Despite renewed interest in a revival of BioWare’sAnthem, the game might find better odds for a potential reboot if adopted by one of the studio’s more well-known and well-established IPs. Since the days ofDragon Age: Inquisitionand its originalMass Effecttrilogy, BioWare’s recent track record has arguably been hit-and-miss between the likes ofMass Effect: AndromedaandDragon Age: The Veilguard, but none more so than its short-lived MMORPG,Anthem. However, while the game may have failed to meet expectations when it first launched, some players and evenformer producers are interested in rebootingAnthem.
But given that its reputation and notoriety still live on years after its release, it may be too soon for an attempted reboot ofAnthemas its own IP. YetAnthem’s best features, such as its gameplay and world-building, are still potentially worth salvaging, which could prompt BioWare to look for alternative options if it decides to revisit the gameand attempt a reboot. Therefore, in line withAnthem’s overall design, gameplay, and setting, BioWare could take the MMORPG’s better parts and adapt them to fit its stronger, more popularMass EffectIP to giveAnthema deserved second chance to succeed.
Now Might Be The Perfect Time For Anthem’s Reboot
With the conclusion ofMass Effect’s original trilogy and itsDragon Ageseries going strong followingDA: Inquisitionearning the Game of the Year award in 2014, it arguably wasn’t surprising thatBioWare would begin creating new IPsas it moved forward. However, despite its best intentions withAnthem, BioWare’s sudden departure from single-player experiences to the MMO genre didn’t see the same success as its other games, with criticism ranging from a repetitive gameplay loop to a weak storyline and endgame. Even after BioWare attempted to rework the game and release post-launch content, development onAnthemceased in early 2021.
However, likely prompted byEA’s comments onDA: The Veilguard’s mixed salesthat it would have performed better with live-service gameplay, attention has turned toAnthemas BioWare’s original attempt at such a game. Though it may have been flawed at its initial launch, players looking back onAnthemhave begun to recognize the game’s potential with social media posts like the one below highlighting its flight and combat gameplay. Despite this, withAnthem’s persisting damaged reputation and EA favoring established IPs likeDragon Agein a bid for an MMO from BioWare, a direct reboot of the game itself might not be possible.
Mass Effect Adopting Anthem Could Be The Best Compromise
While it’s possible thatAnthemdeserves a second chanceto redeem itself, it might be better for players, developers, and publishers if BioWare reworked its approach toAnthemand adapted its gameplay and story to fit within theMass Effectfranchise. Given that the two IPs already share similarities in terms of design and gameplay, this potentialAnthemreboot would only require changes to its characters, story, and setting. In doing so,Anthemcould still retain the positives of its core gameplay while being supported byMass Effect’s established canon, such as with the examples below:
Mass Effect Could Be Both Anthem’s and BioWare’s Best Way Forward
However, despite assurances thatMass Effect 4is still going ahead,BioWare’s recent layoffs hint at an uncertain futurethat hinges on the successful continuation of itsMass EffectIP. Given that this could putMass Effect 4under pressure to exceed all expectations, it might be wise to repurposeAnthem’s reboot within theMass Effectseries to help share the burden of success. With its flight and combat gameplay already proving popular among players, BioWare could benefit from rebootingAnthemalongside Mass Effect 4to strengthen theMass EffectIP through single-player and MMO games to ensure the studio’s future.
