Harmony’s launch hasn’t gone as deliberate. Since its launch for PC and PS5 over every week in the past, the hero shooter has not solely seen lukewarm reception at finest, it’s additionally carried out shockingly the place its gross sales and participant numbers are involved, debuting with lower than 700 concurrent Steam gamers and reportedly promoting simply 25,000 models (after a chronic growth cycle). Now, writer Sony and developer Firewalk Studios are responding in drastic trend.
In a PlayStation Weblog replace, it has been introduced that on September 6, simply two weeks on from the sport’s launch, Harmony won’t solely be taken completely offline, it can even be pulled off sale. Those that have bought the sport can be issued full refunds, with Firewalk and Sony “discover choices” for the way forward for the game- if there may be one.
“Harmony followers — we’ve been listening carefully to your suggestions because the launch of Harmony on PlayStation 5 and PC and need to thank everybody who has joined the journey aboard the Northstar,” wrote recreation director Ryan Ellis. “Your assist and the passionate group that has grown across the recreation has meant the world to us.
“Nevertheless, whereas many qualities of the expertise resonated with gamers, we additionally acknowledge that different facets of the sport and our preliminary launch didn’t land the best way we’d supposed. Due to this fact, at the moment, we’ve got determined to take the sport offline starting September 6, 2024, and discover choices, together with these that can higher attain our gamers.
“Whereas we decide the perfect path forward, Harmony gross sales will stop instantly and we are going to start to supply a full refund for all avid gamers who’ve bought the sport for PS5 or PC.”
Does this imply Harmony will return as a free-to-play title? Will it even return in any respect? It’s anybody’s guess at this level, nevertheless it’s truthful to say that is an unprecedented transfer, and one which PlayStation may not have the ability to reside down for some time.
In our evaluate of Harmony, we gave it a rating of 6/10, saying, “Firewalk Studios’ Harmony constrains all of its creativeness on the Galactic Information, leaving little for the gameplay. Responsive gunplay and vibrant visuals can solely go to date, particularly when the competitors is doing higher without cost.” Learn the complete evaluate via right here.
