Anthem's fast-approaching end has brought players together to bid their goodbyes. Read on to see why the 2019 RPG is shutting down and how fans are spending its last days.
Anthem, BioWare’s Worst-Rated Game, Sings Its Sunset on Monday
Critical Disappointment Closes Doors After 7 Years
Anthem enters the new year with an imminent shutdown already announced on July 3, 2025. Developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts (EA) in 2019, the looter-shooter RPG struggled at release and would go on to sustain only a few thousand players over the years. With EA announcing a permanent online server switch-off starting January 12, Anthem's remaining players log back in to relive the game one last time.
During its launch, the online shooter suffered a Metacritic score of 54 for its PS4 version, 59 for PC, and 65 for Xbox One—collectively making it the lowest-rated BioWare title by far. Players noted its lackluster content and loot progress, as well as technical issues underscored by bugs and crashes, among other pertinent problems.
Former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah himself admitted to lapses in handling live-service demands, resulting in the game's unclear direction. In the first video of a YouTube series explaining Anthem's downfall, he stated that the rest of Anthem's vision fell flat due to EA "being hostile towards drawing" comparisons with existing successful looter shooters, such as Destiny, Borderlands, and Mass Effect. He further asserted that the team refused to acknowledge clear similarities to the said competitors, leaving the project defined only by what it was not, instead of what it was.
Having faced prolonged disappointment, it came as no surprise to the public that EA has decided to abandon Anthem for good. On the game’s official website, the developers disclosed that its servers will be taken offline, rendering the online-exclusive game unplayable. Until the phase-out date, existing owners can still access the game and spend any remaining premium currency.
Players Live Anthem’s Final Days
Players flocked online to share their sentiments about their last in-game experience. Many of them reflected on Anthem’s missed potential, particularly praising its flight and combat mechanics. A popular post on Reddit said that it was an honor "being a Freelancer," which refers to Anthem's adventurers who pilot exosuits.
Fans also shared what they will miss most about the game, including favorite characters, Javelin suits, and other enjoyable gameplay features. One of them remarked that they thought it would "last longer than this," though also admitting that an ultimate closure had always been inevitable, given its reception.
Meanwhile, several users reported being unable to install Anthem, despite having previously purchased the title on EA Play. This contradicts the official notice on its website, which indicates that game accessibility will continue until January 12. Fans expressed their frustration at having paid for a copy and still missing the last chance to play it.
Another Reddit user proposed petitioning EA for an offline, single-player version, allowing it to be enjoyed without online servers. Similarly, the shutdown-without-refunds reignited community discussion on Twitter (X) about "Stop Killing Games," calling out the risks of purchasing online-only games in the future.
Source:
Anthem Game Update
Anthem Reviews
Part 1 - What Happened to Anthem?
‘Can someone explain what went wrong with Anthem?’
‘Gentlemen, it's been an honor being a Freelancer’
Reddit users reflect on what they’ll miss about Anthem
EA is shutting down ‘Anthem’ servers
‘EA App won't even let me download Anthem’
