Summary
- A former Anthem producer is interested in a reboot due to the game's untapped potential and diehard fan base.
- Anthem was ultimately abandoned after failing to meet EA's expectations and receiving negative reviews.
- While BioWare has moved on to other games like Dragon Age: The Veilguard, fans may still hope for an Anthem reboot.
One of the former Anthem producers has recently expressed interest in working on a reboot of the controversial multiplayer game. While Anthem is widely considered BioWare’s biggest failure, it seems the game still has some diehard fans.
Anthem was released in 2019, being considered a big departure for BioWare, which was mostly known for its big single-player RPGs. Coming on the heels of Mass Effect Andromeda, which had a mixed reception, it still managed to sell over 5 million copies, but it was not enough. Anthem failed to meet EA’s expectations and received mostly negative or neutral reviews, which essentially killed the game’s future. A project called Anthem Next was originally proposed by BioWare, but eventually canceled in 2020, and Anthem was mostly abandoned by all but a few gamers.
One of the Anthem producers, Ben Irving, has recently expressed interest in working on a reboot for the game. Irving, who is currently working at Crystal Dynamics, said that it’s amazing “how many people are still so enthusiastic about Anthem” after so much time. In the comments of Irving’s post, several fans of BioWare’s multiplayer RPG agreed, arguing that Anthem suffered from a short development cycle and that the game had the potential to be great. However, it was not supported for enough time, and Anthem ended as a live service game that died too soon.
Former BioWare Producer Is Interested In an Anthem Reboot
This is not the first time a former BioWare employee has expressed interest in Anthem. Back in 2023, for example, Ian Saterdalen lamented that Anthem was created in only 15 months, which was not common for a game of such a large scope. Due to this problem, Saterdalen defended that Anthem 2 could have been great, but it never had a chance to exist.
While it’s not entirely uncommon to see developers mourning titles they have worked on before, it’s not very likely that Anthem will return in either a reboot or a sequel. Not only did the game receive harsh criticism when it was released, but BioWare has moved on. Dragon Age: The Veilguard has been receiving positive reviews ahead of its launch, and it’s clear that most gamers are happier with BioWare working on single-player games, not live service ones. For a possible Anthem reboot to have a chance, it would probably need to be developed by another company owned by EA. In any case, some Anthem fans will likely continue to wish for more in the game’s universe.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 61 /100 Critics Rec: 13%
- Released
- February 22, 2019
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Alcohol Reference, Language, Mild Blood, Use of Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- BioWare
- Publisher(s)
- Electronic Arts
- Engine
- Frostbite 3
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
WHERE TO PLAY
Unleash Your Power. In a world left unfinished by the gods, a shadowy faction threatens all humankind. Only you stand between the Dominion and the ancient power they covet. Team up as heroes in this cooperative action-RPG from BioWare™ and EA.
Forge Your Javelin Arsenal: Choose from four powerful Javelin exosuits each time you enter the world, customizing each to fit your playstyle and show off your achievements.
Explore an Ever-Changing World: Powered by Frostbite, the Anthem™’s open world features unpredictable conditions and enemies which evolve over time throughout the live service.
Meet Memorable Characters: Discover a gripping story filled with unique and memorable characters within the walls of Fort Tarsis.
Take on Challenges as a Team: Join with up to three other players and venture into danger with combat that rewards teamwork.
