The lead producer of Anthem has announced that he has decided to leave BioWare to work for another gaming company. BioWare’s ambitious Anthem released in early 2019, but since its launch, several controversies and problems have plagued it. Anthem not only released with a series of bugs and glitches, but there was also a lot of promised content that never made it to the game. Players and critics seem to remain disappointed in the title, resulting in Anthem being the worst-reviewed game in BioWare’s history.
Despite its struggles, though, BioWare continues to insist that the company remains committed to Anthem. BioWare has tried to assure players that it is listening to feedback to keep improving the game, stating that Anthem still has a future. Publisher EA seems to agree and continues to support the title, although Anthem was basically a no-show at this year’s E3. There is also the problem with players: so many have jumped ship that it’s difficult for existing players to find others to team up with for missions. As Anthem is a multiplayer title, that’s a serious problem.
Unfortunately, the blows keep on coming. Anthem lead producer Ben Irving, who was seen as the face of the game, announced that he was leaving BioWare after eight years. In a series of tweets, Irving explained his decision and praised both BioWare and the Anthem community, insisting that he still feels the game has a “bright future.”
Irving’s announcement comes several months after a scathing report unveiled a toxic workplace culture behind the scenes during Anthem’s development. That report also revealed issues BioWare had with EA, including an insistence on using the Frostbite Engine and a rushed production schedule. BioWare insists that it’s working on those problems. However, the company still answers to EA, which has increasingly earned a reputation of rushing titles and ruining player trust with good developers.
This announcement also follows the recent release of Anthem’s massive Cataclysm update. That update featured a new in-game event, as well as a series of bug fixes and loot drop improvements. Although many in the industry felt that Cataclysm was a much-needed addition to the game, reception to the update seems to have been mostly apathetic. Many players have already given up on the title, with some declaring Anthem dead in the water. Although Irving’s announcement mentions his faith in the title, his departure will undoubtedly further erode what little trust players still have in Anthem.
