The sun is setting on the world of Bastion as Electronic Arts prepares to shut down Anthem, the action RPG that once aimed to change the live-service landscape. Players on PlayStation and Xbox have about 48 hours left to play before it is officially removed from digital storefronts, as noted by PlayStation Lifestyle. This marks the end of one of the most chaotic development stories in recent gaming history. While the servers may stay up for current owners for a short time, new players can no longer join.
Launched in 2019, Anthem was meant to be BioWare’s answer to the “looter-shooter” trend, combining the studio’s storytelling skills with iron-man-style movement. Unfortunately, the game faced a rough launch, full of technical problems and a lack of endgame content. Despite its impressive flight systems and beautiful environments, it struggled to keep a steady player base. This delisting highlights how fragile digital-only titles are and the “always-online” model that has become the norm in the industry.
The choice to delist the game follows years of uncertainty. At one time, BioWare had a team working on “Anthem NEXT,” a complete redesign aimed at fixing the game’s core systems. That effort was eventually canceled in early 2021 as the studio shifted its resources to the new installments of Dragon Age and Mass Effect. For those who watched the game’s journey from its exciting E3 reveal to its eventual decline, the removal from stores feels like an unavoidable, though sad, end to a decade of ambition.
For collectors and newcomers, this 48-hour window is the last chance to get a digital copy of Anthem at a low price. After it’s gone, the game will join a growing list of “ghost” titles—games that exist only in the libraries of those who bought them early. As the industry moves away from physical media, the loss of a high-profile title like this raises concerns about video game preservation and the fleeting nature of modern gaming.
