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

EA's Origin App, launched in 2011 as a competitor to Steam, failed to gain widespread traction due to a poor user experience and frustrating login procedures. Now, EA is replacing Origin with the EA app, a move that unfortunately comes with some significant drawbacks.

Users who exclusively used Origin may lose access to their purchased games unless they actively transfer their accounts to the new EA app. This poses a significant problem for players who invested in games through the Origin platform.

Furthermore, 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 earlier in 2024, this transition highlights concerns about digital ownership and access to purchased content. It's highly improbable that recent PC buyers are using 32-bit systems; however, older systems running 32-bit Windows versions will be affected. A simple RAM check (32-bit systems max out at 4GB) can help determine your system's architecture. Reinstalling a 64-bit OS is necessary for those with 32-bit Windows.

This situation raises questions about the long-term accessibility of digitally purchased games. Both EA and Steam's abandonment of 32-bit support demonstrates the potential for losing access to game libraries due to hardware changes, a risk inherent in relying on digital distribution platforms with restrictive DRM.

The increasing prevalence of invasive DRM solutions, such as Denuvo, further complicates matters. These solutions often require deep system access and impose arbitrary limitations, despite legitimate purchase.

A viable alternative is GOG, a DRM-free platform offering a permanent solution to digital ownership concerns. Games purchased on GOG can be played on any compatible hardware, ensuring long-term access to your game library. While this approach opens the door to potential piracy, it doesn't seem to hinder new releases, as evidenced by the upcoming release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.