Electronic Arts and BioWare have announced that their online multiplayer game Anthem will go offline on January 12, 2026, making the game unplayable. The title, released in 2019, was designed to be online-only, so when servers shut down, it will no longer function.
Players can still use their remaining in-game currency until the shutdown date, but new purchases have already been disabled. The game will also be removed from the EA Play subscription service on August 15, 2025. BioWare confirmed that no employees will be laid off due to the game’s closure.
Anthem’s development faced many challenges over its nearly seven-year production. Upon release, critics pointed to technical issues and a lack of engaging content. A planned relaunch, called “Anthem Next,” was canceled in 2021 due to shifting priorities during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The shutdown has sparked criticism from fans and consumer advocacy groups. On forums and social media, players are calling for an offline mode that would allow them to continue playing. “If you bought a game you should be able to play it,” one player wrote. Others warned that deleting games like Anthem sets a worrying precedent for live-service titles.
One such group, Stop Killing Games, is campaigning to preserve digital games that rely on online support. Founded in the European Union in 2024, the group argues that ending server support for games—without offering alternatives—leads to cultural loss. Its first petition, urging the UK government to introduce protective legislation, has gained over 1 million signatures.
Ross Scott, the group’s founder, said shutting down Anthem is exactly the kind of action they want to prevent. “While Anthem received a lot of negative reviews, it has value and buyers who want to play the game regardless,” he said.
Game publishers, however, say the issue is more complex. Video Games Europe, an industry group, said that keeping games online indefinitely is not always feasible. They cited commercial costs, data privacy concerns, and safety issues with player-hosted servers as reasons companies may need to shut down games.
The case of Anthem highlights a growing conflict in the video game industry. As development costs rise and more games shift to online-only models, players are increasingly demanding long-term access to the titles they purchase.
Scott says the debate isn’t just about entertainment—it’s about digital preservation. “Destroying a game like Anthem is like destroying a book, film, or album. It’s a cultural loss.”
