anthem Archives

AppWizard

April 18, 2026

After the death of Dragon Age, it’s a megaton bummer to go back and hear BioWare’s founders talk about the series’ bright future

PCG has rediscovered a hands-on preview of Dragon Age: Origins by Evan Lahti, along with an interview from 2009 with BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk. At that time, the studio was thriving, with both founders expressing optimism about the franchise's future and hinting at sequels. Muzyka noted that Dragon Age would be a franchise with a continuum of experiences, referencing a save transfer feature inspired by Mass Effect. Lahti recalls the excitement of covering the studio shortly after its acquisition by EA. Muzyka defended the artistic integrity of their games against media scrutiny, while Zeschuk commented on controversies surrounding early Mass Effect titles. The interview originally appeared in PC Gamer #198 (UK, March 2009).

AppWizard

April 16, 2026

Lana Del Rey surprise-drops the 007 First Light theme song, and I regret to inform you that it is not great

IO Interactive's game, 007 First Light, features a theme song titled "First Light," performed by Lana Del Rey. Historically, Bond theme songs have been significant cultural moments, with notable examples including Adele's "Skyfall," Sheena Easton's "For Your Eyes Only," and Carly Simon's "Nobody Does It Better." Other famous artists associated with Bond themes include Paul McCartney, Duran Duran, and Tina Turner. Del Rey's new song has received mixed reviews, with some critics describing it as lackluster. This is not her first attempt at a Bond theme; her song "24." was initially written for the film Spectre but was rejected. The game is set to launch on May 27.

AppWizard

January 16, 2026

Hopes for an eventual Anthem private server resurrection ignited as former executive producer says code for running the game locally ‘is there to be salvaged and recovered’

Anthem has officially ended as of approximately 2:05 PM EST on Monday. Former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah suggested that the technology to run Anthem locally could potentially be revived, depending on third-party developers or EA's involvement. Anthem's architecture relied on a client-server model, requiring players to connect to centralized servers. Reviving the game through private servers would necessitate a deep understanding of its network traffic and mechanics.

AppWizard

January 13, 2026

Anthem is finally, officially dead

At approximately 2:05 PM EST today, players of Anthem were unexpectedly disconnected from EA's servers, marking the official end of the game after nearly seven years since its launch. The game had struggled with live service management and received a lukewarm reception, with a review rating of 55 in February 2019. Development issues and a lack of creative direction plagued Anthem, leading to abandoned plans for reinvention in February 2021. EA announced the game's closure in July, and in its final hours, the community engaged in a nostalgic farewell. Players expressed mixed feelings about the game's experience, highlighting both the thrill of combat and frustrations with its design.

AppWizard

January 10, 2026

As Anthem breathes its last, I still find myself mourning just how close it came to being the BioWare game of my dreams

The BioWare Anthem servers will shut down on January 12. Anthem was launched nearly seven years ago but never fully realized its potential. Despite initial excitement and captivating gameplay mechanics, the game suffered from a lack of mission variety, limited equipment options, and slow narrative pacing. BioWare announced in February 2020 that it would halt seasonal updates to focus on a "substantial reinvention," but a year later confirmed that Anthem was effectively dead. The game is remembered for its promise and the nostalgic experiences it offered to players.

AppWizard

January 5, 2026

You’ve got 1 week left to play Anthem, the game that mortally wounded the one-time king of RPG studios

BioWare's decline is often attributed to the 2019 launch of Anthem, a live-service co-op looter-shooter that received a poor reception, with a review rating of 55%. Following Anthem, BioWare attempted to reinvent the game, but development was halted by EA in 2021. Prior to this, Mass Effect: Andromeda had already damaged the studio's reputation due to bugs. David Gaider, a former BioWare veteran, noted a shift in the studio's focus away from its loyal RPG fanbase towards a broader audience. After Anthem, BioWare released Mass Effect Legendary Edition, which was well-received, and Dragon Age: The Veilguard, which received mixed reactions. The future of BioWare is now dependent on the success of the upcoming Mass Effect game.

AppWizard

January 3, 2026

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in January

January typically sees a quieter period for PC gaming, with many anticipated titles debuting later in the month. Notable releases include: - January 12: Quarantine Zone: The Last Check (Steam) - Players act as a checkpoint officer in a zombie apocalypse. - January 26: Highguard (Steam) - A free-to-play hero shooter facing skepticism. - January 29: Cairn (Steam) - A mountain climbing game praised by early players. Upcoming gaming events and sales include: - CES from January 6-9. - Steam Winter Sale (December 18 - January 5). - Detective Fest (January 12 - January 19). - Board Game Fest (January 26 - February 2). - Taipei Game Show (January 29 - February 1). Early access launches in January: - January 6: StarRupture (Steam) - A sci-fi base building and defense game. - January 22: Bladesong (Steam) - Players craft blades in a dark fantasy setting. - January TBA: Echoes of Elysium (Steam) - A co-op airship survival RPG delayed from December. Major updates and events: - January 20: World of Warcraft's Midnight Pre-Expansion Content Update. - January 12: Anthem concludes its service. - January 22: Cult of the Lamb: Woolhaven expansion introduces new content. Additional game releases in January include: - January 9: Pathologic 3 (Steam). - January 12: Big Hops (Steam). - January 15: Craftlings (Steam) and Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon (Steam). - January 16: BrokenLore: Unfollow (Steam). - January 20: Mio: Memories in Orbit (Steam). - January 21: Dynasty Warriors Origins: Visions of Four Heroes (Steam). - January 22: Nova Roma (Steam) and Arknights: Endfield (Epic). - January 28: The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin (Steam) and The Midnight Walkers (early access). - January 29: Don't Stop, Girlypop! (Steam).

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

SLIPKNOT’s Shawn “Clown” Crahan launches massive custom built Minecraft universe: “Vernearth”

Shawn "Clown" Crahan, co-founder of Slipknot, has launched Vernearth, a Minecraft universe featuring custom technology and handcrafted maps. It offers four modes: Oblivion (a survival realm with custom factions and three capitals), PVP/Event Server (a competitive hub with weekly tournaments and various arenas), Plotworld (a creative zone for building and community events), and Challenge Mode (a hardcore experience with seasonal challenges inspired by Slipknot's music). The first three seasons of Challenge Mode include distinct themes: Season 1 is "The Heretic Anthem," Season 2 is "The Dying Song," and Season 3 is "Friend or Foe?" Players can earn rewards such as exclusive cosmetics, titles, and placements in the Hall of Heroes.

AppWizard

December 4, 2025

Slipknot’s Shawn “Clown” Crahan Unveils New Minecraft Realm Vernearth

Shawn Crahan, known as "Clown" from Slipknot, has launched a Minecraft server called Vernearth, featuring a landscape made from over 100 million blocks. The server includes four major game modes: Oblivion, PVP/Event, Plotworld, and Challenge Mode, designed to cater to various player styles. Vernearth also has a Season Mode with three phases: Season 1 ("The Heretic Anthem"), Season 2 ("The Dying Song"), and Season 3 ("Friend or Foe?"). Players can access Vernearth using the Minecraft Java Client 1.21.4 and engage with the community through an official Discord channel.

AppWizard

December 3, 2025

SLIPKNOT’s CLOWN Has His Own Minecraft Realm Called Vernearth

M. Shawn "Clown" Crahan, the percussionist of Slipknot, has launched a custom Minecraft world called Vernearth, which features 45-day seasons inspired by Slipknot's music. Vernearth includes four major game modes: 1. Oblivion — The Core World: A survival world with a corrupted aesthetic, featuring custom factions and three capital cities: Raziel, Seniomsed, and The City of Eternal. 2. PVP/Event Server — The Arena: A competitive server hosting weekly tournaments across four arenas, where players can earn "War" currency for exclusive items. 3. Plotworld — The Sanctuary: A collaborative space for creativity, allowing players to build, merge plots, and participate in contests. 4. Challenge Mode: A hardcore mode where players have one life per 45-day season, with themes inspired by Slipknot. The seasons will evolve, starting with Season 1: The Heretic Anthem, followed by Season 2: The Dying Song, and Season 3: Friend or Foe?. Players who succeed will receive titles, cosmetics, and rewards from a prize pool.