In an exciting collaboration with Amazon, Secret Level is set to transform 15 games into animated shorts, and the buzz around it is palpable—even if some entries have a bit of a sordid past. Tim Miller, the producer behind this ambitious project, recently sat down with Rolling Stone to unpack the enigma that is Concord, a game that has left both players and critics scratching their heads in bewilderment.
Concord, the much-discussed and short-lived title, had all the makings of a hit: a dedicated development team, vibrant game modes, and a range of cosmetics to fiddle with. Yet, for reasons as mystifying as why clowns are scary, it never hit the high notes it aimed for. Miller expressed his own confusion, “I honestly don’t understand why it didn’t work…they were trying to do the best they could, and they were a talented group of artists.” Alas, talented artists alone can’t always save a sinking ship, especially in a market teeming with games offering similar experiences.
The crux of Concord’s problem, as players have noted, was its mediocrity. A good talent pool notwithstanding, the game failed to distinguish itself from the cacophony of hero shooters vying for players’ attention. With an entry fee of $40/£35, Concord’s basic offering simply didn’t stack up against competitors like Helldivers 2, which managed to justify its price tag by giving players something fresh and worth their while. In Concord’s swan song week, a mere 35 players were scrambling for XP, highlighting its inability to build a robust community.
One could argue that a free-to-play model might have lent it the breathing room to grow—or at least hobble along more effectively before face-planting into obscurity. Yet, according to Steam statistics, Concord topped out at just 607 players, signaling a death knell much too early in its lifecycle.
Despite Concord’s stumble, Miller remains optimistic about its animation adaptation in Secret Level, suggesting that it might capture the untapped potential of Concord’s world and characters. “If it’s the remaining vestige of that product, I hope the developers feel that it’s in some way worthy,” he muses. The series isn’t just about giving a second wind to aging titles, though. Mega Man and Unreal Tournament, both part of the animated lineup, aren’t exactly brimming with new content either, which hints at Secret Level’s broader aim to breathe life into dormant franchises.
The show might even serve as a catalyst to revitalize these dusty gems. Miller hopes it might ignite interest in rekindling older projects, leveraging the series as a springboard for new initiatives.
Closing Credits
With Secret Level poised for its debut, fans are eyeing the series with anticipation, not just for nostalgia but as a spark plug for potential game revivals. The jury’s still out on whether this innovative storytelling approach can indeed galvanize forgotten franchises. But one thing’s for sure—the world of gaming could use a little shake-up, and Secret Level might just have the right amount of voltage. While no definitive release date has surfaced yet, the series promises to be worth the buzz when it does land in your streaming queue.
