Development on beleaguered multiplayer shooter Anthem’s major overhaul – variously known as “Anthem Next” and “Anthem 2.0” – has officially ceased, according to BioWare, and the studio will now focus its efforts on the next Dragon Age and Mass Effect games.
Anthem 2.0 was officially announced last February – a little under 12 month’s after the game’s rocky launch on Xbox One, PS4, and PC – with the aim of improving the underlying experience through more satisfying loot, better long-term progression, and a more fulfilling end game.
“We recognise that there’s still more fundamental work to be done to bring out the full potential of [Anthem],” BioWare admitted at the time of its 2.0 reveal, “and it will require a more substantial reinvention than an update or expansion”.
Since then, a team of around 30 people at BioWare Austin, the studio responsible for Star Wars: The Old Republic, has continued to work on the overhaul project, drip-feeding planned new features to the community along the way. Most recently fans were given at look at a new and improved loot system, as well as a new Destiny-style UI.