WhileAnthemwas met with a very poor reception when it launched in February 2019, the game received numerous post-launch updates with seasonal events, balancing changes, and new features. There was even a large overhaul update planned calledAnthem2.0, which was eventually canceled, signaling the end ofAnthem’s lifespan. WhenAnthemoriginally launched, BioWare promised a 10-year lifespan that was unfortunately not to be realized.Anthem 2.0’s cancellation had a reportedly big impact on BioWare as a whole. Not only did the game’s director leave the company, butDragon Age 4’s development was reportedly altered to change the game from a live service model to one of a traditional single-player RPG.
Live service games have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially within the looter shooter genre. Games likeDestiny 2,The Division 2, andWarframealready have established player bases while receiving frequent updates and new content. This made it very difficult forAnthemto find a foothold in the genre, especially with its buggy state at launch. Regardless, many think thatAnthem 2.0’s shuttering has left a voidin the genre, primarily due to its unique game mechanics. With no games stepping up to fill that void, and the servers remaining active,Anthemdeserves another chance.
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Anthem’s Legacy
Anthem’s legacy is not a favorable one. While many of the game’s fans enjoyspeculating about whatAnthem 2.0could have been, little of the team’s work on the game’s rework is known or likely ever will be. This has led toAnthembeing remembered mainly for its buggy launch and its inability to find any traction with a larger audience. Many players who rememberAnthemlook back on negatively, citing its lengthy load times, frequent crashes, and disappointing loot game. With players spending large portions of their game time in menus, it is easy to understand why it did not take off.
However, there was still a lot aboutAnthemthat its players enjoyed as well. One large highlight of the gameplay was its Javelin armor suits that allowed players to fly around, viewing the game’s gorgeous scenery from many angles. The Javelins offered a unique way to play the game, with an interesting class system that players could use to thoroughly customize their builds. Many players who triedAnthemalso found a lot to love in the game’s world and lore. There was a lot of detail in the environments that that helped them feel like a living ecosystem that some players would love to return to.Anthemmay have suffered a disastrous launch, but there still was a lot in the game for players to appreciate.
BioWare’s Other Projects
SinceAnthem 2.0’s cancellation, the game’s team was moved to working onDragon Age 4. Since then, BioWare has releasedMass Effect: Legendary Editionwhile confirming that a newMass Effectgame is in development alongside the newDragon Age. Many BioWare fans claim that the studio’s in-progress games representBioWare returning to its cornerstone franchises. If this is true, it would mean that the studio is playing it safe for the foreseeable future, doubling down on those two franchises while supporting its MMO,Star Wars: The Old Republic.
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The current state of BioWare has many of its fans excited. The success ofMass Effect: Legendary Editionhas gamers clamoring for asimilar treatment for theDragon Agetrilogy, while others are theorizing over the few released snippets ofMass Effect 4and how they seem to indicate that Commander Shepard and Liara will return. However, BioWare’s move to return to the series that it knows will work could ultimately be a negative for the studio, as moreDragon AgeandMass Effectwill see the studio treading familiar ground. While there will undoubtedly be new features and additions to both games, they will still have to follow the conventions of the previous entries in the series, which could prevent BioWare from experimenting like they did inAnthem.
Why Anthem Should Get Another Chance
ThoughAnthem 2.0will likely never happen, the stage is set for a proper sequel toAnthemits place. WhenAnthem 2.0was first announced, many of the game’s fans said thatanAnthemsequel would be a better approachdue to how embedded some of the game’s issues were in its core mechanics and systems. This would be one of the strengths of a possibleAnthem 2. BioWare would be able to keep everything that worked about the first game, such as its flying gameplay, its detailed world, and its combat, while also fixing many of the core issues that hampered the experience for so many players.
Gamers would surely like to seeAnthem 2change a lot of things about the first game, something that would have the opposite effect thatMass Effect 4andDragon Age 4are having. AnAnthemsequel would encourage the developers to try new things and experiment with what a live service looter shooter could be, allowing the game to stand out from established titles in the genre.Anthem 2would also be a major change from the other games that BioWare has in development, allowing its teams to work on a different kind of game and experiment with different systems and conventions in the live service genre. A proper sequel could allow the studio to deliver onAnthem’s original promises in 2017, allowingAnthemto make a major comeback.
Of course, there is no way of knowing whether or not BioWare will return to the world ofAnthem. WithMass Effect 4andDragon Age 4both undergoing development, it will likely be at least a few years before fans get a look at what BioWare has planned beyond those two titles. Hopefully, the studio will still be willing to experiment and try new things despite its experience withAnthem. Regardless, there isplenty of hype surroundingMass Effect 4andDragon Age 4, so BioWare is likely doing just fine.
Anthemis available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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