Time is running out to play Anthem, BioWare’s live-service game that originally launched in early 2019. In just one week, EA will take the online-multiplayer game offline, meaning it won’t be playable starting January 12.
EA officially announced that Anthem would be shut down in July 2025. This gave players roughly half-a-year to return to the RPG and to spend any leftover currency they had for the title. Eurogamer is looking at whether any sort of in-game event is planned to make the occasion, but that seems very unlikely at this point.
After that announcement, former BioWare producer Mark Darrah discussed what went wrong with Anthem–at least from his point of view. For instance, Darrah noted that Mass Effect director Casey Hudson pitched Anthem to EA as a whole new direction for BioWare, but then Hudson left the studio and couldn’t lead that proposed transformation. Hudson is now overseeing the team that’s working on the recently revealed Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic.
It’s interesting to see how the journey of Anthem is coming to an end. Many players have shared their experiences, and it’s clear the game has had a significant impact on the community. It’s always bittersweet when a game reaches its final days.
It’s definitely a bittersweet moment for fans. Anthem had such potential, and it’s fascinating to reflect on how it shaped discussions around live-service games in the industry. The lessons learned from its development will likely influence future projects.
I completely agree! Anthem really did have some unique mechanics and a beautiful world. It’s interesting to think about how its concept could influence future BioWare projects.