EA Just Proved Why Game Preservation Matters

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Keeping old video games playable can be challenging, particularly as older consoles become obsolete. The rise of digital game stores has significantly changed how we own games. Now, some games are kept available for a period, while others depend entirely on the publisher’s ongoing support.

Consider the story of Anthem. This sci-fi RPG, released by BioWare in 2019, never attracted a large, consistent player base like Destiny. As a result, the publisher decided to shut down its servers, effectively ending the game for everyone, even those who had purchased it and wanted to keep playing. While EA’s decision marked the end for Anthem, the details surrounding its final months have sparked a debate about giving players more influence over the future of the games they enjoy.

Anthem’s Closure Has Become A Rallying Cry For Game Preservation

The shutdown of Anthem has disappointed many fans who’ve followed the game for years. With the servers now offline, the game is unplayable even after five years of developing its detailed world. Because Anthem required a constant internet connection, players who originally purchased the game can no longer play it, even by themselves. According to producer Mark Darrah, the developers initially considered a solution: a relaunch as Anthem Next with local servers, which would have allowed players to continue enjoying the game offline.

Darrah explained that the game was originally built with dedicated server support, but that feature was removed shortly before it launched. Ultimately, the game was discontinued without ever offering dedicated servers. This news has fueled the “Stop Killing Games” movement, which advocates for giving players more say in how long games remain active. The movement argues that players deserve a stronger voice, challenging the industry’s focus on keeping people constantly engaged with new and ongoing games and services.

Supporters of the campaign believe that players who invested in Anthem deserved the option to continue playing it on dedicated servers, even after official support ended. They argue that since players purchased the game, they should have a say in when they stop playing, rather than the company making that decision for them. As one social media post put it, “If you bought the game, you should have a voice in whether you get to keep playing it, and you should decide when you’re finished, not the company.”

Anthem Fans Didn’t Deserve To Lose Their Game

Keeping older games available for future generations is often complicated, particularly when legal rights or company decisions come into play. It’s disappointing when a game becomes unplayable, limiting access to the developers’ work and preventing players from enjoying it. But this issue is especially tricky now that most games are digital. Unlike older, discontinued games that could be found secondhand, players who enjoyed Anthem can no longer play it, even if they originally purchased it.

EA has the right to take their servers offline, but it’s understandably upsetting for players when they do. Even though I didn’t play Anthem myself, I can see how frustrating it would be to spend so much time in a game world only to have it suddenly become inaccessible. Many game studios are trying to create games that last forever by offering live services, but this also means they can be shut down at any time. It’s especially disappointing in the case of games like Anthem because the technology exists to let players continue enjoying the game even without a constant server connection. The game could have been playable offline, but instead, it’s just gone.

Honestly, the worst part about Anthem being completely taken down is that nobody new will ever stumble across it and give it a shot. It had the potential to gain new fans, or even inspire someone to create something amazing themselves. Now, it won’t make BioWare or EA any money, which is a shame for the people who put so much work into it. I think it’s important for games to stick around – it’s how we learn from the past, you know? If nobody can play something, future developers miss out on what worked and what didn’t. The fact that EA and BioWare just shut it down completely, instead of letting us keep playing privately, really says something about how they view owning games. Even if you didn’t love Anthem, you should be able to understand why players deserve to still be able to play something they purchased, even if the company is moving on.

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2026-01-24 08:10