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

EA's Origin app, launched in 2011, aimed to rival Steam as a digital storefront for EA's PC games. The mandatory Origin requirement for *Mass Effect 3* in 2012 highlighted this ambition, yet Origin never truly gained widespread traction. Its clunky user experience and frustrating logins led many PC gamers to actively avoid it.

Despite this, EA persevered, only to now replace Origin with the similarly criticized EA app. This transition comes with significant caveats. Players who own games on Origin but haven't migrated their accounts risk losing access to their purchased titles. This is a particularly frustrating situation for those who own games like Titanfall.

Furthermore, the EA app only supports 64-bit operating systems, leaving 32-bit users behind. While Steam also dropped 32-bit support in early 2024, this move raises concerns about digital ownership. The likelihood of someone using a 32-bit system in the last five years is slim, as 64-bit support has been prevalent for nearly two decades. However, older Windows 10 systems could still be affected. A simple check is to examine your RAM; 32-bit systems are limited to 4GB. If you have more, you're likely safe. If you are using a 32-bit system, you will need to reinstall a 64-bit version of Windows.

The phasing out of 32-bit support, while perhaps unsurprising in 2024, underscores the fragility of digital game ownership. Losing access to a game library due to hardware changes is unacceptable. This isn't unique to EA; Valve's similar decision on Steam leaves some players stranded. Invasive digital rights management (DRM) solutions like Denuvo further complicate matters, often requiring deep system access despite legitimate purchase.

A solution for preserving a digital game library is supporting GOG, a DRM-free platform. Games purchased on GOG can be played on any compatible hardware, ensuring long-term access. While this opens the door to piracy, it hasn't prevented new releases, with *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* soon to join the GOG catalog.