In a move that signals a continued trend of digital sunsets, video game publishing titan Electronic Arts (EA) is set to pull the plug on at least three of its titles in early 2026. This follows a significant wave of shutdowns in the previous year, where the company terminated online services for a staggering 23 games.
The First Wave of 2026 Shutdowns
According to reports, EA has confirmed specific dates for three major shutdowns in January 2026. Game publishers typically provide advance notice before removing online functionality, but in certain cases, these actions render the games completely unplayable. This new round of closures is poised to begin the year with notable losses for gaming communities.
Anthem's Final Flight on January 12
Anthem, the ambitious live-service "looter-shooter" from the renowned studio BioWare, will be the first to go dark. The servers for this title are scheduled to shut down on January 12, 2026. A critical detail for players is that Anthem was designed without an offline mode. Consequently, once the servers are switched off, the game will cease to exist in any playable form. Despite initial praise for its innovative flight mechanics, Anthem struggled to retain a sustainable player base over time.
The Sims Mobile and NBA Live 19 Follow Suit
The next casualty will be The Sims Mobile, which will wind down operations on January 24, 2026. EA had already ended active support for this mobile title in 2024 and removed it from app stores in October 2025. While current users with the app already installed can continue playing until the shutdown, new players cannot download the official game.
Similarly, NBA Live 19 represents the end of an era. This title is the last professional basketball simulation published by EA for consoles. Its shutdown signifies a strategic pivot for the publisher, which is reportedly now focusing its efforts on a college basketball title.
Real Racing 3 Exits the Track in March
The shutdown wave extends beyond January. EA is also said to be removing the long-running mobile racing hit, Real Racing 3. This game, which first debuted in 2013, will have its servers permanently shuttered on March 19, 2026. In preparation for the final closure, the game has already been delisted from all digital storefronts, preventing any new downloads.
This series of planned closures underscores the ephemeral nature of always-online, live-service games. For players invested in these digital worlds, it marks the permanent loss of access to games they may have enjoyed for years. It also highlights EA's ongoing process of portfolio management, where underperforming or legacy titles are retired to streamline operations and focus on new projects.
