Gaming
EA Pulls the Plug on Anthem: Servers Shutting Down in 2026

Electronic Arts has announced the end of Anthem, BioWare’s ill-fated multiplayer action-RPG, with servers officially closing on January 12, 2026. The decision marks the final chapter for a game that struggled to recover from its rocky launch and abandoned reboot.
What’s Happening?
- Server shutdown: Anthem will remain playable online for 180+ days (until Jan. 12, 2026).
- No new purchases:
- Removed from digital stores (EA Play, Steam, etc.) effective August 15, 2025.
- Premium currency sales halted, but existing balances can still be used.
- Post-shutdown: The game will be unplayable (no offline mode exists).
Why Now?
- Long-abandoned project: EA/BioWare scrapped Anthem NEXT (a planned overhaul) in 2021 after failing to fix core issues.
- Declining player base: Despite a cult following, the game never recovered from its 2019 launch woes (repetitive gameplay, bugs, lack of content).
- BioWare’s focus shift: The studio is now prioritizing Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and Mass Effect 4.
Anthem’s Troubled Legacy
- 2019 Launch: Criticized for shallow loot, empty open world, and technical issues.
- 2020 Reboot Promise: BioWare pledged to “reinvent the core gameplay” under Anthem NEXT—but canceled it a year later.
- Final Nail: EA’s shutdown confirms Anthem as one of gaming’s biggest missed opportunities.
Community Reaction
- Disappointment but no surprise: Fans mourned the game’s potential, though many saw this coming.
- Memorial efforts: Some players plan final squad missions before servers close.
- Lessons learned? Anthem’s failure highlights risks of live-service overreach without a solid foundation.
What’s Next for BioWare?
- Dragon Age: Dreadwolf (2024/25?) – Hoping to avoid Anthem’s mistakes.
- Mass Effect 4 – Early development, but fans demand a return to single-player roots.
Final Farewell
While Anthem’s exosuit gameplay and art design had flashes of brilliance, its identity crisis (RPG? Looter-shooter?) and lack of post-launch vision doomed it. As servers wind down, it joins Marvel’s Avengers and Babylon’s Fall in the graveyard of failed live-service games.
For players:
- Squeeze in last flights before 2026.
- Save clips/screenshots—your Javelin’s legacy ends here.
- Hope BioWare’s next games learn from this.