Can fans bring Anthem back online after EA shut down its servers?

A community of fans is actively working to revive Anthem, with a recent video showing a proof-of-concept of the game loading on simulated servers.

What are the main challenges in reviving Anthem without EA's servers?

The primary challenges involve the Frostbite engine's client-server architecture, Anthem's reliance on online data, and unusual engine behaviors that make loading game levels and spawning NPCs difficult.

When can players expect a playable version of Anthem to return?

While a key team member is about 75 percent confident in a playable version within months, they are managing expectations, emphasizing that progress depends on motivation and that the released video was a preliminary demonstration.

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Anthem Revival: Fans Hack EA's Servers

29 Jan

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Summary

Fans are working to bring Anthem back online after EA shut down servers.
A proof-of-concept video shows the game partially loading on simulated servers.
The team is optimistic but cautions against unrealistic expectations.

EA officially shut down the servers for the sci-fi game Anthem on January 12, 2026, rendering the multiplayer title completely unplayable. However, a dedicated community of engineers and developers has emerged with a project to revive the game. Recently, a video surfaced showing Anthem partially loading on what appears to be a simulated server environment, igniting hope among fans.

The volunteer team, operating primarily through a Discord server called The Fort's Forge, has been reverse-engineering Anthem's architecture. They have identified key components like EA's Blaze server for authentication, Bioware Online Services (BIGS) for player data, and the Frostbite multiplayer engine for gameplay. Early efforts to emulate Blaze and BIGS have yielded promising results, leading to the recent proof-of-concept.

Despite the progress, significant challenges remain, particularly with Anthem's utilization of the Frostbite engine. The engine's design requires gameplay to run in a server context, and Anthem relies heavily on online data. While the team believes crucial level data is recoverable and the game's logic might exist within the client, unusual engine behaviors and the complexity of player data present hurdles.