and PS5 exclusive already shows great promise with its unique customization features.

Firewalk Studios has announced ambitious plans for the launch of Concord. According to the official PlayStation Blog, the game will introduce 16 Freegunners, 12 maps, and 6 modes, along with hundreds of cosmetic rewards. The studio’s dedication to Concord‘s success is evident in the detailed roadmaps for Seasons 1 and 2, which were recently revealed.

In Many Ways, Concord Is Raising the Bar for Other Hero-Shooters

Concord’s Customization Features Are Designed with a First-Person Perspective in Mind

While Concord‘s beta didn’t attract as many players as anticipated, the world-building and the effort to bring its diverse cast of characters to life are evident. Each Freegunner appears to be created with distinct design principles in mind, such as conveying personality through their attire and demeanor and through the sounds and shadows they create while traversing the map. It might not seem significant to everyone, but the ability to identify approaching characters based on their silhouette or voice lines may turn out to be a crucial aspect of Concord‘s gameplay.

Interestingly, the studio’s attention to detail is further showcased by the game’s free and purchasable cosmetics, which are tailored to the first-person perspective. For instance, customizable gloves might seem like a minor feature, but since they are among the few items visible to the player, they have a notable impact. In comparison, popular hero-shooters like Overwatch 2 feature Mythic Weapons, Mythic Weapon Inspects, and Weapon Charms, but the idea of solely altering the appearance of a character’s hands has not yet been explored.

Star Child, an aggressive Breacher with hardened diamond skin, epitomizes this approach. Beyond his signature Rage Rush and shotgun, his gloves serve as a testament to the game’s meticulous design. Though it’s subject to change, the beta version offers a customization option, allowing players to alter the color of the ropes adorning Star Child’s gloves.

Concord’s Design Focus Might Inspire Other First-Person Shooters

Given the precedent set by dominant first-person hero shooters like Overwatch, Team Fortress 2, and Valorant, it’s surprising that more games haven’t capitalized on the potential of fully customizable, player-visible character elements. After all, while flashy cosmetics often attract the envy of other players, it seems that more of these features would benefit from being designed with the player’s visibility in mind. Furthermore, with the increasing costs of skins and cosmetics in free-to-play games with in-game shops and battle passes, it makes sense to tailor customization options to the person buying them.

Conversely, if Concord were a third-person shooter like Marvel Rivals, Paladins, or Fortnite, this option might be less valuable. In third-person games, the camera is positioned behind and slightly above the player’s character, providing a view of both the character and their surroundings. As such, the impact of customizable gloves would be less pronounced from a third-person perspective, because there is less visual emphasis on specific character details. Of course, due to the ongoing debate about first-person versus third-person perspectives, Concord‘s decision to use a first-person view appears to be a conventional choice that is likely to appeal to a broader player base.