Anthem, BioWare`s ambitious live-service game, faced significant criticism and commercial disappointment following its 2019 release, and is scheduled to become unplayable early next year. In a recent extensive YouTube video, former BioWare executive producer Mark Darrah offered insights into the game`s origins and its shaky start.
Darrah explained that Mass Effect director Casey Hudson`s pitch to Electronic Arts went beyond just a new game; it represented a new direction for BioWare itself. Hudson envisioned BioWare as a studio capable of delivering rich storytelling within an always-online, live-service framework, adopting a new business model designed to achieve financial success comparable to major franchises like FIFA.
According to Darrah, much of Hudson`s initial grand concept did not fully materialize in the final game. He noted that the pitch gained considerable momentum within the organization because it held the promise of BioWare achieving massive commercial numbers. Darrah recalled a video, likely intended for executives, which presented Hudson`s vision in a polished, “slick tech company” style. This video suggested that BioWare`s traditional approach was “old-fashioned” and that the studio needed to transform to remain relevant.
This message strongly resonated with executives at the time, who were eager to see BioWare embrace change and adapt to the burgeoning live-service market. Anthem was positioned as a game that could generate continuous revenue, aligning with the industry`s shift towards persistent online experiences.
Despite this promising setup, Anthem struggled significantly during its development. A critical factor, as highlighted by Darrah, was Casey Hudson`s departure from BioWare midway through the project. Hudson had pitched the game as “the future of storytelling,” but after his exit, the remaining studio staff lacked a clear understanding of this ambiguous concept. Darrah even speculated that Hudson himself might not have had a precise definition, and his absence left no one to clarify or guide the implementation of that core vision.
Darrah also disclosed that he frequently argued for delaying Anthem`s release to allow for more development time, even suggesting that Dragon Age 4 should be launched first. However, these recommendations were not adopted, with Dragon Age: The Veilguard only being released much later.
While Darrah`s video provides a valuable, though singular, perspective on Anthem`s development challenges, it doesn`t offer every answer. He has expressed an intention to produce more videos detailing the game`s production in the future.