If some people are already a week into the game by the time it launches, can EA and Bioware rely on invaluable chatter sparking interest on the 22nd? Anthem is already up against some stiff competition in February, with Far Cry: New Dawn, Metro Exodus and Crackdown 3 all releasing on the 15th (along with Anthem's early access, if you are keeping up). Jumping in and focussing conversation on the next big thing. Perhaps most importantly it stops games like Anthem having a day/weekend the community (and, yes, the press) can rally around.

Most likely because of confusing stunts like this. EA Access, with its vault of freely playable older games and 10 hour trials of new ones, is a better service than it seems to get credit for. It stands to reason that EA would want to get ahead of the game by bolstering its own subscription service by offering incentives such as early access to big games. Xbox is pushing its Game Pass subscription service hard, presumably with a view for it to form the basis of its cloud gaming initiative, while even companies such as Amazon and Apple are reportedly getting on the gaming sub bandwagon. How we play and buy games is changing dramatically, for better or worse, with much more focus on subscriptions and long-running 'service games' which provide consistent revenue through microtransactions. It doesn't create the best feeling of goodwill. Many subsequent replies are variations on this theme. 'I like when game companies make these charts,' says the first response. 'Because it makes it easy for me to decide which games I'm never going to buy.' And you can see in the replies that my reaction is relatively mild. And when you need that little extra boost of confidence, music’s got your back.Honestly, just writing it down is giving me a headache. Regressive, fear-based tactics are being used to disenfranchise and silence the LGBTQ+ community, which makes living our truth as important as it’s ever been. As you browse the selections on this list, check out what actions you can take against the anti-LGBTQ+ bills in legislatures across the country. To keep this countdown diverse, artists were only allowed one song on this list, and it is still growing and changing as our fight continues. Besides the best-known songs that are essential to a list like this, we wish to highlight the queer musicians who deserve a spotlight, too. There are Billboard Hot 100-topping sensations and hidden gems that are forgotten or yet to be discovered instant classics and songs that grew to be our community’s favorites. There are introspective slow jams by queer artists and allies that mirror our struggles with self-acceptance and social rejection. You will see many overlaps between this list and some of the best house and disco tracks that were blasted in the ballrooms, as well as transformative hits by our beloved big-voiced divas. While it’s impossible to define exactly what makes a song “gay,” this list definitely isn’t straight.

These songs are a testimony to our resilience and excellence. We have recorded our history and contribution to the culture through music, and with this list we acknowledge and remember the forerunners that have made possible the positive changes we’ve seen over the decades.

How does a song become a gay anthem? Like the LGBTQ+ community itself, our soundtrack is vast and diverse.

Anthem early access schedule time zone