E3 2018: Anthem Will Not Have PvP Multiplayer On Release Day

We learned a lot more details about Anthem during EA's E3 2018 press conference, including when the game will release and how its customizable Javelin exosuits work. One of the biggest revelations, however, came in a Twitter exchange after the presentation concluded.

One fan asked BioWare developer Mark Darrah if Anthem would feature a PvP mode. Darrah responded, "No PvP at launch." This isn't much of a surprise considering that the emphasis of Anthem is cooperative play. Darrah reiterated this in an interview with GameSpot, though he suggested it's something that would be added post-launch.

Anthem is BioWare's first new IP in a decade, and it's a marked departure from the single-player RPGs the studio is renowned for. Much like Destiny, Anthem is a co-op shooter with RPG elements. The game is set in a dynamic, shared world that was "abandoned by the gods," and players must work together to complete missions and fight the monstrous creatures that roam about.

Along with those details, BioWare shed more light on the aforementioned Javelins, which function much like traditional RPG classes. Javelins fall into one of four categories, which determine what a player's role is on a mission. Ranger is a general, all-purpose type of Javelin; Colossus is a heavier exosuit that focuses on dealing damage; Interceptor has greater agility than the other Javelins; and Storm is a caster-type exosuit that supports the squad.

Anthem's release date on PS4, Xbox One, and PC is set for February 22, 2019. Those who subscribe to Origin Access Premiere--a newly announced premium tier of the Origin Access service--will get full, unlimited access to the game on PC several days early, on February 15. You can watch some new gameplay footage of Anthem here.