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 its ambition, but Origin's clunky user experience and frustrating logins deterred many PC gamers. Despite this, EA persevered, only to now replace Origin with the equally criticized EA app.

This transition comes with significant caveats. Players who exclusively used Origin and haven't transferred their accounts risk losing access to purchased games. 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.

It's highly unlikely that recent PC or laptop owners use 32-bit systems. However, Microsoft sold 32-bit Windows 10 versions until 2020. Windows 11 users are unaffected, as 64-bit support dates back to Windows Vista (nearly 20 years ago). A simple RAM check can determine your system type: 32-bit systems are limited to 4GB RAM. If you have more than 4GB and are using a 32-bit OS, reinstalling a 64-bit version is necessary.

The discontinuation of 32-bit support, while unsurprising in 2024, underscores the fragility of digital game ownership. Losing access to a purchased library due to hardware changes is frustrating. This isn't unique to EA; Valve's 32-bit Steam support removal leaves some players stranded.

The rise of invasive digital rights management (DRM) like Denuvo further complicates matters. Some DRM solutions require deep system access or impose arbitrary installation limits, despite legitimate purchases.

GOG, run by CD Projekt, offers a DRM-free alternative. Games purchased on GOG can be played on any compatible hardware indefinitely. While this opens the door to piracy, it hasn't stopped new releases, with *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* soon to arrive on the platform.