Anthem’s Last Week: Only Seven Days Left to Play

Time is running out to experience Anthem, BioWare’s live-service title that debuted in early 2019. In just one week, EA will take the online multiplayer game offline, making it unplayable starting January 12. The shutdown was officially announced in July 2025, giving players about six months to revisit the RPG and spend any remaining in-game currency. There’s speculation about a potential in-game event to mark the occasion, but that seems unlikely at this stage. Following the announcement, former BioWare producer Mark Darrah shared insights on what went wrong with Anthem from his perspective. He mentioned that Mass Effect director Casey Hudson had pitched Anthem as a bold new direction for BioWare, but after Hudson’s departure from the studio, he couldn’t guide that vision. Hudson is now leading the team working on the newly announced Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic. Darrah also acknowledged that Anthem was destined to become unplayable eventually, regardless of its success, which is a common issue with live-service games. There were plans for a significant reboot of Anthem, but those were abandoned during the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking ahead, BioWare’s next project is anticipated to be Mass Effect 5, although the studio reportedly has fewer than 100 employees remaining.