The end of Anthem is inevitably approaching. In just a few days, the once-promising shooter will come to an end.
In the history of video games, there are only a few titles that ran headfirst into a wall and failed mercilessly. One of these titles was supposed to become the unofficial “multiplayer successor to Mass Effect” and provide serious competition to the then-genre leader Destiny: Anthem.
After a long suffering for the game, the plugs will be pulled for good in just a few days – and then no one will be able to play the game anymore.
One week of Anthem – then it’s over for good
When will Anthem be over? The servers of Anthem will be shut down on January 12, 2026. So if you want to check out the game one more time, you should spend the next few days delving into it and maybe collect some nostalgic memories for the future.
Will Anthem be completely unplayable afterwards? Yes. When the servers are shut down on January 12, that will be the complete end for Anthem. The game can only be played with a server connection, so the date marks the final demise of Anthem.
What did Anthem fail at? Anthem primarily failed due to a lack of vision. There were several trailers for the game that were supposed to showcase Anthem – and for some developers, that was the first presentation of how the final game was supposed to look after years of developing “into the void.” A playable version was then hastily assembled for the rushed launch date. The feeling of flying felt great – but that was unfortunately all there was.
Mark Darrah also explained a few months ago why Anthem had failed: They knew what they didn’t want to be, but had no concrete idea of what they actually wanted to be. Additionally, many development resources were tied up with other games like Mass Effect Andromeda or Dragon Age Inquisition, leading to a long period of working with a small, incomplete team.
What are your memories of Anthem like? Do you remember the game positively? Or were you bitterly disappointed at launch, and has that disappointment not changed over the years? A failed potential or good as long as it lasted? If you’re looking for alternatives, no worries – we’ve presented the 25 best shooters here.
