EA Shutters Anthem Servers in January

EA has confirmed BioWare's Anthem will permanently shut down on January 12, 2026.

Since Anthem is exclusively online, players won't be able to access the game after this date.

Effective today, July 3, premium currency sales will be discontinued, though players can spend existing balances until shutdown. The game will be removed from EA Play on August 15, 2025, but remain downloadable for existing owners until termination.

Anthem debuted in February 2019 to mixed reception, including our 6.5/10 review citing repetitive gameplay, technical shortcomings, and narrative inconsistencies. By December 2023, it sold 5 million copies - missing EA's 6 million target for launch period. Despite post-launch updates, EA halted active development in February 2021, with the game director leaving shortly after.

EA's FAQ clarified that no layoffs resulted from Anthem's discontinuation - noteworthy given EA's recent large-scale workforce reductions causing industry concern.

The company's May 2025 closures included Cliffhanger Games and its Black Panther project, with undisclosed staff cuts, coinciding with mandatory return-to-office policies.

Earlier in 2025, EA eliminated approximately 300 positions and restructured BioWare, redistributing Anthem developers while making additional cuts. These followed 2024's company-wide reduction of 670 employees and 2023's layoffs at BioWare (50+) and Codemasters.

BioWare now prioritizes Mass Effect 5 entirely after Dragon Age: The Veilguard's commercial disappointment.