PlayStation’s answer to Overwatch is being opened to the public with its first beta weekend, so here’s everything you need to know before you jump in.
Concord made a splash for all the wrong reasons when it was revealed during Sony’s State Of Play in May, but now the hero shooter is set for its first real test.
Developed by Firewalk Studios, which was founded by former Bungie CEO Harold Ryan, Concord is a first person 5v5 hero shooter which takes heavy inspiration from Overwatch and James Gunn’s Guardians Of The Galaxy.
The shooter is part of PlayStation’s new push for live service success, although it remains to be seen whether it will pop off like Palworld or sink faster than you can say Rumbleverse. If you’re willing to give it a fair shake, check out all the information you need on the betas below.
When does the Concord beta weekend start?
The first Concord beta is an early access weekend across PlayStation 5 and PC, which will begin on Friday July 12 at 6pm BST in the UK. This translates to 10am PDT/1pm EDT in the US, and 7pm CEST for Europe.
The beta weekend will conclude on Sunday July 14 at 6pm BST in the UK, so you have 48 hours to relish in what Concord has to offer.
If you’re keen, the beta can be pre-downloaded now from the PlayStation Store before launch. While the early access weekend was originally only for those who have pre-ordered Concord (either on PlayStation 5 or PC), Sony has since opened the beta to all PS Plus subscribers.
That means anyone on PlayStation 5, with a subscription, can jump in. But if you’re on PC, you still have to pre-order to get access.
What is included in the beta early access weekend?
During the early access period, all 16 characters (known as Freegunners) planned for launch will be available to play. There will be four maps available too, named Freewater, Star Chamber, Water Hazard, and Shock Risk.
On these maps, you’ll be able to play three different modes. Cargo Run is a no-respawn mode where teams compete to retrieve a Blue Buddy robotic package, which you deliver to one of the zones and defend from the opposing team to win.
The second mode, Trophy Hunt, appears to be a riff on Call Of Duty’s Kill Confirmed, where teams fight to take down each other and collect bounty cards to earn points. Respawns are allowed in this mode, with the first team to hit the target score before the time runs out being the winners.
The last is Clash Point, a round-based mode with no respawns where teams fight to control a single capture zone at a central location on the map.
When is the Concord open beta?
Following the early access weekend, an open beta for Concord will take place next week from Thursday July 18 at 6pm BST/10am PDT, with pre-downloads available on PlayStation 5, starting from Wednesday July 17 at the same time. This beta will end on Sunday July 21.
If you participate in the early access weekend, your progress will carry over to the open beta. However, none of this progress will carry over to the full game when it launches on August 23.
The open beta will feature all the same modes and maps as before, along with two new additions: a new map, Bone Mines, and a new respawn mode named Area Control, where players fight to control multiple zones around the map.
What do I get for taking part in the beta?
While your progress will not carry to the final game, anyone who participates in either beta will receive some minor cosmetic rewards at launch. These are a Frog weapon charm (which isn’t an actual frog but a dropship named as such), and a Star Flare icon and business card.
Concord will officially launch on PlayStation 5 and PC from August 23, 2024.
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