In a somber but unsurprising announcement, Electronic Arts has revealed that the servers for Anthem, BioWare’s beleaguered online multiplayer RPG, will be permanently shut down on January 12, 2026. The shutdown will render the game entirely unplayable, even in single-player, due to its always-online infrastructure.

Launched in February 2019, Anthem was originally marketed as a bold new direction for BioWare an ambitious, shared-world sci-fi adventure with Iron Man-style flight, dynamic combat, and seamless multiplayer integration. However, its release was plagued by bugs, a lack of endgame content, shallow storytelling, and repetitive missions. The game received mixed-to-negative reviews and struggled to maintain a steady player base in the months that followed.

A Short-Lived Dream

BioWare initially attempted to salvage Anthem with a planned redesign dubbed “Anthem NEXT” or “Anthem 2.0.” The goal was to address core gameplay issues and overhaul systems that had frustrated players. Unfortunately, in February 2021, EA cancelled the overhaul and redirected BioWare’s focus to other projects, including Dragon Age: The Veilguard and a new Mass Effect entry.

Since that cancellation, Anthem has existed in a quiet limbo still playable but no longer updated or actively supported. Now, nearly seven years after its debut, the final nail in the coffin has been hammered in.

Sunsetting Begins

As of July 3, 2025, Anthem has been delisted from digital storefronts and is no longer available for purchase. Additionally, all premium currency sales have ceased. Players with existing balances can spend them up until the server shutdown date in January.

The game will also be removed from EA Play on August 15, 2025, giving subscribers just over a month to access it before it disappears from the service entirely.

EA released a brief statement:

“Thank you to the passionate Anthem community for their support and feedback over the years. While we are proud of what we created, the time has come to close this chapter.”

A Cautionary Tale

The story of Anthem has become emblematic of the pitfalls of rushed development and misaligned expectations in the live-service gaming space. Despite BioWare’s legacy of narrative-driven RPGs, Anthem felt like a departure that never found its footing caught between trying to be a Destiny competitor and staying true to the studio’s storytelling roots.

For many fans, Anthem’s server shutdown is less a tragic ending and more a final acknowledgment of a game that never lived up to its potential.

One Last Flight

Players still loyal to the world of Bastion have until January 12, 2026, to strap into their Javelins and take flight one last time. After that, the game will vanish completely, joining the growing list of always-online titles lost to time.

Whether you loved its aerial combat or lamented what could have been, Anthem will remain a uniquely ambitious, if ultimately flawed, footnote in BioWare’s storied history.

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