December 7, 2018 Plans for the Anthem demo now include early paid access and a free version.
The Anthem demo has a release date – two of them, actually, and one will be free for everyone. Both are coming early next year just ahead of the full game’s February launch, but you’ll get access just a bit earlier if you pre-order. Early purchasers will get the demo on January 25, while all other access methods will get in on the previously announced date of February 1.
The ‘VIP Demo’ was originally announced exclusively for pre-orders and Origin Access subscribers, but now lead producer Mike Gamble says “everyone else in the known world” will be able to play on February 1. The early, January 25 date applies to both pre-orders and Origin Access Premier subscribers.
So yes, contrary to the apparent initial plans, Gamble’s tweet essentially confirms you won’t have to pay to get into the demo – that’s just for ‘VIP access.’ Gamble said at PAX that “The demo is a demo. It’s not a tech test, it’s not a beta that comes out three weeks before the game where ‘your feedback’ – like, no, it’s ‘this is the game and we hope you love it,’ and at that point that’s really what we’re showing.”
This is all separate from the alphas and betas BioWare has planned ahead of launch. The first Anthem closed alpha, incidentally, starts this weekend. It’s too late to sign up now, but if you were selected you should already have an email with access instructions.
There are plenty of opportunities to check out the game ahead of the Anthem release date, and it looks like BioWare is keen to ease player fears on every level from the state of long-term content like raids to the way the game handles storytelling and narrative.
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