BioWare’s Anthem to Shut Down, Sparking Debate

The online multiplayer game Anthem, developed by Electronic Arts and BioWare, will cease operations on January 12, rendering it unplayable and fueling the debate over game preservation.

End of Service

As Anthem was designed as an exclusively online experience, BioWare stated that the game will become obsolete once the servers are shut down. Moreover, the game will be removed from EA Play’s playlist starting August 15.

Although players are currently unable to purchase in-game currency, they can still use their existing currency until the servers go offline. No layoffs at BioWare will result from the game’s termination.

Industry Reactions

The decision to discontinue Anthem arrives amid considerable upheaval in the gaming sector, as companies face increasing pressure from players to develop “end of life” strategies for online service games. This comes as the gaming industry is seeing substantial growth; in 2024, the video game market was valued at nearly $347 Billion USD (Statista).

A Troubled History

The development of Anthem, which spanned almost seven years, was marked by significant revisions. Upon its release in 2019, it was widely criticized for its uneven gameplay, numerous bugs, and tedious nature.

Initially, BioWare and EA planned a major overhaul of the game post-launch, known as Anthem Next. However, the project was canceled in 2021, with the studio citing Covid-19 as a reason to prioritize other titles. The live service for the original game continued.

Player Uproar

Players have expressed their disappointment on EA’s official forums, requesting an offline mode to maintain access to Anthem. One player lamented:

“To shut down and completely remove a game people have put money into (especially without refunds) is a worrying and dangerous precedent. If you bought a game you should be able to play it.”

Another player voiced concerns about the implications of abandoning live-service games:

“Letting games like Anthem disappear completely also sends a dangerous message: that live-service games are disposable, no matter how much time or money players invested.”

Stop Killing Games

The decision to discontinue Anthem aligns with the concerns of Stop Killing Games, a European Union-based consumer movement that argues against the unnecessary destruction of video games. Their website states:

“An increasing number of video games are sold effectively as goods—with no stated expiration date—but designed to be completely unplayable as soon as support from the publisher ends.”

The movement’s organizers argue that this practice harms consumers and impedes preservation efforts.

Despite their efforts, Stop Killing Games will not be able to prevent Anthem‘s demise, as their reliance on petitions and government intervention is unlikely to yield results before the shutdown. According to founder Ross Scott, the situation is:

“Exactly the sort we’re trying to prevent.”

The goal is to:

“Break the cycle so this doesn’t keep happening for future games.”

For Scott and Stop Killing Games, eliminating a video game is akin to destroying cultural artifacts, such as books, albums, or films. The group argues that:

“While a less recognized medium, video games still deserve to have basic protections against the complete and willful destruction of many of its works.”

They advocate for backup plans that enable games to persist in a playable format, even if they are taken offline.