Electronic Arts will permanently close servers for three titles in January 2026, rendering them entirely unplayable as the gaming giant continues its aggressive cost-cutting campaign across its portfolio.

BioWare's multiplayer action RPG Anthem will be the first to go dark on January 12, followed by mobile game The Sims Mobile on January 20 and the final entry in the NBA Live franchise on January 30. All three games have already been delisted from digital storefronts, and no offline modes will be available after the shutdowns.

End of an Era for BioWare's Troubled Shooter

Anthem, which launched in 2019 to scathing reviews and technical problems, represents one of BioWare's most high-profile failures. The studio halted development on the game in 2021 after abandoning plans for a major overhaul, and delisted it from digital stores in August 2025. According to EA's official announcement, the game "was designed to be an online-only title, so once the servers go offline, the game will no longer be playable".

With the closure approaching, some dedicated fans have begun exploring unofficial server options to preserve the game, while others are organising final community events.

Mobile and Sports Titles Follow Suit

The Sims Mobile, developed by Maxis, will shut down on January 20 after seven years of operation. EA stopped all in-app purchases in October 2025 but gave players unlimited energy and promised to unlock all premium content on January 6 to let them "experience everything the game has to offer before the servers close".

NBA Live 19, released in 2018, marks the end of an era as the last game in EA's basketball series before the franchise was shelved indefinitely. Its January 30 shutdown means no EA-published basketball game will have active online services.

Pattern of Aggressive Shutdowns

The January closures are part of a broader wave of server terminations at EA, which has shut down 23 games in 2025 alone—including FIFA 23 on December 12 and racing title Grid on December 19. While EA has not publicly explained the reasoning behind these specific shutdowns, industry observers point to mounting server maintenance costs and, in the case of NBA Live 19, expiring licensing agreements with the NBA.

The shutdowns come as EA reported a 1.3% revenue decline to $7.46 billion in fiscal year 2025, with net income falling 12% to $1.12 billion.