News: Anthem Servers Shut Down Tomorrow - EA's First Major AAA Closure of 2026
Electronic Arts is set to permanently shut down the servers for BioWare's Anthem on January 12, 2026, marking the end of the line for one of the publisher's most ambitious yet troubled live-service titles. As the clock ticks down, players have only hours left to log in and experience the game one final time before it becomes completely unplayable. Anthem, an online-only multiplayer action RPG, requires constant server connectivity for all features, meaning the shutdown will effectively erase the game from existence for everyone who owns it. This closure represents the first major AAA server shutdown of 2026, highlighting the ongoing trend of publishers sunsetting older online titles to reduce maintenance costs. While EA has routinely decommissioned servers for lesser-known or mobile games, Anthem stands out due to its high-profile launch and the significant resources invested in its development. Fans who still occasionally return to the world of Bastion are urged to make their final flights in their Javelins, complete any remaining challenges, or simply explore the beautiful yet dangerous landscapes while they still can. Once the servers go dark tomorrow, all progress, cosmetics, and achievements will remain inaccessible forever.
Released in February 2019, Anthem arrived amid enormous hype, fueled by stunning trailers showcasing fluid exosuit flight, dynamic weather, and cooperative combat against massive creatures. BioWare, renowned for single-player epics like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, aimed to break into the live-service space with a shared-world looter-shooter. However, the game launched with repetitive missions, severe loading times, limited endgame content, and various bugs that frustrated players and critics alike. In response, BioWare announced Anthem Next, a comprehensive overhaul intended to address these issues and revitalize the player base. Despite promising updates and transparency, EA ultimately canceled the project in early 2021, redirecting resources to other franchises. Remarkably, the original version of Anthem continued to run with its servers online for nearly five more years, supported by a small but dedicated community that appreciated the core gameplay loop—particularly the exhilarating freedom of flight and powerful combat abilities. Over time, the player count dwindled, making the eventual shutdown inevitable as operational costs no longer justified keeping the lights on.
The impending loss of Anthem has sparked mixed emotions within the gaming community. Many reflect on the game's unrealized potential, mourning what could have been if the ambitious vision had been fully realized. Others see the closure as a merciful end to a chapter that weighed on BioWare's reputation. This event underscores the risks of the live-service model, where games can vanish entirely once support ends, raising ongoing concerns about digital preservation and consumer rights in an increasingly online-dependent industry. As EA begins 2026 with this high-profile shutdown, followed closely by others like NBA Live 19 and The Sims Mobile later in the month, it serves as a reminder of the transient nature of online gaming. For the remaining Anthem freelancers, tomorrow marks not just the end of servers, but the conclusion of a bold experiment that captured imaginations—even if it ultimately fell short. BioWare moves forward with upcoming projects, but Anthem's legacy as a cautionary tale in game development will endure.