There will be several ways to play the shooter Anthem even before its release. Bioware detailed the requirements now. Our author Tarek thinks: These requirements are quite bold.
Anthem is one of the most anticipated online games for 2019. The release is set for February 22, which is not too far away. There will be several ways for fans to play Anthem even earlier. Planned are a VIP demo, a 10-hour trial, and early access that lets you play a week earlier.
However, the requirements to play Anthem earlier are questionable in my opinion: Because for full early access to Anthem, you must subscribe and be on PC.
Through Twitter, Bioware revealed how it will work:
This is how you play Anthem before release
To try Anthem earlier, there are three options, these are the requirements:
- The VIP demo: Pre-order Anthem for any platform, or be an active member of EA Access and Origin Access Basic by February 1, 2019
- Play First Trial: Members of EA Access (for Xbox One) and Origin Access Basic (for PC) can play for up to 10 hours starting February 15
- Early Access: You can play Anthem for a full week, starting on February 15, before release, if you subscribe to the Origin Access Premier on PC. This subscription includes the full version.
PS4 players are left out, aside from the VIP demo. But that’s not the only thing that raises eyebrows.
Play earlier? Only with a paid subscription
The new approach of publishers with betas, demos, and early access seems to have reached a new low with Anthem. Previously there were discussions because many set a pre-order as a prerequisite for access to a demo or beta, now subscription models are in play.
To fully dive into Anthem a week early, you need to be a PC player and subscribe to the expensive Premier plan. Here’s an overview of the subscription models:
What is EA Access? This subscription offers Xbox One owners a selection of game titles for around 25 euros per year or 4 euros per month.
What is Origin Access Basic? This subscription is essentially the PC equivalent of EA Access. It also costs 25 euros per year and 4 euros per month and allows players access to over 120 titles from the Origin database.
What is Origin Access Premier? This subscription costs 100 euros per year or 15 euros per month. In addition to the games that can already be played through the Basic version of Origin Access, more recent titles like Battlefield or Anthem are added.
Now EA has decided to make these subscriptions tickets for demos and early access.
Play First Trial – Transferring progress costs
As if that wasn’t enough, as a player of the “Play First” trial, I would essentially also have to pay to transfer this 10 hours of progress into the main game.
This is how you transfer your progress from the Play First Trial: You can only transfer progress from this time into the full version if you buy it with the member discount in the Origin store or subscribe to a Premier subscription.
Thus, EA essentially asks you for another payment besides the subscription.
Nonetheless, the community is looking forward to Anthem
This is how the community reacts:
- The feedback is mixed. Many feel that demos and betas are now being misused. Instead of giving potential buyers an impression of the game to orient themselves, they seem to want to push pre-orders and subscriptions, making players buy a pig in a poke.
- One user highlights the downside of the subscription: If it runs out, you lose access to all included games.
- Most see no reason to subscribe for just one week of early access, especially since the first week in online games is usually one with the most bugs.
- Overall, the mood towards Anthem is still positive, many simply don’t care. They can ignore the subscription model; ultimately, seven days don’t matter that much.
What do you think of the situation?
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