Anthem’s VIP demo is live today, and everything is just fine! Well, maybe not. BioWare maybe doesn’t have quite enough servers for the massive influx of players diving in, meaning a lot of gamers are running into capacity problems and errors.
Fortunately, EA says it’s working on the problem. (Which it could not possibly have anticipated since it’s never, ever, ever run an online video game thingy before.)
We're adding more server capacity to the #Anthem demo right now. Hang tight while we work to get everyone into the game.
— EA Help (@EAHelp) January 25, 2019
Popularity is certainly among the better problems for an MMO to have, anyway.
Surprisingly, the Anthem Reddit right now is rather positive – and making copious use of spoilers/no spoilers tags to make sure nobody’s story is being ruined outright.
Let us know if you’re playing, would ya?
Here’s a recap of all our Anthem coverage to date!
E3 2017: EA BioWare reveals Anthem, a shared-world Destiny clone
E3 2017: Former SWTOR writer Drew Karpyshyn is working on Anthem
Anthem is the start of a ’10-year journey’ for EA and BioWare
Anthem compares itself to Star Wars and Marvel movies
BioWare’s Anthem’s fourth pillar is obviously corn
Anthem lead gameplay designer Corey Gaspur passes away
BioWare confirms eventual beta for Anthem, advises patience
BioWare’s Anthem may have a virtual reality mode
BioWare shifts resources to Anthem and debates SWTOR’s future
EA pushes BioWare’s Anthem to 2019 but denies that it’s a delay
Former SWTOR creative director and key writers form up under new studio FogBank
Another writer allegedly leaves BioWare – what on earth is going on with Anthem?
BioWare: Anthem will be ‘unlike anything you’ve played’
EA quarterly financials: Anthem due March 2019, record profits, and lockbox-gambling denialism
BioWare’s Anthem will let you be ‘the hero of your story’ even in multiplayer
EA hypes Anthem trailer and combat ahead of its pre-E3 EA Play show
E3 2018: BioWare’s Anthem has soloable co-op open world, no lockboxes, a sweet trailer, and a February 22 launch
BioWare: ‘Anthem is unlike anything we’ve ever done’
Check out the full E3 demo for BioWare’s Anthem
EA adds new Origin Access premier membership that includes Anthem head start
BioWare explains more about Anthem’s split between MMO and single-player portions
Anthem’s beta is admittedly a demo, according to BioWare
PAX West 2018: Anthem’s trailer touts ‘real-time storytelling’ content
PAX West 2018: Anthem shuns content paywalls, lockboxes while embracing ‘reactive storytelling’
The Soapbox: I have a bad feeling about Anthem
BioWare says ‘every part of [Anthem] is in and functioning’
Anthem will have matchmaking for raids but no loot trading
Anthem’s PGW stream and Q&A covers the Storm, pets, and soloable world events
Anthem unveils its javelins’ ultimate abilities
Anthem previews character customization in latest developer livestream
BioWare swears that Anthem is happening in February
BioWare’s Casey Hudson discusses Anthem development progress
BioWare touts Anthem’s story, drops Game Awards trailer
Anthem doesn’t need whales to succeed, says BioWare’s Mike Gamble
Anthem player learns why you don’t break NDAs. Or why you don’t use Origin. It’s one of those.
Anthem tries to sell you on slick skins and inspirational speeches
Anthem starts its demos on January 25
Anthem shows off a full mission in a new video
Anthem shows off the gameplay of its speedy Javelin, the Interceptor
Anthem promises matchmaking for all of its content
Check out another 10 minutes of gameplay footage from Anthem
Global Chat: The big question mark of Anthem
Anthem’s demo debuts on Friday, so do your homework now
Anthem is just under a month away from official launch, but weekend VIP demo downloading has begun
EA rushes to add more server capacity for Anthem’s overloaded VIP demo
Anthem addresses ‘rocky’ demo launch, server capacity, ongoing issues, and compensation
Anthem recaps lessons learned from VIP demo in preparation for next weekend’s public demo
Anthem outlines future plans and preps more server capacity ahead of tomorrow’s public demo
Anthem explains its Alliance and Guild systems following its second demo, with hints about something more in the sky
Anthem players rack up 40 million hours while BioWare preps launch
EA is focusing on Anthem and Apex Legends following disappointing quarter
Anthem previews its post-launch plans as release day approaches
Anthem teases cataclysms and answers fan questions in latest AMAAAA
Global Chat: Anthem makes first contact with gamers
Anthem’s live-action video Conviction is serious business
Anthem’s early access launch is already suffering from connection issues
Check out Anthem’s day-one patch notes as BioWare puts an end to gear farm cheesing
Anthem’s day one patch nukes infinite loading screen and adds loot to bosses
Hyperspace Beacon: The Star Wars MMOs and communities beyond SWTOR
Leaderboard: What’s your biggest beef with Anthem?
Diablo III developer offers feedback on Anthem’s reward structure
Amazon UK is dispatching discount coupons for Anthem
First impressions of BioWare’s Anthem, a flawed piece of work with good bones
Anthem unveils loot changes to improve gearing
Global Chat: Off-the-cuff impressions of Anthem
Having Anthem trouble on your PS4? Sony might be granting refunds
BioWare doesn’t think Anthem’s ‘loot is lame’ – it’s fixing damage scaling bugs next week
Anthem players are up in arms over this weekend’s loot nerf
Anthem has more loot changes planned, including significant changes in the next few months
BioWare patches Anthem to buff loot quality at higher difficulties
Not So Massively: Welcoming a new era of online games and gaming
BioWare discusses Anthem post-launch: ‘This is all a learning experience for us’
MMO Business Roundup: Lucasfilm Games, Anthem sales, MapleStory Fest, and Oculus
Anthem promises more loot changes and no more Forge loading screen in next week’s update
Anthem misses the mark again: No armor loot in Elysian Stronghold caches
Anthem’s loot-system struggle continues as update brings legendary missions
Kotaku’s Anthem exposé unmasks a studio in ‘crisis’ – and BioWare’s response is alarming
QC Games says it’s ‘winding down internal operations on Breach’
BioWare internal memo vows to address studio disarray, says Kotaku’s Anthem exposé was ‘traumatizing’
Hyperspace Beacon: I wasn’t going to talk about Anthem, but I think I should
Anthem’s latest update fixes bugs and not a whole lot else
Massively OP Podcast Episode 215: Anthem exposed
Not So Massively: Five things I love about Anthem
Star Citizen’s Chris Roberts thinks that Anthem is worth saving
Anthem takes us to a ‘sunken’ city and allows gear changes mid-mission in today’s update 1.1.0
BioWare delays several Anthem ‘Act 1’ features including guilds and masteries
Another crunch-ridden game studio exposed: This time it’s Fortnite’s Epic Games
Not So Massively: Yearning for an MMO future free of loot
Matchmaking problems plague Anthem as its playerbase dwindles
Anthem appears to have lost several prominent upper staff members
BioWare swears it’s still working on Anthem following key staff departures
EA sees quarterly and yearly revenue dropoffs, plans to port Apex Legends to mobile
Anthem intentionally removes special loot chests and accidentally removes boss loot drops
Anthem releases update 1.2.0 – without loot changes – and plans PTS for Cataclysm
Anthem’s Cataclysm test server is now live for PC players
E3 2019: Anthem is going to let you assemble groups from guild rosters
Not So Massively: Cataclysm looks cool, but it’s not what Anthem needs right now
Anthem’s Reddit cracks down on ‘aimless’ criticism
EA CEO on Anthem: ‘I feel like that team is really going to get there with something special and something great’
Star Trek Online rescinds plan to use controversial audio emote in summer festival
Anthem begins testing Cataclysm changes, but players aren’t satisfied
Anthem’s Cataclysm PTS testing may be yielding some improvements to the shooter
No Man’s Sky boss on why placating players with prattle rather than proof doesn’t work
Anthem players get excited for Cataclysm precursor event that turns out to be a bug
Anthem’s finally pushed out pre-Cataclysm challenges – hope ya like smashing crystals
Anthem just stealth-launched the massive Cataclysm update today
Not So Massively: Anthem’s Cataclysm is actually a good ride
Anthem and BioWare lose lead producer Ben Irving
Choose My Adventure: Anthem kept crashing, so here’s what happened in Destiny 2
Anthem’s patch 1.40 brings freeplay changes, returned loot, and a hint toward Cataclysm’s ending
Casey Hudson says BioWare still has a ‘big team working on Anthem’
Anthem is added to the list of free games for EA Access subscribers
Anthem launches Cataclysm’s final week, abandons Acts structure for future updates
Anthem leaves Cataclysm content in the game until the next seasonal update
Early access pirate MMO Atlas is launching on Xbox One next week – with PC crossplay
Anthem’s latest update brings a new Cataclysm and the Season of Skulls
The second week of Anthem’s Season of Skulls starts up today
EA is bringing an unspecified number of games back to Steam along with the EA Access plan
Anthem loses yet another lead developer as BioWare’s head of live service departs
Fight or Kite: PvP games to play if you’re still boycotting Blizzard
Anthem commemorates N7 Day with some gorgeous Mass Effect-style Javelin skins
Anthem previews Icetide’s Javelin racing and a time attack mode for Tyrant Mine
Rumor: A complete overhaul is in the works for Anthem
The last week of Anthem’s Season of Skulls has arrived
BioWare’s former general manager discusses the performance and limitations of the Frostbite engine
Massively OP Podcast Episode 247: Shopping for MMO guilds
Anthem rings in the holiday season with the arrival of Icetide
Not So Massively: A wishlist for MMO-adjacent online games in 2020
Leaderboard: Are you onboard with the online gaming industry’s new take on sequels?
Anthem offers a look at updates for week five of Icetide and additional lore stories
Anthem extends the Icetide Season and fixes bugs in its latest update
Anthem’s weekly updates stay thin as the launch anniversary approaches
Anthem abandons seasonal content as BioWare confirms major redesign and reinvention
MMO Business Roundup: Tim Sweeney’s politics gaffe, Nexon’s Q4 2019, and the old BioWare crew
Anthem marks its anniversary by handing out free Javelin vinyls
Anthem’s Regulator Shop will now let players buy Legendary items
EA Play Live is scheduled for June 11
BioWare Austin’s studio director confirms Anthem reboot will be more transparent and ‘a longer process’
Torchlight III’s surprise early access launch was tormented by server issues and poor reviews
Concept art pieces for the Anthem reboot show off new locations and classically-styled pirates
Anthem discusses the design goals for getting loot and gearing up in the rebooted version of the shooter
Into the Super-verse: Marvel’s Avengers feels like Marvel Heroes by way of Destiny
Anthem offers a look at Javelin skill trees, build customization, and Artifacts in a dev blog
BioWare loses GM Casey Hudson and Exec Producer Mark Darrah
Former Anthem studio director Christian Dailey promises ‘talented’ leadership is still in place
Not So Massively: Looking back at 2020 and ahead to 2021 in the realm of not-so-massively games
Posting record 2020 revenues, EA recommits to the Star Wars franchise that made it $3B
Rumor: EA is debating the future of the beleaguered Anthem Next
BioWare is halting development on Anthem Next, but Anthem itself will stay up
Sorry kids, Dragon Age 4 is cutting multiplayer after years of troubled development
Global Chat: Grieving over Anthem’s demise
Not So Massively: A eulogy for Anthem and Defiance
Massively OP Podcast Episode 311: The day the MMOs died
SWTOR’s update 6.2.1 is finally live with updates for conquests, amplifiers, and uprisings
Vague Patch Notes: MMO sunsets and the myth of meritocracy
Global Chat: What can fill that ‘new MMO’ void?
Star Wars The Old Republic announces The Dark Descent update with new flashpoint and ‘galactic seasons’
Former Anthem director Jonathan Warner ejects from BioWare
The Soapbox: If you want innovation in MMOs, stop worshiping polish
BioWare promotes Gary McKay to studio boss after tumultuous year
Former BioWare GM Casey Hudson announces the opening of a new development studio
Not So Massively: Magic Legends had all the right ideas and all the wrong choices
BioWare boss talks up SWTOR’s Legacy of the Sith, new remote hiring policy
Nightingale was originally an MMO but scaled back to become more intimate
First Impressions: Babylon’s Fall is an unpolished and underwhelming collection of almost good ideas
Classic Tibia is getting sound for the first time in 25 years
Blade & Soul takes a closer look at the Musician class arriving later this week
NCsoft showcases gameplay and early details of its new shooter MMO Project LLL
The Stream Team: Backseat Streaming steps back into the mech suits of Anthem
The Stream Team: Returning to Anthem
NetEase announces another new MMO studio: Rich Vogel’s T-Minus Zero Entertainment
Vitae Aeternum: Rise of the Angry Earth mounts and flail are the lift New World needed
BioWare’s Anthem sold 5M lifetime copies, according to leaked stats
The best MassivelyOP live streams of 2023
Anthem taught BioWare to focus on what it’s good at for Dragon Age: The Veilguard
Source: Twitter. Thanks, Xijit!
Update
Maybe it wasn’t those servers after all?
Turns out to not be a server capacity issue. Seems to be a different issue that didn’t come up in previous scale testing. Teams are on it… https://t.co/nnDi2xK1s6
— Casey Hudson (@CaseyDHudson) January 25, 2019
Update
BioWare’s now got a new statement on what’s going on:
“The main issue impacting the Anthem VIP demo on PC and PS4 has been resolved. Anyone who has had an issue on those platforms should restart the game and attempt to join again. Our team is still working on fixes for some of the issues we’re seeing on Xbox One.”
