BioWare/EA
"Anthem" was one of the most anticipated games of 2019, but many players have already moved on.
- Despite being the best-selling video game of February 2019, "Anthem" suffered through a tumultuous launch and has drawn the ire of players and critics alike.
- An investigative report from Kotaku exploring the game's development process found that many of the game's creators at BioWare reportedly endured intense stress and suffered emotional breakdowns as they struggled to finish the game.
- The reported turmoil within the "Anthem" development team mirrors similar stories from other game studios, and has ignited discussions about proper work standards in the video game industry.
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The creators of "Anthem" are on the defensive after an investigative report from Kotaku shed new light on the game's troubled development process.
Kotaku's Jason Schrier reported on the working conditions at BioWare during "Anthem's" creation, discovering that employees at BioWare reportedly suffered from intense mental and emotional stress as they struggled to complete the game on schedule.
"Anthem" was a much different game when the development process began in 2014. The project took on several different names as BioWare solidified the core elements of the game. The game officially launched on February 15th with a sliding release schedule, and suffered a tumultuous first month: players reported game-breaking bugs and criticized "Anthem's" lack of content.
A blockbuster budget and aggressive marketing campaign from Electronic Arts helped make "Anthem" the best-selling video game of February, but the product is considered a resounding flop in its current form.
Here's what happened.