Electronic Arts (EA) officially announced that the game server ANTHEM will be turned off at January 12, 2026. This decision marks the end of the road for one of the most controversial games from BioWare, a studio previously known for legendary works such as Mass Effect and Dragon Age. According to Push SquareThis server shutdown means that ANTHEM, which is completely dependent on an internet connection, will not be playable in any form after that date.
Chronology of ANTHEM Server Closure
ANTHEM was first released in 2019 for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. The game is a looter shooter with an open world and online multiplayer features. However, since its initial launch, ANTHEM has been heavily criticized for its undercooked design, inconsistent gameplay system, and lack of endgame content. Although the game's flying and combat mechanics were praised, overall ANTHEM failed to meet the expectations of gamers and critics.
EA stated that as of the day of the announcement, in-game currency purchases have been discontinued. In addition, ANTHEM will also be removed from the EA Play service on August 15, 2025. In its official statement, EA emphasized that the closure of this server does not cause layoffs for the development team.
Closure Impact and Community Reaction
ANTHEM's closure comes amid growing attention to the issue of "Stop Killing Games", a movement that demands publishers not to kill online-only games that consumers have already purchased. The movement's petition has even surpassed one million signatures. Many gamers and industry observers highlight the importance of offline or single player modes so that games can still be played even if the servers are turned off.
Comments from the gamer community on various forums also highlighted disappointment with the online-only business model. Many feel that the games that have been purchased physically or digitally will become useless once the servers are shut down. Some even mentioned that ANTHEM disks will only be "coasters" after 2026.
Lessons from ANTHEM's Failure
ANTHEM is a clear example of the risks of the online-only gaming model. When the publisher decides to shut down the servers, all access to the game is lost, and consumers have no control over the product they have purchased. This raises big questions about digital property rights and consumer protection in the modern gaming industry.
BioWare had planned to do a major overhaul for ANTHEM, but the plan was canceled during the COVID-19 pandemic because it was considered too burdensome for the development team.
We see ANTHEM's closure as an important wake-up call for publishers and gamers alike. While the online-only model offers a social experience and dynamic content updates, it is also highly vulnerable to unilateral decisions from publishers. The gaming industry needs to find a balance between innovation and protection of consumer rights, for example by providing offline modes or limited access after the server is shut down. The ANTHEM case should be a lesson so that in the future, gamers no longer lose access to the games they have purchased.
