EA Shuts Down Origin, Impacting Users

EA's Origin app, introduced in 2011, was meant to be a direct competitor to Steam, allowing PC gamers to browse and purchase EA's games. A significant highlight was the mandatory use of Origin for Mass Effect 3 in 2012. However, due to its clunky user experience (UX) and cumbersome login processes, many gamers preferred to avoid it. Despite these challenges, EA continued to push Origin but has now decided to replace it with the EA app, which unfortunately, seems to suffer from similar issues.

This transition comes with significant drawbacks. For instance, if you own games like Titanfall on Origin and fail to switch your account to the EA app, you could lose access to your purchased games. Additionally, the EA app exclusively supports 64-bit operating systems, leaving 32-bit system users out in the cold. While it's true that Steam also dropped 32-bit support in early 2024, the move highlights a broader industry shift towards 64-bit systems.

It's highly unlikely that anyone who has bought a new PC or assembled a custom gaming rig in the past five years is still using a 32-bit OS. However, Microsoft continued selling 32-bit versions of Windows 10 up until 2020. If you're on Windows 11, you're in the clear since it only comes in a 64-bit version. A simple way to check your system's architecture is by looking at your RAM; a 32-bit OS can only use up to 4GB. If you're running more than that, you're likely fine. But if you've mistakenly installed a 32-bit version of Windows, you'll need to perform a full system wipe and reinstall a 64-bit OS.

While the discontinuation of 32-bit support in 2024 isn't shocking, it raises concerns about digital ownership. Losing access to a library of games you've owned for years due to hardware changes is frustrating. Steam isn't immune to this issue either, as Valve has also dropped 32-bit support, leaving users unable to upgrade to modern systems without losing their games.

Moreover, the increasing use of invasive digital DRM solutions like Denuvo in PC games adds another layer of complexity. Some DRM systems require deep kernel-level access to your PC or impose arbitrary installation limits, despite your purchase.

One way to safeguard your digital library is by supporting GOG, operated by CD Projekt. GOG's DRM-free approach means that once you download a game, you can run and own it on any supported hardware indefinitely. While this model does open up possibilities for software piracy, it hasn't deterred developers from releasing new titles on the platform, including the upcoming RPG, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, which is slated to be available on GOG soon.