BioWare Archives

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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).

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January 2, 2026

The most important PC gaming news stories in 2026

In 2026, the gaming industry is experiencing a push for unionization among developers, highlighted by a legal dispute involving Rockstar Games and former developers of GTA 6. The proposed billion-dollar acquisition of Electronic Arts (EA) could reshape North American gaming, potentially leading to significant cuts and debt for EA. A healthier dialogue about the portrayal of sex in gaming is emerging amid a crackdown on adult-themed games. Microsoft faces job cuts and project cancellations while announcing record profits, raising ethical concerns about its partnerships and creative stagnation. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine presents challenges for developers, influencing future game narratives. Additionally, the generative AI boom is disrupting RAM availability and pricing, potentially increasing costs for gaming hardware.

AppWizard

December 13, 2025

The Game Awards live coverage: Every reveal and announcement as it happens

Geoff Keighley is engaging audiences on social media ahead of The Game Awards, teasing announcements and appearances. Confirmed highlights include potential developments for Tomb Raider, a new look at Resident Evil Requiem, the sci-fi RPG Exodus, and a new project from Neon Giant. The preshow starts at 4:30 PM PT, with live updates from staff writer Morgan Park. Keighley shared coordinates to a mysterious statue in the California desert, leading to speculation about its connection to games, particularly a new project from Larian Studios related to "Divinity." Rumored titles generating buzz include Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Control: Resonant, a Diablo 4 expansion, an Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake, and a Max Payne Remake. Game of the Year nominees include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, Donkey Kong Bananza, Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has already won Best Independent Game and Best Family Game for Donkey Kong Bananza, as well as Innovation in Accessibility for Doom: The Dark Ages. A demo for Pragmata was announced, set for release in April 2026. Clair Obscur faced its first loss in the Players Voice category but secured the title of Game of the Year, bringing its total awards to ten.

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December 12, 2025

Everything announced at The Game Awards 2025 — Xbox, gaming handhelds, PC, and more

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2025. Decrepit, an indie title from Frame Interactive, is set to launch on PS5 and Steam in 2027. Audiomech, a bullet hell shooter by Dylan Fitterer, will have a free demo available on Steam starting December 12. PRAGMATA, an action-packed sci-fi adventure from CAPCOM, is scheduled for release on April 24, 2026, with preorders open and a demo available on Steam. Solasta 2 will enter Early Access on Steam on March 12, 2026. TankRat, a vehicular action game, is set for a Spring 2026 release on Steam. Bradley the Badger, an action platformer, is available for wishlisting on Steam. Stupid Never Dies, a zombie-themed game, is planned for release in 2026 on Steam and PS5. Casey Hudson is developing a new Star Wars RPG set in the Old Republic era. Larian Studios announced Divinity, a project larger than Baldur's Gate 3. 4:LOOP, a co-op game from Bad Robot, will release on PC and PS5. Ontos, a spiritual successor to SOMA, is slated for a 2026 release on Steam and PS5. South of Midnight, winner of the Games for Impact award, will be available on PS5 and Nintendo Switch 2 in Spring 2026. Order of the Sinking Star, a puzzle adventure game, is set to launch on Steam in 2026. Exodus, an RPG from Wizards of the Coast, is expected in Early 2027. WARLOCK, a dark fantasy action-adventure game, will launch on Xbox Series X|S, PC, and PS5. Control Resonant, a sequel to Control, will be available in 2026. Gang of Dragon is an upcoming action game from the developers of Yakuza. LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight will release on May 29, 2026. Tomb Raider: Catalyst is expected in 2027, while a reimagining titled Legacy of Atlantis will launch in 2026. Forest 3 is in development with limited details. Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred expansion will launch on April 28, 2026. Hogwarts Legacy is available for free on the Epic Games Store until December 18. No Law, an open-world shooter, is set for release on Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and PS5. Total War: Warhammer 40,000 is available for wishlist on Steam. ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE will launch in 2026. Star Wars: Galactic Racer is scheduled for release in 2026. The Wind Awakening is set for release on December 23 for multiple platforms. Phantom Blade Zero will launch on PC and PS5 on September 9, 2026. Mega Man: Dual Override is set to release in 2027. Highguard, a free-to-play multiplayer FPS, will launch on January 26, 2026.

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December 12, 2025

The 5 biggest announcements and trailers from The Game Awards 2025

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won the Game of the Year trophy at The Game Awards. Larian Studios is developing a new game titled Divinity, which is not a sequel or remake but a fresh chapter in the franchise. A new installment in the Knights of the Old Republic series, titled Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic, is being developed by Arcanaut Studios, focusing on player choices in a single-player narrative-driven action RPG. Frictional Games is creating Ontos, a sci-fi thriller set to release in 2026, featuring actor Stellan Skarsgård and exploring themes of reality and identity. The Total War franchise is expanding with Total War: Warhammer 40,000, introducing four factions and showcasing large-scale warfare, although a release date has not been announced.

AppWizard

November 15, 2025

A stylish new action RPG is making big waves on Steam, but its ‘AI chatbot’ NPCs have players howling in the wrong ways

Where Winds Meet, a martial arts RPG, received ten million pre-registrations and launched on Steam, attracting hundreds of thousands of players. Initially released in China at the end of 2024, it features a 10th-century China setting with 20 square kilometers of terrain. The game has faced mixed reviews due to AI chatbot NPCs that some players feel disrupt immersion. Its Steam rating fell to 'mixed' at launch but improved to 'mostly positive' as players appreciated the visuals and combat. Discussions on social media highlight both enjoyment and disappointment regarding the AI interactions, with players sharing humorous experiences. The game's use of AI reflects a broader trend in the industry, raising concerns about the impact on human creativity in game design.