Electronic Arts is releasing a new app on PC to replace the controversial Origin platform. Origin has been the default platform for delivering EA's PC games for over 10 years now. While the platform has improved dramatically over time, the name Origin still carries a negative association with many PC gamers. Exclusive availability of EA games on PC through Origin was not a popular decision. But it seems EA is now ready to turn the page.
To start, Electronic Arts addresses the legacy of Origin. EA says straight away that it's been listening to user feedback and acknowledges Origin's "limitations," particularly as the PC platform has evolved over the past 10 years. It explains that PC game players expect a next-gen platform to be faster, more reliable, and to provide a streamlined gaming experience. EA explains that it set out to deliver that kind of experience as a foundation for its own games, services, and content.
That's the promise that EA is making for its new app. There's no new name, the new app will simply be referred to as the EA app. There's no grandiose idea that EA is trying to deliver with the platform. It explains that the EA app is designed to be light, fast, and streamlined so PC game players can find and play the games they want with ease.
Features mentioned in the announcement include automatic game downloads, background updates, and connectivity with other gaming platforms including Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox. Once players create their EA app custom unique ID, they'll be able to see what friends are playing and jump in to play together with relative ease. In other words, it works as PC game players would want it to.
It's understandable why EA would want its own app on PC. Purchases through a proprietary app result in EA taking in 100% of the price, whereas purchases on Steam and other platforms require EA to share revenue. Origin being the exclusive home for many EA games forced people to use the platform, but now that many EA games are coming to Steam too it will be harder for EA to persuade them to use the EA app.
Whether EA can persuade PC game players to use its new app shouldn't matter to customers, of course. It's all good news for them. They can go to Steam if they prefer, or they can use a new EA app that will hopefully perform better than Origin across the board. It's always possible that EA is overpromising, but it's a very important step forward leaving Origin behind, regardless.