Anthem will soon die for good, as Bioware confirms a full server shut down

Anthem remains one of the most infamous live service games ever launched. Known for its outstanding, narrative-driven single-player games, Bioware took a punt on a co-op shooter, but the gamble didn’t pay off. It had (and still has) its admirers, but Bioware and EA were quick to call it quits and end support. Since 2021, the game has sat in purgatory – playable, but without any updates or new content. However, Anthem will soon die a full death, as Bioware has just announced it will be shutting down the game’s servers in January 2026.

With impressive visuals, world events, and some super satisfying traversal thanks to those exosuits, Anthem did have some redeeming qualities. However, its content delivery was a mess, the lack of story disappointed Bioware loyalists, and it just didn’t have the gameplay depth of something like Destiny 2. A mere 12 months or so after it launched, a full rework to the game’s systems was promised, but it never saw the light of day. Any chance of getting near our best co-op games list disappeared at that moment.

For years now, it has still been purchasable and playable. Those who found it genuinely enjoyable in the early days have been able to revisit it when in need of a nostalgia hit. Those spotting it for a couple of dollars in sales have been able to jump in to decide for themselves whether Anthem deserved the fate it suffered. However, that won’t be the case for much longer.

Anthem’s servers will be shutting down on Monday, January 12, 2026, according to an announcement from Bioware. Due to Anthem being built around online play, it requires an internet connection to run, so there will be no official way to play it solo or offline after this date. In short, it will be totally unplayable.

“The game will still be playable online for the next 180+ days,” Biowore’s statement says. “As of today, you can no longer purchase in-game premium currency, but you can still use your remaining balance until the servers go offline. We deeply appreciate your dedication, passion and support over the years and we’d like to thank you for that.”

The studio also says that Anthem will be removed from the EA Play subscription service (and thus the PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate libraries as well) on Friday, August 15, 2025.

I’m surprised that the servers have been kept on for as long as they have, given it’s been over four years since content support ended. But in around five months from now, the true end will finally arrive for Anthem.

For some similar experiences that won’t be going anywhere anytime soon, check out our best multiplayer games list. Oh, and if you’re thinking about upgrading to a better setup in the near future, it’s worth taking a look at our best gaming PC guide.

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