EA's Origin app, launched in 2011 as a rival to Steam, is finally being replaced by the EA app. This transition, however, comes with significant drawbacks. The clunky user experience and frustrating logins that plagued Origin haven't been resolved, and the switch presents a considerable hurdle for gamers.
A major concern is the loss of access to games. Users who haven't formally transferred their accounts from Origin to the EA app risk losing access to their purchased games. This highlights a growing concern regarding digital ownership and the potential for losing access to purchased content due to platform changes.
Furthermore, the EA app only supports 64-bit operating systems, leaving users of 32-bit systems in the lurch. While this mirrors Steam's decision to drop 32-bit support, it still impacts users who may not be able to upgrade their systems. Checking your RAM is a quick way to determine if your system is 64-bit (32-bit systems are limited to 4GB of RAM). If you're running a 32-bit system, a complete system wipe and reinstall with a 64-bit operating system will be necessary.
This situation underscores the precarious nature of digital game ownership. The reliance on proprietary platforms and digital rights management (DRM) creates vulnerabilities. The discontinuation of support for older systems, coupled with increasingly intrusive DRM solutions like Denuvo, raises questions about long-term access to purchased games.
A potential solution is to support platforms like GOG, which offers DRM-free games. This ensures that purchased games remain accessible regardless of hardware changes or platform updates. While this approach opens the door to software piracy, it also offers a model for ensuring lasting access to a digital game library. The upcoming release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on GOG further demonstrates the viability of this DRM-free approach.
