Following its less-than-ideal launch, Anthem currently has a lot riding on it to rise to the occasion. Things haven't got much better since launch, and developer BioWare really needs a win. Because of this, many expect big changes for Anthem at E3 2019, but considering the developer has been quiet on this front, no one truly knows what to expect. Yet, according to a recent rumor gaining traction online, there could be an announcement that BioWare's multiplayer action-RPG is going free-to-play.

Before moving forward, it's worth mentioning that rumors like this live and die by its source, and the source is not exactly trustworthy. It comes secondhand from a small-time blog that claims to have received the information from an anonymous source within publisher EA, but the identity of either individual cannot be verified. Therefore, this Anthem rumor is just that: a rumor.

Seemingly, if Anthem is truly going free-to-play, it would be announced during the EA Play event on June 8-9, where the game is confirmed to appear in some capacity. According to the anonymous source, it will go free to play when the game appears on EA Access. Timing isn't clear or specified, but the source claims that Anthem will be added to the service around the time EA Access launches on PlayStation 4.

It's no secret that Anthem has had a grimly negative reception and failed to meet EA's expectations. Making it free-to-play could potentially do much for the game, but at the same time, it could prove to be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it would likely give a solid bump to the dwindling player base, if for no other reason than it being a free game.

ea play e3 2019

On the other hand, it would likely do much to welcome the vitriol of players who purchased the game at full price. Considering there is already a demand for Anthem refunds due to false advertising and fraud, this would only exacerbate the issue, given that it has only been a few months since launch. But again, this is just a rumor and could simply prove to be nothing more.

Anthem is available now on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Source: MMOG Fails