EA Shuts Down Anthem Servers on January 12, 2026

Electronic Arts shut down the servers for Anthem on January 12, 2026, ending nearly seven years of service for the online multiplayer looter-shooter developed by BioWare. The move renders the game completely unplayable, as it lacks any offline or single-player mode, leaving players unable to access its world of Freelancers and mechanical suits.

Anthem launched on February 22, 2019, across PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One platforms. Produced by BioWare, the studio known for single-player role-playing titles like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, the game aimed to compete in the crowded looter-shooter genre popularized by titles such as Destiny. From the outset, it faced significant challenges, including performance issues, limited content, and repetitive mission structures that frustrated players and critics. Reports from the time highlighted delays in the initial roadmap, with the first major event, Cataclysm, arriving six months after launch. Development problems, including internal shifts and a focus on live-service elements unfamiliar to BioWare, contributed to a rocky debut.

In response to early backlash, BioWare announced plans in February 2020 to overhaul the game under the...