EA announced during a PAX West panel that Anthem, their upcoming multiplayer third-person shooter, will be getting a demo on EA Access. Xbox One and PC players who subscribe to the service will be able to access the demo with their subscription of EA Access on February 1st, 2019. PS4 players, don’t fret, pre-ordering the title will gain you access to the demo on the same date.
Fans should set their expectations, this is not a beta for Anthem, but rather a small slice of the game. Mike Gamble said during the panel about what the demo is not, “a tech test or a beta looking for feedback.” but rather “a slice of our game” This is an important distinction to make as fans may have expected to play a feature rich beta like the ones popularized by many online shooters today.
Bioware, developers of the Dragon Age and Mass Effect series, also released a trailer outlining Anthem’s world and story. The trailer shows off how the gameplay and character choices will effect the world and story around them. This is a good thing to see as Bioware has been traditionally known for their outstanding worlds and story telling. Take a look at the trailer below.
The official synopsis from Bioware for the trailer is as follows:
At the heart of Anthem is the concept of Our World, My Story . The distinctive combination of a shared, dynamic world and a personal story. Discover how these two elements help create a connected world that remains unique to every player.The world narrative advances for your whole team. You’ll get further into our world by taking on explosive missions offered by agents who need your help. These missions take you deep into the heart of anthem, while also developing the personal stories of each agent. Outside of the battles there’s freeplay, a chance for you to explore solo or with friends, uncover answers your questions about Anthem, and find powerful artifacts that could lead you to victory down the road … This is real-time storytelling, a reinvention of personal narrative in a multiplayer game.
Bioware confirmed that Anthem will still be hitting store shelves on February 22nd, 2019 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Be sure to check back to The Nerd Stash for more news on Anthem!