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 only own *Titanfall* on Origin, for example, risk losing access unless they actively migrate their accounts. Furthermore, the EA app only supports 64-bit operating systems, leaving 32-bit users in the lurch. While Steam also dropped 32-bit support in early 2024, this decision raises concerns about digital ownership.

It's highly improbable that anyone with a recently purchased or built PC uses a 32-bit OS. However, Microsoft sold 32-bit versions of Windows 10 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 of RAM. If you have more than 4GB and are on a 32-bit system, reinstalling a 64-bit version of Windows is necessary.

The discontinuation of 32-bit support, while unsurprising in 2024, underscores the fragility of digital ownership. Losing access to years' worth of purchased games due to hardware changes is frustrating, a problem not exclusive to EA, as Valve's Steam also dropped 32-bit support.

The rise of invasive DRM solutions like Denuvo further complicates matters. These often require deep system access or impose arbitrary installation limits, despite legitimate purchases. A viable alternative is GOG, a DRM-free platform where purchased games remain accessible regardless of future hardware changes. While this opens the door to piracy, it hasn't prevented new releases, with *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2* soon to be released on GOG.