BioWare Shuts Down Anthem Servers Permanently

BioWare has officially ended the lifecycle of Anthem. The live-service game went offline permanently on January 12, following an announcement from publisher EA. No offline mode exists, meaning the game is lost to history.

The shutdown occurred shortly after 10:00 AM Pacific time. Players were disconnected and left with a startup screen. The closure marks the end of a troubled history that began with the game's launch in February 2019.

The servers for Anthem were deactivated on January 12, 2026. BioWare had previously announced the game would remain online until this date. The shutdown happened abruptly for those still playing.

At approximately 10:03 AM Pacific time, players reported being suddenly disconnected. The game returned them to the startup screen, displaying the game's logo and characters. Because Anthem is an online-only title, this action renders the game fully unplayable forever.

A small group of fans had been tracking the game's final hours. Several dozen players were streaming the game on Twitch to witness the end. The community reaction has been one of mourning for a game many felt had potential.

Fans took to social media and Discord to express their sadness over the closure. The sentiment focused on the game's core mechanics, which many enjoyed despite the overall failure of the title.

One fan, Marcel Hatam, posted on X/Twitter regarding the shutdown:

"Of all the dead live games, this is one of the most painful, as the game was so very close to greatness. Great core gameplay with fun combat and flying, an intriguing world and great customization. Freelancer signing off 🫡."

Another user, Regis, shared their experience on BioWare's Discord. They had only started playing recently:

"Damn wanted to get a few more hours before closure, sad. Got to play the game for just a week but it already leaves a hole in my chest."

Anthem launched in February 2019 to lukewarm reception. Critics pointed to issues with the game's design and execution. The game sold more than 5 million copies but failed to meet internal targets set by EA.

Despite efforts to improve the title, BioWare ceased active development in February 2021. The studio cited a need to prioritize other projects. These included Dragon Age: The Veilguard and the upcoming Mass Effect 5.

Publisher EA confirmed the shutdown last year. They removed premium currency from sale in the summer of 2025. The game was also delisted from EA Play at that time.

With the official servers gone, the game's world and lore are effectively lost. However, there are reports of fan efforts to preserve the experience. IGN noted that there are fledgling attempts to bring Anthem back via custom servers.

It remains unclear how far these efforts will progress. For now, the official version of the game is gone. The shutdown highlights the risks of the live-service model, where a game's existence depends entirely on server support.