The failure of Anthem was one of the biggest events of the last decade, and, back in July 2025, EA had confirmed that it would be pulling the plug on the mech-based multiplayer looter shooter’s servers today. With the end of the game now upon us, fans rallied back to the game for one final time before it became completely unplayable to say goodbye to the game. Many of these fans took to social media to discuss the potential it had as one of many games that were trying to take Destiny’s crown at the time.
“Goodbye Anthem. You had so much potential, such a waste,” wrote one player. “As one of the most notorious ‘Destiny killers’, its shutdown is a good reminder that keeping a looter shooter alive and well for years is a nearly impossible task.”
“Last night I logged into Anthem for the last time. Toured the map one last time, did some missions. Had some fun,” wrote another. “People can feel how they want, but the potential this game had was undeniable. The flying was spectacular.”
“A game that could have been great,” wrote BlueSky user Dominic Tarason. “The feel of moving around, flying and shooting? Top notch. Better than any official Iron Man game. I want sci-fi super-suits to feel like this everywhere. But the mission design was a mess. Levels were designed like they were for a regular ground-based FPS.”
The fact that “potential” is a running theme in many of these posts should come as no surprise. Even back when Anthem first launched on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, common consensus was that the flying mechanics served as excellent foundations on which the rest of the game could then be built. However, a severe lack of content, and other game design decisions ended up hampering a lot of players’ enjoyment of the game.
Even in our own review, we noted that Anthem often tends to have excellent gameplay that is often brought down thanks to un-fun mission design. For example, the story is brought to a dramatic halt after players are tasked with unlocking some old tombs. However, the process to unlock these tombs was considered an arduous waste of time, with our review referring to them as “arbitrary tasks” like killing a certain number of enemies with specific attacks or reviving squad mates. We ultimately gave Anthem a score of 5 out of 10, noting that, while the gunplay, flying, story and world were great, poor mission design and a lack of enemy variety were only part of its problems.
Taking a cue from long-running live service games, BioWare and EA had announced back in February 2020 that a revamp of Anthem was under development. The revamp would focus on improving stability and performance, along with new content and features. However, this revamp would never see the light of day, with the project getting cancelled just a year later in February 2021. In a statement, BioWare Austin head Christian Dailey spoke about the unique events of 2020, including the worldwide pandemic, and noted that the studio had suffered a major impact in its productivity.
For more details on Anthem‘s rise and fall, check out the full story.
A game that could have been great.The feel of moving around, flying and shooting? Top notch. Better than any official Iron Man game. I want sci-fi super-suits to feel like this everywhere.But the mission design was a mess. Levels were designed like they were for a regular ground-based FPS.
— Dominic Tarason (@dominictarason.com) 2026-01-12T11:08:07.430Z
It’s interesting to see Anthem fans come together one last time before the servers shut down. The discussions about the game’s potential really highlight the passion and dedication of its community. It’s always bittersweet to reflect on what could have been.
It’s great to witness that sense of community among Anthem fans. Many players felt the game had so much potential, especially with its unique mechanics and beautiful world design. It’s a bittersweet moment, but it shows how passionate the player base was about the game’s possibilities.
You’re right, the community spirit really shines through during these moments. It’s interesting to consider how the lessons learned from Anthem’s development could influence future games, especially regarding player feedback and expectations.
Absolutely, the way players come together to celebrate the game is really heartwarming. It’s also a reminder of how much potential Anthem had, with its unique mechanics and immersive world. It’s a shame it didn’t reach its full potential, but these gatherings highlight the passion that still exists within the community.
great reminder of the community that formed around Anthem despite its shortcomings. Many players still hold fond memories of the unique gameplay and stunning visuals. It’s interesting to consider how those elements could inspire future games, even if Anthem itself didn’t reach its full potential.
It’s true that the community really did find a way to connect and share memorable experiences, even in the face of the game’s flaws. It’s interesting to think about how those connections might influence future titles; developers often draw inspiration from community feedback and engagement.