BioWare's Last Breath: The Slow Death of Anthem and RPG King's Kingdom
Seven days from now, the last servers of BioWare's most infamous failure will power down for good. BioWare's Anthem, a 2019 live-service co-op game, is shutting down servers on January 12, 2026.
The closure finalizes a six-year lifespan with no new content since 2021, when EA execs canceled development entirely after BioWare's attempt to reinvent the game.
Described as 'the nadir—the mortal wound that had onlookers grimacing,' Anthem embodied EA's philosophy that BioWare didn't have to appeal to traditional fans.
The studio has released only two games post-Anthem: the well-received Mass Effect Legendary Edition and the tepidly received Dragon Age: The Veilguard. With a 55% review score, the game's fate reflects the precarious state of live-service gaming in 2026.
