Anthem has moved away from the acts update structure. In a blog post by BioWare, they announced that the previous structure they were working by has been abandoned in favor of a seasonal update format. The claim for this shift in direction is to improve upon core issues the game has. This involves re-working systems in Anthem rather than just adding minor fixes.
In the post, Chad Robertson said:
“In order to address these long-range plans, we are moving away from the Acts structure for updates. Instead, we have additional seasonal updates planned for this year that we think players will enjoy. These events will deliver challenges and chases similar to what you’ve seen, and are built around some fun themes we’re bringing to the game.”
So, BioWare knows they can’t meet the targets of this structure. Instead, they’re opting for something more manageable for the team working on the project. What is glaring here is that the game may not be getting the support it needs. As crucial staff move on to work on the new Dragon Age, this new approach may indeed be the studio’s way of slowly putting Anthem to sleep.
Anthem and the Live-Service
Panned by critics and audiences alike, Anthem seems to be going in the direction of a dying game. Launching as a broken, poorly designed, and narratively lackluster mess. BioWare has done very little to change that perception of the game.
In this reporter’s opinion, Anthem is a perfect example of why live-services don’t work. Once it is no longer viable to invest in the game, the promises of continued support fall away. This could be due to a low player count, poor reception, or a lack of sales.
Add to that the conditions of staff working on the project and the game seemed doomed to failure from the get-go.
So, will Anthem follow No Man’s Sky? Or, will it be lost to the sands of time? I guess we’ll have to wait and see.
Anthem fan? Disappointed by it? Let us know in the comments!
