Anthem's Finally Getting the Plug Pulled: One Last Joyride Before the Lights Go Out
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
BioWare's Anthem is officially getting shut down in early 2026, so if you fancy one last flight in your exosuit, you've got about six months to do it. It's not great, but hey, sometimes a bit of messy fun is all you need.
Well, butter my biscuit, it's official. BioWare's Anthem, the exosuit shooter that promised the moon and delivered… well, something less lunar, is finally getting sunsetted. According to a post on EA's website, the servers will be switched off on January 12th, 2026. That's just shy of its seventh birthday, bless its heart.
Now, I reckon most of us saw this coming. Anthem had a famously rocky development, a lukewarm reception, and then EA more or less abandoned it to focus on… other things. But hey, at least they're being upfront about it. "After careful consideration, we will be sunsetting Anthem on January 12, 2026," EA stated, clarifying that the game will remain playable online until then. As of today, you can no longer purchase in-game premium currency, but you can still use whatever digital dosh you've already got socked away. Spend it wisely, mate!
The really surprising bit? EA also felt the need to mention that this shutdown *isn't* resulting in any layoffs. Which, let's be honest, is a bit like saying "We're not adding insult to injury… this time." Given the staff cuts after Veilguard, it appears they're trying to avoid any PR fiascos. Fair enough, I suppose. Transparency is a good look, even if it's taken them a while to get there.
So, what does this mean for you, the intrepid gamer? Well, if you've got Anthem lying around gathering digital dust, you've got about 192 days to jump back in and give it one last whirl. As Rock Paper Shotgun's Alice O put it back in 2023, it’s like "taking one last joyride in an old car that'll never get the work done to stop it imminently being resigned to the scrapyard." Pretty evocative, eh?
Alice also said, "Is Anthem good? No. It's a looter-shooter with boring loot and perfunctory shoot. But I like parts. Flying my cool-looking exosuit around is pleasant, lazily swooping around the skies of an alien world. It's an involved movement too, because the suit slowly heats up and you need to regularly cool it by diving downwards or flying through waterfalls and such. I'm always happy when simply getting about involves playful little motions." So, maybe it's got *some* redeeming qualities. Maybe. Just don't expect a masterpiece.
Oh, and one last thing: if you *don't* already own Anthem on PC, you'll need an EA Play subscription to try it before it vanishes completely. And apparently, it's getting removed from EA Play in only 43 days from when this article was originally written. Time's ticking, Freelancer!
Tags: Anthem, BioWare, EA, Live Service, Game Shutdown
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun