EA Shuts Down Origin, Impacting Users

EA's Origin platform launched in 2011 as a direct alternative to Steam, offering users the ability to browse and purchase EA titles through its own digital storefront. One of the most significant moments for the platform was the exclusive launch of Mass Effect 3 on Origin in 2012, which forced many players to adopt the service. Despite EA’s push, Origin never gained widespread popularity among PC gamers.

This lack of adoption stemmed largely from a cumbersome user interface and frustrating login procedures that made the app inconvenient to use. Gamers often avoided it altogether, but EA continued to promote it—until now. The company has officially decided to retire Origin and replace it with the newly branded EA app, which unfortunately carries over many of the same usability issues.

There are several important considerations with this transition. For example, if you own Titanfall on Origin but haven’t formally migrated your account, you risk losing access to your purchased games unless you complete the switch to the new EA app.

Additionally, the EA app is only compatible with 64-bit operating systems, effectively dropping support for 32-bit systems. This aligns with broader industry trends, as Steam also discontinued 32-bit OS support in early 2024, given the minimal number of users still relying on such systems.

For most modern PC users, this change won't be an issue. Anyone who has bought or built a PC within the last five years is almost certainly running a 64-bit system. Microsoft stopped offering 32-bit versions of Windows 10 in 2020, and Windows 11 only supports 64-bit architecture. It's worth noting that 64-bit support has been available since Windows Vista, nearly two decades ago.

To quickly determine whether you're on a 32-bit system, check your RAM. A 32-bit OS cannot utilize more than 4GB of memory, so if your system has more than that installed, you’re likely using a 64-bit version. If you discover you're running a 32-bit OS unintentionally, you’ll need to perform a full reinstall using a 64-bit version of Windows.

While phasing out 32-bit support seems reasonable in 2024, it does raise concerns about long-term digital ownership. Losing access to a game library you’ve invested in over time due to evolving hardware standards is a growing issue across the PC gaming landscape. Steam faces similar criticism, as Valve’s decision to drop 32-bit support leaves some older systems unable to play newer titles.

Moreover, increasingly aggressive DRM solutions like Denuvo are becoming standard in many PC releases. These protections often require deep system access or impose restrictive activation limits, despite being tied to legitimate purchases.

One way to safeguard your digital game collection is by purchasing through GOG, operated by CD Projekt. Unlike other platforms, every title on GOG is completely DRM-free. Once downloaded, you retain full control over the game for as long as the software remains compatible with your system.

Of course, removing DRM opens the door to potential piracy, yet this hasn’t stopped developers from releasing major new titles on the platform. Notably, the highly anticipated sequel Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is set to arrive soon on GOG, proving that quality games can thrive without restrictive digital locks.