BioWare has been working hard over the past year in an attempt to reinvent and salvage its failing online multiplayer action role-playing game, Anthem, but the effort may have been in total vain. According to a report published today by Bloomberg, EA executives will be deciding this week whether to continue funding Anthem or to pull the plug completely on the troubled title. While grim, the latter doesn’t seem too far fetched, as sources claim that EA would have to triple BioWare’s current team for it to properly overhaul the game.
“This week, EA executives will review the latest version of Anthem Next and decide whether to expand the team or abandon the project […]” Bloomberg reported. “The Anthem Next team includes about 30 people, BioWare said last year. People familiar with the project said it will need to expand to at least triple that in order to produce new content and continue attempting to overhaul the game. EA has not yet indicated whether it’s willing to commit that kind of budget to revive a maligned game.”
Ex-BioWare GM Casey Hudson admitted in February 2020 that the Anthem team was planning a significant overhaul due to the game’s poorly received loot system, long-term progression, and lackluster endgame content. He clarified that it wouldn’t be a simple update or expansion, but a substantial reinvention.
“Over the coming months we will be focusing on a longer-term redesign of the experience, specifically working to reinvent the core gameplay loop with clear goals, motivating challenges and progression with meaningful rewards – while preserving the fun of flying and fighting in a vast science-fantasy setting,” Hudson explained.
BioWare hasn’t shared any significant updates regarding the progress of Anthem Next since October 28. In that post, studio director Christian Dailey explained what the team was doing to improve the game’s Javelin gameplay and builds, which involved improving loadout choices and experimentation, as well as the implementation of new skill trees. Dailey also revealed that a new Artifacts system comprising super-powered tech would be introduced.