EA Is Dealing the Final Blow to Origin, and Taking Some Users With It

EA's Origin app, launched in 2011 as a rival to Steam, is finally being replaced by the EA app. This transition, however, presents some challenges for users. The move highlights ongoing concerns about digital game ownership and the limitations imposed by digital rights management (DRM).

The Origin app, plagued by a cumbersome user experience and frustrating login procedures, never gained widespread popularity. Now, EA's switch to the EA app comes with a significant caveat: users must actively transfer their Origin accounts to the new platform to retain access to their purchased games. Failure to do so results in game loss.

Further complicating matters, the EA app only supports 64-bit operating systems, leaving users of 32-bit systems in the lurch. While Steam also dropped 32-bit support in early 2024, this decision raises questions about digital ownership and the potential for losing access to purchased games due to outdated hardware. The vast majority of modern PCs use 64-bit systems, but older machines running 32-bit Windows versions (like some Windows 10 systems sold until 2020) are affected. A simple RAM check (32-bit systems are limited to 4GB) can help determine if a system is 64-bit compatible.

The issue extends beyond just 32-bit OS support. Increasingly prevalent DRM solutions, such as Denuvo, often require deep system access or impose arbitrary installation limits, further restricting user control over their purchased games.

A potential solution for preserving digital game libraries is to utilize platforms like GOG (owned by CD Projekt), which offers DRM-free games. This ensures that purchased titles remain playable on any compatible hardware, regardless of future OS or DRM changes. While this approach raises concerns about software piracy, GOG continues to attract new releases, with titles like the upcoming RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 slated for release on the platform. The ongoing debate about DRM and digital ownership underscores the need for greater user control and transparency in the digital gaming market.