Overview
#AnthemGame launched February 2019 as BioWare’s Iron Man-inspired loot shooter—and immediately crashed. The EA-published live service game suffered catastrophic technical issues (bricked PS4s, 95% loading screens), empty content, hostile development (Jason Schreier’s exposé), and abandonment by February 2021. Cost: $100+ million, BioWare’s reputation.
The Disaster
Six years development chaos: rebooted multiple times, Frostbite engine nightmares, BioWare Magic crunch culture, leadership incompetence. Launch: bugs everywhere, endgame content drought, loot system broken. Players finished content in 20 hours. Roadmap promises abandoned. 96% player drop in first month.
The Cancellation
EA promised “Anthem 2.0” overhaul (2020). February 2021: canceled. BioWare pivoted to Mass Effect and Dragon Age. Kotaku’s “How BioWare’s Anthem Went Wrong” exposé revealed toxic management. The failure joins Mass Effect Andromeda (2017) as BioWare’s fall from grace. Pre-orders for Dragon Age Dreadwolf (2024) still scarred by Anthem trauma.
Sources:
- Kotaku exposé: https://kotaku.com/how-biowares-anthem-went-wrong-1833731964
- EA cancellation: https://blog.bioware.com/2021/02/24/anthem-update/