EA’s Anthem, the action-packed game that was released on February 22, 2019, has faced its fair share of challenges since its launch. While the game received praise for its combat mechanics and stunning visuals, it fell short in other areas, leading to mixed reviews from critics and players alike. Former executive producer Mark Darrah even admitted that the game struggled to find its identity during development.
One of the major blows to Anthem came when EA announced that the game would be shut down permanently on January 12, 2026. This decision was made after the game failed to meet the publisher’s expectations, both financially and in terms of player engagement. Despite generating over $100 million in revenue at launch, Anthem did not sell as many copies as EA had hoped for.
During an Earnings Call in 2019, EA CEO Andrew Wilson expressed disappointment in the game’s performance, stating that it did not meet their expectations. The CFO, Blake Jorgensen, had initially projected sales of 5-6 million copies at launch, a target that Anthem did not reach. The struggles continued as former executive producer Mark Darrah suggested that the game should have been delayed to allow for further development and a stronger sense of identity.
Anthem’s journey was further complicated by the fact that it was a live-service game, a genre that BioWare was not familiar with. This posed a significant risk for the developers and led to mixed feedback upon release. While the combat mechanics were highly praised, the game was criticized for its lack of content and repetitive gameplay, which left players feeling unsatisfied.
In an attempt to salvage Anthem, BioWare and EA announced plans for a rework of the game in 2020. However, despite these efforts, EA made the difficult decision to shut down the game on July 3, 2025. Players who had purchased the game were given until January 12, 2026, to enjoy it before the servers were taken offline.
As a live-service game, Anthem’s closure means that once the servers are offline, the game will be unplayable, even for those who paid to own it. Ultimately, the decision to shut down Anthem can be attributed to the game’s failure to meet EA’s expectations, likely stemming from issues that arose during and after development. It serves as a cautionary tale in the gaming industry, highlighting the challenges of creating and maintaining a successful live-service game.
