Leading off that I understand no longer maintaining Anthem since it isn't the most popular game in the EA library and hasn't received and update in years, but that doesn't mean the entire game should be shut down and made unavailable.Players have paid for the game, have supported it when it had gone back into redevelopment to become a single player RPG (that IMO it should've been to begin with) and still play after that was scrapped.To shut down and completely remove a game people have put money into (especially without refunds) is a worrying and dangerous precedent that the gaming community is facing, and should be pushed back on. If you bought a game you should be able to play it, even if it's old, even if it's not being updated anymore, you paid for it therefor it should be available to play just like any game you bought a disk or cartridge for.With EA's push for live service games and reliance on online servers to play many single player games, something like this shows a worrying future for games like dragon age (DAI's keep being the only way to import the worldstate) and mass effect (why do you have to be online to access the DLC??) and many other EA games. One day those servers will be shuttered for one reason or another, but that shouldn't lock people out of playing the games they love.So all I ask, is please push a final patch that removes the online aspects for Anthem, to make it offline only, remove the lobby, let players go out into the field solo without connecting to the servers, let players who still play continue to do so and retain the option so future players can check out the game even though it's no longer supported.

I would like to echo this sentiment, and also suggest that if the whole co-op aspect of the game is vital, instead of making that the excuse to stonewall people who want to play it solo, release the server files instead. Hear me out, this is a business proposition to EA.Remove all MTX by making them free via drops (Like Wayfinder). This will prevent servers from being monetized. If a player has the technical capability of hosting the server, they should be allowed to. Many successful multiplayer games allow their players to host their own servers on their own baremetal machines by providing the files. Ark, Palworld to name a few.I only bring this up because publishers often times use the excuse of "It will be too hard to code out the multiplayer aspect of the game" as an excuse to ignore the customers they're, let's call a spade a spade here, ripping off by shutting the game down. It's not, however, hard to release server binaries as a bundle to people who purchase the game.THIS will allow EA to still rationally be able to justify selling Anthem, while not spending the money to maintain the servers. Have the server files be an optional DLC. You go into your game, select the server files DLC when you download it, you get the files, and EA provides them on an AS IS basis with NO guarantee of support. Only a guide on how to get them running. Nothing more.Minimal effort on EAs part, continued potential revenue (However small), the game lives on. The customer is happy, The developers are happy. EA is happy. Everyone is happy.[EDIT] I've created a change.org petition. Check it out! https://www.change.org/save-anthem

I agree, adding an offline mode would mean a lot to the community. A solution like what Knockout City implemented after its sunset would be amazing. Anthem may not have succeeded commercially, but I personally had a great time with it and would love the chance to continue playing in some form.

Add offline mode ffs its not hard alot of people still love anthem especially me or better yet stop shutting down servers its so dumb you just killing off your work you all put in to this amazing game its a dumb move to shut it down and no offline mode no playing with friends all company s do these days is shut down what people like and enjoy for what for people who hate it if you hate it then dont play it not hard

The amount of customer goodwill and positive image EA would gain by going ahead and letting players keep playing offline after killing the servers would be huge. When comparing other companies now, EA could actually be the good guy in the comparison which hasn't been done in a long time.

If this type of thinking gets materialized from EA it would create a dangerous precedent. I hope for the middle ground. Online goes dark and offline i could play the game.

Anthem - Offline mode instead | EA Forums

25 Replies

SgtSlaughtah
Rising Novice
2 days ago
Anthem is one of the best open world shooters of all time. It's Flight & Fight mechanics are amazing, and a unrivaled experience. The world bioware created is amazing. Don't kill this game EA.
kenpet34
Rising Newcomer
3 days ago
I payed 850 Norwegian kroner for this game and to shut it down and make it so i cant play what i payed money for is a crime.
n6awughusv8n
Rising Newcomer
4 days ago
This would be awesome. And second all of this. Let us keep playing a game we enjoy and don’t lock us out forever. It is a work of Art!
Sheyshen
Seasoned Rookie
6 days ago
Thank you so much to everyone who's replied so far! and everyone who's supported the petition! It warms my heart to see so many people coming to support us, whether they love the game or not. Because this is bigger than just Anthem.
While I'm hoping for the best case scenario, such as a final patch to make the game offline only or a method for local hosting/private servers so EA doesn't need to keep their servers online but we can still play the game, I hope that whatever the outcome may be this will encourage end of support planning into the development of live service games going forward (and for ones currently being supported).
No game that players pay for should be made unplayable in such a way, and that there doesn't seem to be a plan for making live service games still available once it is no longer actively being supported is a major issue that I'm hoping will change. Live service games aren't a bad idea, a continually updating game (such as mmos) are a lot of fun, but that it seems like the plan is to abandon ship and remove access to the game that players paid for once the team is no longer actively updating things is concerning and shows poor planning and management for the development of the game (as well as feels like theft as others have mentioned).
Please keep speaking up and keep this momentum going. I hope we hear good news in the coming weeks, and in the meantime have a lot of fun in our respective games, whether it be Anthem or not.
Strong alone, Stronger together!
Stevens_001
Newcomer
6 days ago
I sent a message to EA. Indeed, I believe that collectively, we must not let this go. We must be able to continue playing, assuming server hosting if necessary, but at least with this solution. Simply killing the game is fashionable, and we must not let it happen.
ArmoredRat100lI
Seasoned Newcomer
6 days ago
EA's decision is absurd. Let's be honest: it's theft. Especially since the claim that Anthem is an online game is a blatant lie.
Anthem is a single-player game with co-op as an option. An online profile and a server connection are required for one purpose only: selling skins.
EA should understand that their decision will be remembered and will mean that many people will never buy another EA game again, and EA is wrongly expecting the new Battlefield to reach 100 million players. Muhahaha. It won't even reach 10 million because, essentially, after abandoning what's good—real servers like in BF3 and BF4—new versions could stop working at any moment. However, thanks to players, Bad Company 2 still has a multiplayer mode.
So what's the point of buying a game that will stop working in the future?
Unfortunately, the "men in ties" are wrong. The younger generation is playing less and less. They prefer smartphones and TikTok. Old players, however, have plenty to play and don't need new games.
abc414970258
Rising Newcomer
8 days ago
I PAY MY MONEY TO BUY THIS GAME. IF EA TURN IT TO AN UNPLAYABLE **bleep**. I WILL SUE EA FOR MY MONEY OR GAME BACK.
The_Phatman92
Seasoned Newcomer
8 days ago
I, too, think that Anthem should get an offline mode. I spent several hours playing this game with friends over the years and loved every moment of it, just to see it thrown to the curb like this is utter nonsense. We should be allowed to keep playing even if it's solo. I thought it was a great game on release and I still think as much now. EA stepped up to the plate to fight Bungies' Destiny and didn't quite make the cut, so what, they made a great and enjoyable game.
JerryMacG
Seasoned Newcomer
8 days ago
There's nothing that I can say that hasn't already been said on this thread, I just wanted to add my voice to the growing chorus of people calling out this act of revoking peoples access to something that they purchased after the fact without recompense or refund.
I enjoy Anthem and still play it quite often. Like many of my loved games, I also intended to go back for many replays.
I often find myself avoiding games with EA anywhere near them precisely because I've been stung by their business model of profit over play many times in the past. If this shut down goes through, it will just be reinforcing my now long held belief that EA games should be avoided at all costs lest you fall prey to a game that becomes revoked, a play to win model or a game so full of loot box/microtransaction mechanics that you can't...-(to unlock the rest of this gripe, please pay 5.99USD or unlock a full months access with one payment of 20.00USD)
AvoTheDream
Seasoned Newcomer
9 days ago
EA, please, leave the single player campaign playable offline. It's not a lot of work, we don't want new things or else, just leave the game as it is for us to play offline.