EA to Shut Down Anthem, The Sims Mobile, and NBA Live 19 Servers in January 2026: What Gamers Need to Know

Electronic Arts (EA) continues its pattern of retiring older titles, confirming server shutdowns for three games in January 2026. Following a record 23 game closures in 2025—including high-profile ones like The Simpsons: Tapped Out—EA is set to make Anthem, The Sims Mobile, and NBA Live 19 partially or fully unplayable starting next month.These decisions highlight the challenges of live-service and online-dependent games, where low player counts and maintenance costs lead to inevitable sunsets. Here's a breakdown of what's happening, why, and what it means for players.wccftech.com youtube.com The Games Facing Shutdown in January 2026Anthem (BioWare, 2019) → Servers offline January 12, 2026 The ambitious but troubled looter-shooter will become completely unplayable. As an online-only title, no offline mode exists—once servers go dark, the entire game vanishes. Anthem was delisted earlier in 2025 and removed from EA Play/Game Pass in August. Development halted in 2021 after the failed "Anthem Next" overhaul.reddit.com The Sims Mobile (Maxis, 2018) → Servers offline January 24, 2026 This free-to-play mobile spin-off ends after nearly eight years. Delisted from app stores in October 2025, existing installs remain playable until shutdown. EA scheduled final events and unlocked content for remaining players, but no refunds for in-game currency.youtube.com youtube.com NBA Live 19 (EA Tiburon, 2018) → Servers offline January 30, 2026 The last entry in the NBA Live series loses online features, including multiplayer and modes tied to servers. Delisted earlier, this effectively ends the franchise's online era as EA focuses on NBA 2K competition fallout.ebay.com waytoomany.games Note: Real Racing 3 follows in March 2026, but January focuses on these three.Why Is EA Shutting Down These Games?EA rarely explains individual decisions, but patterns emerge:Low Player Engagement — Older titles see declining active users, making server costs unjustifiable. Resource Reallocation — Funds shift to current hits like EA Sports FC, Madden, and upcoming projects. Licensing Issues — Sports games like NBA Live 19 face expiring NBA deals. Industry Trend — After 23 shutdowns in 2025, EA streamlines its portfolio amid shifts (e.g., recent private buyout discussions). Community backlash grows, with petitions for offline modes (especially Anthem) and calls for better digital preservation. What Players Can Do Before the ShutdownsPlay Now → Log in before dates to spend remaining currency or finish achievements. Anthem-Specific → No offline play possible—experience it while you can if owned. Mobile Titles → Keep apps installed for limited post-shutdown access (where applicable). Preservation Efforts → Some communities explore fan servers, though success varies. These EA game shutdowns January 2026 remind us of live-service fragility. While sad for fans, they free resources for new experiences.