Death of a Game: Anthem
nerdSlayer Studios・2 minutes read
Anthem, originally aimed to be a masterpiece like Bob Dylan's music, failed to meet expectations since its launch in 2018, facing criticism from Bioware's RPG fans and significant departure of key team members. Despite efforts to revamp the game with new content and updates, Anthem's poor reviews, technical issues, and lack of engaging content post-launch led to the announcement of a planned reboot in February 2020.
Insights
- Anthem, initially envisioned as a timeless masterpiece inspired by Bob Dylan's music, fell short of expectations post-launch in 2018, facing criticism for its lack of content, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues.
- Bioware's struggles with Anthem's development, marked by key departures, rushed decisions under EA pressure, and a shift away from narrative focus, highlighted significant challenges in creating a cohesive and engaging experience, leading to a planned reboot in 2020 to address loot, progression, and end-game content issues.
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Recent questions
What challenges did Bioware face during Anthem's development?
Bioware encountered numerous challenges during Anthem's development, including key figures like Casey Hudson leaving, which impacted the project's direction. The Edmonton studio, renowned for its RPGs, struggled with setbacks and lost crucial team members. The game underwent significant changes and challenges, such as a shift towards a Destiny-like co-operative online shooter. Additionally, pressure from EA executives led to a rushed demo creation to impress stakeholders, further complicating the development process.
How did Anthem's gameplay differ from Bioware's previous games?
Anthem's gameplay differed significantly from Bioware's previous games by focusing on a shared-world action-RPG experience where players, as Freelancers, explore and confront dangers in a visually stunning open world. The game's unique hook involved customizable Javelin exosuits that allowed players to fly, leap, and climb through the game's world, emphasizing co-operative play and mission-based activities rather than traditional narrative-driven RPG elements.
What were the criticisms surrounding Anthem's launch in February 2019?
Anthem faced significant criticisms upon its launch in February 2019, with poor reviews highlighting its lack of content, repetitive gameplay, and technical issues. Reviews from Metacritic, IGN, PC Gamer, and GameSpot pointed out flaws in the story, loot system, missions, endgame content, and technical aspects like loading times. Despite high expectations and a day one patch, the game failed to meet player and critic expectations, leading to widespread disappointment.
How did Anthem's post-launch content updates fare with players?
Anthem's attempts to introduce new content through seasonal events and updates were met with criticism from players for reusing existing content and failing to address the game's content drought. The Cataclysm event, meant to revitalize the game, was perceived as a repetitive leaderboard mode lacking substantial innovation. Bioware's roadmap for Anthem, including the Cataclysm event, faced delays and vague promises, leading to skepticism among players regarding the game's future updates and improvements.
What led to Bioware announcing a planned reboot for Anthem in February 2020?
Bioware announced a planned reboot for Anthem in February 2020 due to the game's performance issues, bugs, and lack of engaging content post-launch. The company acknowledged the need for significant improvements in the loot experience, progression, and end-game content to address player concerns and revitalize the game. The decision to reboot Anthem reflected Bioware's commitment to salvaging the project and delivering a more satisfying experience for players moving forward.