Electronic Arts is preparing to shut down at least three titles in January 2026, continuing a trend of large-scale digital service closures. The move follows a heavy year of removals in 2025, during which EA terminated online services for 23 games, including long-running and legacy titles.
As with previous shutdowns, EA has provided advance notice for the affected games. However, the impact varies significantly depending on whether the titles include offline functionality.
Anthem Will Become Completely Unplayable
Anthem will be shut down on January 12, 2026, marking one of the most severe cases in this wave. Because the game lacks an offline mode, it will cease to exist in any playable form once its servers are taken offline.
Originally positioned as a high-profile live-service “looter-shooter,” Anthem received praise for its fluid flight mechanics and visual design. Despite this, the game struggled to retain a stable player base, and long-term support was eventually discontinued. The shutdown effectively erases the game from existence, reigniting ongoing debates around game preservation and always-online design.
The Sims Mobile Winds Down After Years of Decline
The Sims Mobile will officially shut down on January 24, 2026. EA ended active development on the game in 2024 and removed it from app stores in October 2025.
Existing players who already have the app installed will still be able to access it until the shutdown date, but no new downloads are possible. Once the servers go offline, remaining functionality tied to online services will no longer work.
NBA Live 19 Marks the End of EA’s Pro Basketball Era
NBA Live 19 also falls within the January shutdown window, symbolizing the end of EA’s professional basketball franchise on consoles. The series has remained dormant since 2018, and this closure formally closes the chapter.
EA is reportedly shifting its basketball focus toward a potential college-based title, though no official announcement has been made.
Real Racing 3 Scheduled for March Shutdown
Beyond January, EA is also preparing to shut down the long-running mobile racing title Real Racing 3. First released in 2013, the game will have its servers turned off on March 19, 2026.
The title has already been removed from digital storefronts ahead of the shutdown, signaling the final step in its lifecycle after more than a decade of service.
A Growing Concern for Digital Game Preservation
With multiple titles becoming partially or entirely unplayable, EA’s 2026 shutdown schedule once again highlights the fragility of digital-only games. Titles without offline modes face total erasure, leaving players without access to products they purchased.
As publishers continue to sunset online services, pressure continues to mount around preservation, ownership, and long-term access in an increasingly service-driven industry.
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