Anthem 2.0 – An Update Unfulfilled

Anthem, the highly anticipated game from BioWare, released two years ago, faced a rocky start. Fans who recognized its potential have eagerly awaited the transformative “Anthem Next” update, hoping to witness a turnaround similar to that of Final Fantasy XIV or No Man’s Sky. Regrettably, BioWare announced that the Anthem update has been canceled, halting further development on the game.

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“In the spirit of transparency and closure,” shared executive producer Christian Dailey, “we’ve made the difficult decision to stop our new development work on Anthem (aka Anthem NEXT). However, we will continue to maintain the Anthem live service as it exists today.”

This decision means that the promised enhancements and changes discussed over the past two years will never see the light of day. The Javelins will not receive tweaks, the skill tree overhaul will not materialize, and the Artifact system will not be implemented. Despite being able to play Anthem in its current state for the time being, players will have to accept that the game’s full potential will remain unrealized.

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While BioWare and publisher EA did not provide explicit reasons for the cancellation, it’s understandable that investing in Anthem at this stage would be a risky endeavor. Even with excellent ideas, the challenge of changing public perception after such a long period is daunting. Additionally, the exceptional circumstances of the past year, with remote development during the pandemic, have impacted productivity. Daily explains, “Working from home during the pandemic has had an impact on our productivity, and not everything we had planned as a studio before COVID-19 can be accomplished without putting undue stress on our teams.”

Anthem, as BioWare’s venture into the online action/RPG genre, aimed to rival living games like Destiny 2. However, it encountered immediate obstacles. Repetitive gameplay, uninspired missions, and a disjointed integration of the single-player story hindered players’ enjoyment, not to mention the lackluster endgame experience. While updates following the game’s launch addressed some major issues, it became evident that a substantial overhaul was necessary for Anthem’s redemption. Unfortunately, the now-canceled Anthem Next was meant to achieve precisely that.

Amidst the disappointment, it’s important to acknowledge Anthem’s successes. The concept of flying through the world in a robo-suit and unleashing an array of sci-fi weapons proved to be a remarkable achievement. Andrew Reiner from Game Informer eloquently captured this sentiment in his review: “The Javelins are Anthem’s biggest triumph, making almost every little action feel like you are controlling a superhero capable of unleashing hell. Javelins give their users temporary jet-fueled flight and a wonderfully deep arsenal of offensive and defensive tools to play with. As the game goes on, that well of toys expands deeply and in exciting ways.”

For those interested in revisiting the optimism surrounding Anthem before its launch, you can read a cover story detailing my visit to BioWare and my hands-on experience with an early version of the game back in 2018.

Regarding the future of BioWare, Dailey assures fans that other significant projects at the studio are still on track. “Game development is hard,” he acknowledges. “Decisions like these are not easy. Moving forward, we need to laser focus our efforts as a studio and strengthen the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect titles while continuing to provide quality updates to Star Wars: The Old Republic.”

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Though the Anthem saga comes to a somber close, it’s comforting to know that BioWare has more exciting projects in the pipeline. Fans can look forward to the highly anticipated Mass Effect Legendary Edition, currently featured on the cover of Game Informer.

FAQs

1. Why was the Anthem update canceled?

The precise reasons for the cancellation have not been disclosed by BioWare and EA. However, it is likely that the risks associated with investing in Anthem at this stage, along with the challenging task of altering public perception, played a role in the decision.

2. Will players still be able to access Anthem?

Yes, players can continue to access the current version of Anthem for now. However, the promised enhancements and changes will not be implemented.

3. What are BioWare’s future projects?

BioWare remains committed to other major projects, including the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect titles, as well as providing quality updates to Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Conclusion

The cancellation of the Anthem update marks a disappointing end for a game that had great potential. Despite the setbacks and missed opportunities, Anthem’s core concept of launching through the world as a robo-suit-clad hero with an array of sci-fi weapons remains a standout achievement. While fans yearned for the promised improvements, it’s reassuring to know that BioWare has other exciting projects in the works. As we bid farewell to Anthem, we eagerly anticipate the studio’s future endeavors.

Nguồn: https://wqaindia.org
Danh mục: Tin tức