Anthem, BioWare's highly anticipated sci-fi multiplayer shooter, is rumored to have been delayed into early 2019 according to a report from Kotaku's Jason Schreier. Schrier says that multiple sources have told him that Anthem is no longer on schedule for its current release window of late 2018, as announced at E3 2017. The reason for the delay appears to be an overly optimistic initial release window combined with the expansion of Anthem's scope.

The report goes into detail regarding how BioWare has shifted much of its resources into Anthem long-term, with both BioWare Edmonton and BioWare Austin focusing on the project. Having been in development since 2012, the pressure is mounting on the studio to ensure that Anthem succeeds. BioWare's future may even be reliant on Anthem's reception.

According to sources within the company, many of Anthem's developers feel both "optimistic and anxious" regarding the project. Whether that anxiety stems from inter-company stresses or the greater gaming environment, which has seen backlash towards online games like Destiny 2 and Star Wars: Battlefront 2 in recent months, is unclearc.

Anthem Delayed into 2019 Rumor - Dragon Age

BioWare's singular focus on Anthem may be rippling throughout the studio's other projects and brands as well. Everyone is likely familiar with the Mass Effect franchise being put on pause after Andromeda's controversial release and BioWare Montreal being merged into EA Motive. But now Dragon Age may be caught up as well. According to Schreier, development of the fourth Dragon Age title has been rebooted, with the game's Executive Producer, Mark Darrah, now also working on Anthem.

For now, BioWare has not yet confirmed that the game's release date has slipped into 2019. And by no means does such a short delay imply any development struggles. If anything, such stresses are becoming the norm for big AAA online multiplayer games these days. BioWare will have ample opportunity to show just how well Anthem is coming together over the course of 2018.

Anthem is officially planned for release in late 2018, though it's now rumored to launch in early 2019, for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

Source: Kotaku