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Anthem shut down: BioWare's online game went offline on Jan. 12, 2026, and can't be played
Anthem can't be played: EA shut down the game's servers on Jan. 12, 2026, and because BioWare built it as an online-only game, it stopped working on PC, PS4 and Xbox One that day, even for players who own it. EA announced the shutdown on July 3, 2025, ended sales of the in-game premium currency the same day and pulled the game from EA Play on Aug. 15, 2025. Anthem launched on Feb. 22, 2019, and BioWare stopped work on a planned overhaul in February 2021. Nine months after the servers closed, on Oct. 21, 2026, EA announced it is closing BioWare itself.
- PC
- PS4
- Xbox One
Anthem, BioWare’s online shooter, can’t be played anymore. Here’s when it shut down, why it stopped working and what happened to its players and its studio.
Is Anthem still playable?
Anthem stopped working on Jan. 12, 2026, when EA switched off its servers. BioWare built it as an online-only game, so every part of it, from the story missions to the open world, needed those servers. EA’s own notice said the game would no longer be playable once they went offline, and that holds on PC, PS4 and Xbox One, even for players who own a copy.
Steam doesn’t list the game, and EA hasn’t announced an offline version.
How EA announced the shutdown
EA and BioWare posted the news on July 3, 2025, in a notice signed by the BioWare team. “After careful consideration, we will be sunsetting Anthem on January 12, 2026,” it read. That gave players about six months of online play.
Sales of Anthem’s premium currency ended the same day, and players could spend their remaining balance until the end. The game left EA Play, which also comes with Game Pass Ultimate, on Aug. 15, 2025, and EA said the shutdown didn’t lead to any layoffs. The notice closed by thanking players for their dedication, passion and support over the years.
Anthem’s short life
Anthem came out on Feb. 22, 2019, on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. Up to four players flew exosuits called javelins, the agile Interceptor, the heavy Colossus, the elemental Storm and the all-round Ranger, through the jungles and ruins of a world called Bastion. It was the studio’s first online-only shooter, built on EA’s Frostbite engine, the same technology behind Dragon Age: Inquisition and Mass Effect: Andromeda.
BioWare’s biggest addition, the limited-time Cataclysm event, arrived in August 2019, with a storm zone, new rewards and leaderboards. In February 2021, BioWare stopped work on a planned overhaul of the game and ended new development, while keeping the servers running. They stayed up for almost seven years in total, from launch to the shutdown.
What BioWare made after Anthem
BioWare went back to single-player games. Mass Effect Legendary Edition, a remaster of the original trilogy, came out on May 14, 2021, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard followed on Oct. 31, 2024. The Veilguard turned out to be the studio’s last game: EA said in January 2025 that it reached about 1.5 million players, roughly 50% below its expectations. Our Dragon Age 5 page covers what’s left of that series.
Anthem and the end of BioWare
On Oct. 21, 2026, EA announced it is closing BioWare and canceling the next Mass Effect. BioWare’s farewell statement names Anthem among the studio’s games, and our BioWare shut down story has the details.
Of the 18 full games in our BioWare games list, Anthem is the only one that can’t be played at all. For the series that outlived it, see our Mass Effect 5 page.
This page is updated as soon as EA announces any plan for Anthem.
FAQ
Is Anthem still playable?
Anthem stopped working on Jan. 12, 2026, when EA shut down its servers. BioWare built it as an online-only game, so it can’t be played on PC, PS4 or Xbox One, even by players who own a copy.
When did Anthem shut down?
On Jan. 12, 2026. EA announced the date on July 3, 2025, which gave players about six more months of online play before the servers went offline.
Why did EA shut down Anthem?
EA called it a decision made after careful consideration and gave no further reason. BioWare had already stopped new development in February 2021, when it ended work on a planned overhaul and kept the servers running.
Can I get a refund for Anthem?
EA’s shutdown notice lists no refund plan. It ended sales of the premium currency on July 3, 2025, and let players spend their remaining balance until the servers closed.
Is Anthem on Game Pass?
Anthem left EA Play, which also comes with Game Pass Ultimate, on Aug. 15, 2025, and the servers closed on Jan. 12, 2026, so it can’t be played through any subscription.
Can you still buy Anthem?
Steam doesn’t list it, and with the servers offline, a copy bought anywhere can’t be played.
When did Anthem come out?
On Feb. 22, 2019, on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. BioWare made it, and Electronic Arts published it.
Did the Anthem shutdown cause layoffs?
EA said the shutdown didn’t lead to any layoffs. On Oct. 21, 2026, EA announced it is closing BioWare and stopping work on the next Mass Effect.
Will Anthem come back?
EA hasn’t announced an offline version or a relaunch, and EA is closing BioWare, the studio that made the game.
What was Anthem?
An online co-op action game in which up to four players fly exosuits called javelins, the Ranger, Colossus, Storm and Interceptor, through a science fiction world.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
When did Anthem’s servers shut down?
EA shut down Anthem’s servers on Jan. 12, 2026. Aug. 15, 2025, is when the game left EA Play, and Feb. 22, 2019, is its launch date.
Your call
Did you play Anthem?
