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.

Image Credit: EA

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.

Image Credit: EA

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.

The post EA Is Shutting Down Three Games in January 2026, Anthem, The Sims Mobile and NBA Live 19 Face the End appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Gaming content creator and 100 Thieves co-owner Jack “CouRageJD” Dunlop has announced his latest major tournament, the CouRage Clash, a $100,000 Battlefield 6: RedSec showdown in partnership with Electronic Arts. The event is set for November 11, 2025, and will see 32 of the world’s top streamers and creators go head-to-head in Battlefield’s newest mode, Gauntlet.

NEXT WEEK 11/11

THE FIRST EVER BATTLEFIELD 6: REDSEC TOURNAMENT

$100K PRIZEPOOL

GAUNTLET MODE

8 TEAMS // 32 PLAYERS@BATTLEFIELD | #SponsoredbyEA pic.twitter.com/F3OYwHRejP

— Jack “CouRage” Dunlop (@CouRageJD) November 4, 2025

A New Battlefield Tournament with Serious Firepower

The CouRage Clash marks Battlefield 6’s biggest influencer event yet, celebrating the explosive launch of the RedSec expansion. Taking place entirely within the game’s new Gauntlet Mode, players will battle across key areas of the Fort Lyndon battle royale map, completing objectives like capturing consoles, holding zones, and protecting VIPs while fending off enemy squads.

The format will feature eight squads of four players, with each round eliminating lower-placed teams until a single squad remains standing after round four. With $100,000 (around £76,200) on the line, fans can expect some intense firefights, tactical plays, and high-level coordination from some of the most skilled and entertaining creators in the FPS scene.

Creators Rush to Join the Line-Up

Following the announcement, CouRageJD took to social media to call for participants, and the response was immediate. Top streamers from every corner of the world threw their names into the hat.

Brazilian creator StolenBR expressed his wish to “play and represent Brazil,” while Spanish-speaking streamers Deus Amir, El Panito5, and Kesto voiced their eagerness to bring their massive communities into the competition.

North American names like DiazBiffle, OpTic ZLaner, and EndersFPS also showed strong interest, alongside Aussie streamer SilkOCE, who joked about missing out due to regional restrictions. Even PrimitiveAK chimed in humorously, imagining “losing $100,000 to a tank in the last circle.”

The excitement reflects just how much anticipation Battlefield 6’s RedSec expansion has built among creators and fans alike, especially with this being the first large-scale influencer tournament for the game.

What Makes Gauntlet Mode Special

Battlefield’s Gauntlet Mode is a fresh addition introduced with the RedSec Season One update. It combines the chaos of battle royale with structured, objective-based gameplay. Players are forced to adapt between aggressive combat and coordinated teamwork as they capture, defend, and complete missions across different zones.

This makes the mode ideal for competitive play, striking a balance between entertainment and strategic skill, something CouRageJD is clearly aiming to highlight through the CouRage Clash.

CouRage’s Return to Esports Commentary

For longtime fans, this tournament marks a full-circle moment for CouRageJD. While he’s best known today for his energetic content and co-ownership of 100 Thieves, he actually began his career as an esports commentator with Major League Gaming, covering titles like Call of Duty back in 2018.

More recently, CouRage hosted a successful $100,000 Marvel Rivals tournament in October 2025, featuring players like Vladan “Necros” Konstantinov and James “Clayster” Eubanks. That event drew impressive viewership, blending competitive energy with influencer appeal, something this Battlefield 6 tournament looks set to replicate.

Looking Ahead to November 11

With hype building across social media, Battlefield fans won’t have to wait long to see how this plays out. The CouRage Clash kicks off on November 11, 2025, bringing together global communities across Twitch, Kick, and YouTube for one of the year’s most anticipated crossover events between content creation and competitive gaming.

Whether it’s the tactical chaos of Gauntlet or the sheer star power of the player roster, this Battlefield 6: RedSec tournament is shaping up to be a must-watch moment in the FPS scene.

The post CouRageJD Unveils $100,000 Battlefield 6: RedSec Tournament appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Electronic Arts, the publisher of Apex Legends, EA Sports FC and The Sims, has agreed to a $55 billion all-cash sale to a consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), alongside Silver Lake and Affinity Partners. The deal, which would be the largest all-cash take-private in history, is expected to close in early 2027 pending approvals.

EA Announces Agreement to be Acquired by PIF, Silver Lake, and Affinity Partners for $55 Billion

“Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: $EA) (“EA” or the “Company”), a global leader in interactive entertainment, today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to be… pic.twitter.com/rYZ56bkyT4

— AlphaSense (@AlphaSenseInc) September 29, 2025

EA will remain based in Redwood City, California, with Andrew Wilson staying on as CEO. The company says the move won’t change its mission of creating blockbuster games and live services for millions of players worldwide.

What this means for EA fans

The acquisition puts the spotlight on EA’s most important titles. Apex Legends continues to be one of the most popular battle royales, while EA Sports FC has quickly cemented itself as the top football franchise following the FIFA split. The Sims is still a household name in gaming, and future releases like Dragon Age: Dreadwolf and the next Battlefield entry are now under the microscope as fans wonder if private ownership will fuel faster development and more daring projects.

Wilson described the agreement as a chance to “push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology” and promised that EA will continue building transformative experiences across its portfolio.

Who’s behind the deal

PIF has become a heavyweight in gaming, funnelling investments through its Savvy Games Group, which owns ESL FACEIT and Scopely and holds a significant stake in Nintendo. Silver Lake has a track record in tech with companies like Unity, while Affinity Partners, led by Jared Kushner, is making its first major gaming move with EA.

Turqi Alnowaiser of PIF said the partnership will “help further drive EA’s long-term growth, while fuelling innovation within the industry on a global scale.”

What’s next

If the deal goes through, EA’s stock will be delisted and the company will go private. For players, the question is less about finance and more about what this means for the games they love. EA has stressed that Apex Legends, EA Sports FC, The Sims, Battlefield, Madden and Dragon Age are still its core focus, and that going private could give its teams more freedom to innovate without the pressure of quarterly earnings.

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