Electronic Arts is set to begin 2026 by switching off the servers for at least three of its games, continuing a trend that has seen a growing number of titles quietly sunset over the past year. In January alone, fans will say goodbye to Anthem, The Sims Mobile, and NBA Live 19, with another shutdown already confirmed for later in March.
EA keeps an updated list of upcoming closures, giving players advance notice before online functionality is permanently disabled. While that transparency helps, it does little to soften the blow for communities watching their favourite games disappear.
Anthem Servers Go Offline First
The first shutdown arrives on January 12, when EA will turn off the servers for Anthem. Developed by BioWare, the 2019 multiplayer action RPG was once positioned as a major live service title. Despite its rocky launch and mixed reception, many players still praise its flying mechanics and core combat.
Image Credit: EA
Development on Anthem officially ended back in 2021, and the game was delisted on August 15 this year. Crucially, Anthem has no offline mode, meaning once the servers go dark, the game will no longer be playable in any form. For some fans, that makes the shutdown feel less like a routine service change and more like a complete erasure.
The Sims Mobile Shuts Down on January 24
Two weeks later, on January 24, EA will shut down The Sims Mobile. Created by Maxis as a mobile adaptation of The Sims 4, the game launched a year before Anthem and built a steady audience on iOS and Android.
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Support for The Sims Mobile ended in 2024, and the game was officially delisted in October 2025 ahead of its shutdown. Players who already have it installed will still be able to access it until the servers close, but anyone who missed the download window is already locked out.
NBA Live 19 Marks the End of an Era
The final January shutdown arrives on January 30, when NBA Live 19 goes offline. Developed by EA Tiburon, the 2018 release remains the last NBA Live game ever launched on consoles.
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While NBA Live 19 received mixed reviews, its closure is symbolic. EA has placed the NBA Live series on ice, and there has been no announcement of a new professional basketball title. EA is currently working on a college basketball game instead, though it remains to be seen whether that project can avoid the same fate.
Another EA Shutdown Confirmed for March
Beyond January, EA has also confirmed that Real Racing 3 will shut down on March 19, 2026. First released in 2013, the long running mobile racer has maintained a loyal player base for over a decade.
Image Credit: EA
Like The Sims Mobile, Real Racing 3 has already been delisted, but players who still have it installed can continue playing until the servers are switched off later in the year.
Why EA Is Shutting These Games Down
EA has not provided official explanations for any of these closures. Industry watchers point to the rising cost of server maintenance, declining player numbers, and expired licensing agreements, particularly in the case of sports titles like NBA Live 19.
In 2025 alone, EA shut down 23 games, ranging from mobile titles such as The Simpsons: Tapped Out to major sports franchises. The January 2026 shutdowns follow two more closures earlier this month, including one AAA release from the PS4 and Xbox One era.
For players, the message is clear. Live service and online dependent games come with an expiry date, even if that date is not obvious at launch. As January approaches, fans of Anthem, The Sims Mobile, and NBA Live 19 have only a short window left to revisit these worlds before they disappear for good.