Why Did Anthem Fail

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The game titled Anthem, launched in 2017, received harsh criticism for its weak storyline and mediocre gameplay. Critics pointed out that the story failed to meet BioWare’s usual standards, while the gameplay appeared to be an effort to extend the live-service endgame by padding content. Interestingly, there was one mission designed primarily to lengthen the game, thus making players invest more time. However, the core concept of Anthem and its “Iron Man Simulator” feel were well executed.

Deciding among the Javelins in Anthem was a difficult task due to their outstanding and enjoyable nature; however, Anthem didn’t deliver on this promise and ultimately fell short. BioWare aimed to enhance the game with Anthem 2.0, but EA eventually discontinued further development after a certain period. Now, players have learned that EA will once again cease support for Anthem in January 2026. Upon EA’s withdrawal of Anthem, it will no longer be available for either online or offline play. Since Anthem is designed exclusively for servers and online interaction, making it playable offline would require substantial resources beyond what most people might expect. Nevertheless, the question persists: why did Anthem falter?

Anthem’s Failure Is a Series of Unfortunately Preventable Events

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on the journey of Anthem, a game that didn’t quite meet expectations. While it’s true that much has been gleaned from its development process, it’s clear now that BioWare, a studio renowned for single-player RPGs, venturing into live-service games hasn’t been the smoothest transition. The truth is, Anthem’s shortcomings weren’t solely due to one mistake, but a chain of missteps from its inception.

  • Development began after the release of Mass Effect 3; however, it’s documented that the game did not have a clear vision from the onset. BioWare’s only goal was a co-op action game that moved away from Mass Effect and Dragon Age.
  • The idea of robotic exosuits emerged early; however, at first it was envisioned as a mission-based narrative survival game rather than a looter shooter (something BioWare does not have experience in).
  • This was its state around E3 2014, but it needed serious upscaling and technological improvements that were hard-pressed, if even possible, with the Frostbite engine.
  • Casey Hudson, who had overseen the project, left BioWare near the end of 2015.
  • From 2014-2016, the story of Anthem was unclear and reworked. This strained other areas of development.
  • Woes around the Frostbite engine worsened as EA management demanded all studios use this technology. This led to some gameplay concepts being scrapped.
  • Around 2016, BioWare developers began being consistently moved around—something that has not historically worked for it from this point. Anthem devs were pulled for FIFA, later Dragon Age devs were pulled for Anthem, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard‘s development was reworked after this as well.
  • Late into the project, there were reported concerns of poor management as the product was nowhere near final stages.
  • In the final years of its development cycle, another series of events radically changed Anthem‘s final design.
    • EA was not happy with the Christmas demo.
    • BioWare was forced to make a new trailer for E3 2017. EA was happy with this demo, particularly the flying, which had been re-worked over and over throughout development.
    • Anthem devs were pulled to help with Mass Effect: Andromeda.
    • Leadership shuffles, development changes, and various other factors saw delays.
    • Anthem devs would later reveal that most of the game was developed the year prior to its release.
  • Mismanagement at all levels could perhaps be summarize Anthem’s failure, but as seen above, there are a lot of misfires that led to its launch.

Over an extended period, a string of challenges led to the game “Anthem” being developed in just one year. The condition it debuted in was a direct consequence of this hurdle-filled process, and the swift conclusion meant that the game failed to meet BioWare’s narrative abilities or live up to its reputation as a “Destiny Killer.” The hype surrounding the release was immense, but unfortunately, it fell short. There are numerous scenarios where different decisions might have steered the game in a better direction, but what we got is not the game it could have been. “Anthem” had the possibility for a “Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty”-like comeback, and BioWare endeavored to achieve that with “Anthem Next” or “Anthem 2.0.” Regrettably, this potential went unused.

In my opinion, you should treat Anthem like an Iron Man simulation game. It’s not a game that’s considered a looter shooter masterpiece or a live-service title, but rather an enjoyable way to spend some time flying around and shooting things. Given the current state of the game, this is probably the best way to experience it. Plus, right now it’s quite affordable, and despite its flaws, what it offers is definitely worth more than the price you’ll pay for it.

The primary letdown in Anthem is its unfulfilled promise. It had the foundations to become something extraordinary, but a hasty and protracted development process, lack of foresight and backing, and regrettably, extended development duration and resources have made it one of BioWare’s most significant setbacks. As development expenses escalated, resources diverted, and more changes occurred at BioWare in the late 2010s, its project timelines became excessively lengthy. Many studios have moved towards focusing on a single or two intellectual properties, and BioWare seems to function primarily as a Mass Effect studio these days, which is disappointing for its fans.

Anthem Player Count

At the moment, it’s challenging to determine the level of activity for the online game “Anthem.” Here are three key aspects to ponder upon in this situation:

1. Check user reviews and ratings: These can give you an idea about the current player base and general interest in the game.
2. Visit official community platforms: Forums, social media pages, or subreddits for Anthem might provide insights into ongoing discussions and events within the gaming community.
3. Observe game developers’ updates: Regular announcements from the development team could indicate that they are still actively working on new content or updates for the game, which suggests an active player base.

  • First, Anthem‘s player count is likely to explode if temporarily. Anthem‘s closure comes at the time of the #StopKillingGames petition, and it’s a perfect example of why. These fans, to prove their point, may elect to play Anthem.
  • Second, Anthem is not currently popular on Twitch. Stream Charts paints a not-so-pretty picture listing only 2 live channels and 4 live viewers.
  • MMO Population is predicting the number of Anthem players to increase throughout July, predicting an average of 15K per day. That feels unlikely, but a spike is easily foreseeable.

Anthem Shutdown

EA recently published a guide answering common questions about what changes to anticipate in the closing of ‘Anthem’. It’s important to mention that starting August 15, the game will no longer be available on EA Play and services such as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Q: How long will I have to play Anthem?

The game servers will stay active until January 12, 2026. After that date, you won’t be able to play the game anymore.

Q: Why can’t I play Anthem in offline mode?

As someone who’s spent countless hours immersed in Anthem, I want to share some important news about its future. Since it was built as an online-exclusive game, once the servers are shut down, I won’t be able to continue my adventures within its world anymore. It’s a bittersweet thought, but it’s something we gamers need to prepare for eventually.

Q: Can I still install Anthem if I had previously purchased the game?

As a gamer, I’ve got good news! If I’ve already bought Anthem, I can still download it from my digital library and play it until January 12, 2026. It’s like having an everlasting gaming pass to that universe!

Q: Why can I no longer purchase Anthem or in-game currency?

For the following 180 days or more, you’ll be able to continue playing Anthem online. During this time, feel free to spend any remaining in-game premium currency. We are planning to shut down the live servers of the game on January 13, 2026.

Q: Will I still be able to use my in-game currency?

Absolutely, you’ll be able to continue using your existing in-game premium credits up until the game is officially closed on January 12, 2026.

Q: How long will the game stay on EA Play?

A: Anthem will be removed from the EA Play playlist on August 15, 2025.

Q: Has anyone else at BioWare been affected by these changes?

A: No, the sunsetting of Anthem has not led to any layoffs.

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2025-07-04 17:16