Now May Be the Best Time to Come Back to Anthem

I know. They’ve let us down time and time again. But now may be the best time since its release in February of this year to get back into Anthem.

No Time Like the Present

Don’t mistake me for someone just trying to blow smoke about this offering from the regularly disappointing Electronic Arts, and the now struggling Bioware Studios. For the people, the word on the streets has sung high praise for these companies, steadfast in their belief that Anthem has been nothing short of a winning effort in the near six months since release. The line of demarcation for success in this particular venture is still beyond me, and yes I haven’t put that disc in my PS4 for months on end; but now may be the time, and you might want to join me. Although laying low over the past few months, the hardworking folks at Bioware have been striving tirelessly to bring us an offering worthy of our efforts, and I think this may be it.

It’s been nearly two months since there’s been an update aside from standard maintenance. At this point the updates don’t seem so standard other than to say things keep breaking, so fixes need to be regularly applied. Just recently, however, something big happened: Update 1.30 was released on all platforms. This approximately 15GB file includes the long awaited arrival of the “Cataclysm” game mode which was initially planned to release back in April.

Something New, Something Old

This all new expedition will unlock new arenas as the weeks progress, on top of some new story missions available in Fort Tarsis. Crystals will be awarded through Cataclysm related activities such as challenges, free play, and the Cataclysm itself. Crystals, FYI, are a form of in-game currency to purchase loot boxes, or what this game calls “War Chests.” A season store has also been added to the mix in Fort Tarsis which includes paints, skins, emotes, and specialty Cataclysm items that are expected to change weekly. Some of these items are not crystal (currency) related and can only be awarded by completing challenges.

Luck has also been removed from all items and is being replaced with bonus armor. As a result, all players will notice drop rates from Easy through Grandmaster 1 difficulty modes as if they had previously equipped maximum luck. Legendary and Masterwork drop rates in Grandmaster 2 and Grandmaster 3 difficulties have increased for all players, including those who previously equipped maximum luck.

I’m not going to lie to you: I’m skeptical. I’m as skeptical as anyone should be that’s been playing EA games for as many decades as I have only, to be burned time and time again from their studios’ fruitless, and sometimes outright greedy, efforts. But this right here intrigues me. An update like this that may bring me back to the table in a way that the initial release did, when I took a five day weekend just to be the tip of the spear ofn the Fort Tarsis javelin war machine.

Go Boldly Forward for Hope

Like any gaming connoisseur, I felt disengaged. Bioware didn’t hold my interest or leave me wanting more as the game progressed and I had attained all that Ii could within a month or so, two tops. But if you happen to find yourself in game on my platform of choice, maybe we could squad up and take this beast on together. Bioware’s past is bleak, and its future in doubt, but this single ray of hope may just light the way into the future for this once- storied game studio.