BioWare’s ambitious yet ill-fated title, Anthem, officially met its end this week as Electronic Arts (EA) shut down its servers. This signifies the conclusion of a journey for a game that, despite its promise, faced challenges in establishing itself within the competitive field of online looter-shooters. Released in 2019, Anthem was lauded for its sci-fi universe and innovative flight mechanics, but these features were eclipsed by the game’s always-online stipulations and various gameplay dilemmas.
For some gamers, the closure is a letdown, as they recognized potential in Anthem’s distinct approach to the genre. Conversely, others may take comfort in the cessation of being labeled as “freelancer” in community updates, a designation that some deemed unflattering. The juxtaposition with Destiny’s “Guardian” accentuates the difference in tone and perception between the two titles.
Even with the official shutdown, Anthem’s narrative may not be completely finished. Mark Darrah, a former executive producer at BioWare and well-known for his contributions to the Dragon Age and Mass Effect franchises, has put forth a proposal to resurrect Anthem as a single-player RPG. Darrah posits that with a moderate budget of $10 million, Anthem could be re-envisioned in a manner that aligns more closely with BioWare’s classic strengths in storytelling and character development.
This proposal paves the way for the possibility of Anthem being revived in a form that could leverage its strengths while rectifying the issues that beset its initial launch. While the future of Anthem is still unclear, the concept of a revival as a single-player RPG offers a ray of hope for fans who believed in the game’s potential.