During the Alpha for Bioware’s highly-anticipated Anthem, players noticed that the game lacked a social hub and its main city (Fort Tarsis) felt less alive because of it. Other loot-based RPGs like The Division and Destiny have this feature, where you can go to a place to show off your new gear and interact with your fellow players. This is a feature that many thought would not be included to Anthem until after the game’s launch, if at all.
Lead Producer for Anthem, Michael Gamble, recently announced on Twitter that the game will have a 16-player social hub located inside Fort Tarsis called the Launch Bay:
After a mission, you can head back to Tarsis and catch up with some of the amazing characters we've created for you…OR…head back to the brand new Launch Bay, hang out with your friends, use the forge, reload and grab a new contract. Yeah, we listened to you… details soon! pic.twitter.com/m5sp96IpDh
— Michael Gamble (@GambleMike) January 23, 2019
The Launch Bay will not be included in the VIP demo for Anthem or the open beta. However, the social hub will be available at launch.
A small 16-player space may seem like a disappointment for some, but you have to keep in mind that this isn’t a feature that was originally included in the game. Although it may not be as open as Destiny or Tom Clancy’s The Division, this is a great first step in a game that should continue to add worthwhile (and free) content over the next few months.
The VIP demo starts tomorrow for those who have either pre-ordered the game, have EA Access, or Origin Access. This demo will be going on from January 25th-27th for all platforms. Anthem’s open beta will happen a week later. Just like the VIP demo, this beta is for all platforms and will happen February 1st-3rd.
Anthem will release February 22nd, 2019 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC. For everything you need to know to get you ready to jump into Bioware’s open-world, click here.
Are you excited to play the Anthem VIP demo this week? Is the Launch Bay a good first step for a social hub, or were you expecting more? Let us know in the comments below!
