On April 17, 2025, Electronic Arts will pull the plug on Origin, a software launched in 2011 that has always caused operational problems. The publisher, inspired by the success of Steam, also wanted its own platform for distributing, selling and downloading games, as well as managing digital rights management (DRM) to prevent piracy.
A launcher that does too much, or not enough
Origin suffered from a confusing interface and annoying bugs, not to mention excessive consumption of PC resources. EA wanted to start from scratch in 2022, with the EA application fortunately better designed than Origin. However: it remains weighed down by the absence of functions such as advanced library management options, or the mandatory internet connection to be able to play single-player games. Ultimately, it’s still a drag on modest PCs or Macs.
Origin is software designed for 32-bit computers, while the EA app is designed for 64-bit machines. For Windows 11 users, it won’t be too much of a sacrifice — that means they have a 64-bit PC and the EA app is compatible. They will find the games from their library in the EA app.
But those who still have a 32-bit PC that cannot be updated to Windows 11 (a 64-bit only OS) will be in for a real headache. They will not be able to install the EA app! So yes, in absolute terms, there must not be many of them left, but it must still represent several thousand (million?) people.
The only solution for them will be either to update their computer to Windows 11 for compatible PCs, or simply to buy a new machine. Which is good timing, by the way, since Microsoft is working hard to speed up the transition. You still have to have the means.
Swapping Origin for the EA app is therefore not necessarily news that will transport players with joy. Electronic Arts could do the right thing by simply abandoning this application that unnecessarily comes between the player and their game, but that is unlikely to happen.
Source: EA
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