Bioware has announced that Anthem will be getting a social hub. The hub is called Launch Bay and will have up to 16 players in a space where they can show off their Javelins, though that number and the hub itself may change over time. Michael Gamble revealed the news on Twitter:
The Launch Bay will be available when the game launches in February. One of the interesting things about this news was how it came about. The social hub was implemented after gathering feedback from the Alpha test players. Someone asked Bioware because “a lot of people are concerned about Ft. Tarsis not being a social area.” Many were wondering why something like this wasn’t in the game, to which Gamble responded at that time, “We hear you loud and clear. Players like seeing other players. Take The Division, Destiny and Warframe for example, social hubs that allow us to see others. Socially connected games have longevity.” Fort Tarsis will act as a place where the narrative will unfold as well as a spot where you will take on missions from a variety of different characters.
This news seems to be the first of a set of many more announcements that Bioware has concerning Anthem. Earlier this week, Casey Hudson teased what will happen with Anthem after its launch and how the game will be changing as time passes. He also stressed that an important aspect will be the players and what they feel should be changed. The inclusion of the social hub shows that Bioware is listening to its players and fans.
The Launch Bay is not going to be in the upcoming demo of Anthem, as there are variety of different things that make the demo different from the full game. You can try it out yourself when the VIP demo releases tomorrow, January 25-27. The open demo will be available the following weekend, February 1-3. Anthem launches on February 22 and will be available on February 15 for those who either pre-ordered the game or are a part of either EA or Origin Access.