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Kyle Juffs

Updated last month

An EA digital distribution platform

Origin is the digital distribution platform for almost all EA games, and most titles will require an account for this service before you start playing. The software has many benefits to its competitors but lacks the variety of products that competitors offer. However, they do provide a monthly subscription service hat provides gaming access to selected items.

Electronic arts

Origin is a necessary service if you want to play almost any game created by Electronic Arts. You’ll need to create an account before you can download or play any title available in their catalog.

The platform is constantly fixing bugs, from their store pages to your library. They also update their catalog whenever a new game is released, allowing you to get your hands on it as soon as possible.

The program itself is low on system requirements and can run on almost any modern computer. When the software needs to update it does so automatically, ensuring you have the best possible experience while using the application.

EA-made catalog

The Origin store provides you with access to the Electronic Arts catalog, where you search for and purchase a wide selection of games. There are a number of titles that do not belong to EA but are on the market. Origin is safe to buy games from as it is the official digital distribution platform for all Electronic Arts titles.

Monthly subscription

Origin Access is the monthly subscription available from EA Games’ Origin platform. Access gives you unlimited playtime on over 70 older games, with the library still growing. This subscription is unneeded if you only want to purchase or play games available in your library.

You’ll also receive a 10% discount on all purchases made within the Origin store while you have a subscription to Access. There is a premium tier available that offers full access to titles days before they officially release.

Game library

Any game you buy or have access to will appear in your library. From here, you can access and download your games. The interface for the library is sleek and easy to use which lets you quickly launch gaming titles even if they’re at the bottom of the list.

Great usability

Origin has many great features that enhance usability from the moment you finish your login. The store pages have distinguishable buy buttons to direct purchases and a filter system that lets you find titles you want to play.

Social features

Origin offers support for social interactions thanks to their friend system. You can add other users that you want to play multiplayer games with as well as message them. You’ll need to choose a username and profile picture that represents you to other players.

Competitors

Unlike its competitors, Origin does not have a massive variety of games or sales, making its competitors a better choice overall. However, Electronic Arts does have many popular games that you’ll only be able to play by using the Origin digital distribution platform.

Some titles available for the EA store include Sims 4, Titan Fall 2, and many more. However, games such as Minecraft are unavailable on the platform.

Alternatives

If you prefer to purchase your games elsewhere, these alternatives may be a better choice, although their available games are not all the same.

Steam is the largest digital distribution platform that offers frequent game sales and a large selection of free-to-play titles. The service has groups, friends, and a marketplace for in-game items.

Epic Games Store is another online digital distributor with both paid and free products available. They frequently giveaway titles for free or host sales.

Uplay is Ubisoft’s official distribution platform for computer systems. The platform is required to run any Ubisoft game, even when the title has been downloaded through Steam.

GOG Galaxy is a great way to experience older, classic games as well as new titles that are DRM-free. There are titles available for Windows, Mac OS, and Linus.

Download and play

Origin is the only way to play most EA games on your computer. The utility has many social features such as a friends list and messaging system. EA games cannot be played without an Origin account.

The platform updates itself without any need for you to download an additional file. Games will also be updated automatically.

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Kyle Juffs

    Kyle Juffs combines more than 15 years of gaming experience with a background in digital marketing. He specializes in writing about games, technology, and online marketing, producing long-form content that is both authoritative and approachable, with a focus on clarity and reader engagement.

    • Pros

      • Easy to use
      • Automatic updates
      • Built-in social features
    • Cons

      • Smaller catalog
      • Needed to play EA games
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     0/3

    App specs

    Program available in other languages



    User reviews about Origin

    2.6

    27 reviews

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    Main reviews for you

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      Anonymous user

      I wish Origin improved with time like a fine wine. Origin is more like some sort of bleu cheese whose aging went horribly wrong at some point. It just gets worse and worse, too. The Origin client itself runs very slowly and often encounters problems simply launching, running, saving games.. Essentially basic functionality. This only gets worse when you add in more content, for example; The Sims Franchise. EA has this shiny membership, as well. DO NOT TAKE THE BAIT, IT IS A TRAP. I got the membership for 1 year for free through a promotion. I added some games to my library, played a few of them. I own all of the Sims 4 content, save the Digital Deluxe version of the base game. Eventually my membership ran out. However, the games that were added with the Membership stayed in my library with a fun notification of "Membership Expired, reinstate to play." Fast forward, I purchased these games on Steam. Now Steam needs Origin to launch in order to play the games. Origin thinks I need my membership reinstated to access the games. Cue endless loop of games never launching. That's just one fun example of the joyous ride that is the overly sour Origin platform. I cannot UNrecommend strongly enough. If you didn't buy the Sims franchise all those years ago, EA, I would never use Origin if I could get away with it. -10/10 stars.

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      Anonymous user

      Most fustrating bit of buggy software around, 30min into game crash... Restart from the begining again as many games don't have autosave function. Repeat cycle until you give up...Gave 3/10 as it has many of the games I love to play, which makes the buggy impossible process all the more fustrating.Sort your s**t out EA other providers have so much more funtionality to thier software and don't crash all the F***ING time.

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      Anonymous user

      So I’m a big fan of the sims, I've downloaded the sims 4 3 years ago since then I ALWAYS had problem in launching the game or saving or bugs. Pretty much all the times you have to update the game witch can take up to 30 min. When a problem comes up with the game either EA and Origin take days, weeks to fix it, so you cant play till they do and there is no email support. I had to delete all my saving a couple of times, really frustrating... The point is that i have paid for something that i CAN'T use when I want to....

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      Anonymous user

      You cant rate games and god the micro purchases however i do like some games (the ones that dont require micro purchases

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      Anonymous user

      I have been so disgusted with Origin. I don't trust their updates and look for reviews before installing one and they usually suggest NOT to install. All they seem to care about is selling more games, which I feel is totally the reason for requiring the Origin management. You can always find where they are selling, but not doing a good job of managing what you have already purchase. I hate having you hold my games hostage. >:(

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      Anonymous user

      I don't recommend it, game libary folder management is not organized. Too many unnecessary Updates.

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