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EA to add third-party games to Origin

  • By Jonathan Downin, GameSpot
  • Posted Oct 27, 2011 4:54 pm PT

Warner Bros., THQ, and Capcom ink deal to bring first outside offerings to Madden publisher's digital storefront next month; Origin user base tops 6 million.

The Origin digital storefront and games platform launched in the summer with a range of EA-published titles, including Spore, Battlefield: Bad Company 2, and Burnout Paradise. After four months of availability, the service's library of titles is set to expand beyond first-party offerings, EA announced today.

Arkham City launches on the PC (and Origin) in November.

Arkham City launches on the PC (and Origin) in November.

Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment, THQ, and Capcom will be the first wave of third-party publishers to bring their titles to the Origin store. Starting in November, Batman: Arkham City, Saint's Row: The Third, and others will make their Origin debuts. More titles from the aforementioned publishers are promised for the following months.

Along with the confirmation of third-party partners comes word from EA that Origin has crossed the 6 million registered-user mark. The publisher also highlighted recent additions to the service, including live streaming demos, free-to-play game, and beta cloud storage for game saves and gameplay achievements.

Origin saw the launch of its biggest release yet in Battlefield 3 earlier this week. For more on the shooter (the PC version of which requires EA's service to be installed), check out GameSpot's review of Battlefield 3 on the PC.

126 Comments

  • cool1929

    Posted Nov 6, 2011 5:39 pm GMT

    @tst, That was never the case.
    Read the update of Aug. 4 http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2011/08/04/eas-comment-on-origin-account-deletion/

  • tstcuwsn

    Posted Nov 6, 2011 5:18 pm GMT

    I prefer Steam over Origin,because if I,somehow,gone offline for a whole year or so they won't take away all my games.

  • will-forbes

    Posted Nov 2, 2011 8:02 am GMT

    People dont use Origin willingly, they use it because they are forced to in order to use Battlefield 3. All of this, inluding the EULA have made me pass on BF3 and I wont be getting it unless a steam version (minus origin) is released. Im quite happy with bad company 2 right now - and so are the thousands of people still playing it...

  • randomtext

    Posted Oct 31, 2011 9:56 pm GMT

    origin yeah that thing that kinda works in battlefield 3...

  • J4m3sR4n0r72

    Posted Oct 31, 2011 8:33 pm GMT

    @ZoTrAcK

    Thank you you suggesting we read the privacy policy and posting the URL for it. The moment I saw the sentence that says "Prize winners may be required to provide their Social Security or other identification number for tax purposes, and will be used only for prize fulfilment.", I was thinking "No f@#^ing way I will give you my Social Security number, EA!" How do I know some employee will not decide to become greedy and start an identity theft scheme? EA has no right to ask for my, or any other persons, Social Security number.

  • Rocker6

    Posted Oct 31, 2011 9:10 am GMT

    @ZoTrAcK
    I read it a million times.What I wanted to say,EA isn't a company that I trust.We can never know what happens behind closed doors when it comes to corporations like them...

  • ZoTrAcK

    Posted Oct 31, 2011 9:04 am GMT

    @Rocker6 I know what EA can do with the personal info because I read the privacy policy yesterday...http://www.ea.com/1/privacy-policy

  • J4m3sR4n0r72

    Posted Oct 31, 2011 8:29 am GMT

    @The_Gaming_Baby

    Is Origin supposed to be the WWF/E and Steam WCW?

  • hellrift

    Posted Oct 31, 2011 6:37 am GMT

    Will you guys shut up about the EULA. Steam has the same thing just worded differently. They won't delete anything after two years. The only thing that get's deleted is an account that hasn't bought anything at all in two years and does not use it for gaming. Steam has the same thing,

  • andresvt

    Posted Oct 31, 2011 5:02 am GMT

    I bought BF3 and it is right here on my desk, but i have'nt installed yet, due to origin's EULA. If there isn't a change on this matter by EA in the next days, then i'll return the game to the store and get my money back. D@mn! I really wanted to play this game, though >_

  • X-TOR-DEN-AIR

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 8:50 pm GMT

    hardly 3rd party

  • TheUnkownJoker

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 8:36 pm GMT

    And i Quote ' EA will never share your personal information with third parties without your consent. We may, however, share anonymous, non-personal, aggregated and/or public information with third parties.' its like saying " i wont eat your apple but i may eat other fruits of which might include your apple"

  • TheVGamer

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 4:49 pm GMT

    I don't hate Origin, I don't like the fact they're not giving us options. Greedy EA...

  • Rocker6

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 4:35 pm GMT

    @ZoTrAcK
    As far as I know,the majority of the spyware is in the Origin client,Web Site cant do much,but I still dont feel comfortable having an undeletable account created against my will.And how do you know what EA does with collected infos?
    I dont trust them,I hate them.Do NOT expect any honesty from them!

    They did what I thought was impossible,made me pass on BF3.And I dont see a prurchase in the future,except if a Steam version that doesnt require Origin comes out.But thats unlikely to happen...

  • ZoTrAcK

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 3:01 pm GMT

    @Majkic666 : because when you register an EA retail game in your PS3 or XBOX360(which I did 2 and a half years ago), you'e automaticly added, or converted. Many thousands of people are registered to Origin (including me) without their consent or simply without knowing it...By the way, those account are undeletable...Don't worry, EA can't do anything illegal with your infos, it is well written in their privacy policy... Only the third party companies to whom they are selling them can...

  • ZoTrAcK

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 2:48 pm GMT

    If you want to make a big mistake, don't read this: http://www.ea.com/1/privacy-policy

  • High_in_Fibre

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 12:54 pm GMT

    I've been a Steam user since 2005, and my game collection has grown to a healthy number over 200. Most of the games I got on sale, leaving more money in my pocket to try other titles I just wouldn't try buying retail. Not to mention the shelf space I've clawed back. I haven't seen deals on Origin, but then again I barely check in. I think Steam was the pioneer in digital distribution of games. For that and their affordability, I give them props and my loyalty. For whatever it's worth. EA disapointed me after pulling Crysis 2, and lost me after BF3. I see it as a typical capitalist move, more money and control. Who cares about my preference. If they pull this with ME3....Two words: "Get Bent"

  • Majkic666

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 12:48 pm GMT

    Why do people use this crap -.-, its the same crap as EA Downloader

  • ViperAnaf

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 11:38 am GMT

    I think steams right now has more features but i see origin like Chrome when it came out - it had less features than other browsers but it had the best performance and quality in features it did had... the other stuff like community can be added later...
    I rather download games on top speed unlike on steam...

  • Rocker6

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 11:33 am GMT

    @magnumsworld
    Yeah,EA played it smart,knowing how many won't be able to resist the temptation of buying BF3.
    My PC stays Origin free though,no way I would risk the security of my data for a video game,no matter how good it may be...
    And yeah,my EA account was also converted into an Origin crap,smart tactic,I must say,to get users that way...

  • magnumsworld

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 11:28 am GMT

    Long before Origin came out, I had an EA account. Also had a Bioware account (back before EA bought Bioware). When Origin was released I got notifications that both had been converted to an Origin account.

    So I'm being counted twice as an Origin user, yet I haven't downloaded the client, haven't logged in to officially convert my accounts, and don't intend to. THIS is how they got their initial 3 million user count.

    If more of you who 'sound like you care' actually voted with your wallets: IE: DON'T INSTALL ORIGINS, they would be forced to abandon it. How many comments here b*tch yet say "but I still bought BF3"? No willpower. Lame.

  • russian_takeout

    Posted Oct 30, 2011 9:31 am GMT

    i never heard of origin before i had to install BF3. one of the most stupid ways to install and run a game. i am not a big fan of 3rd party programs to run anything. from what i notice, at the moment it takes double time to load a game. what a waste

  • sammoth

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 11:22 pm GMT

    The client is ok but, I still prefer Steam.

  • hellrift

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 11:03 pm GMT

    Origin didn't decide the browser for BF3. Dice did. I like origin already more then steam to the fact that the download speed has been faster then steam so far. Spy ware scanner? LOL. You can decline if you want info to be sent to 3rd parties. I swear.

  • Psycold

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 8:15 pm GMT

    btw - I think ORIGIN is browser based so they can defer all blame to the browser instead of their application.

  • Psycold

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 8:12 pm GMT

    Any PC gamer knows the only reason anyone installed Origin was to play BF3.

  • GAMERALL

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 6:40 pm GMT

    It's just a matter of time before the inevitable crash 'n' burn of Origin after BF3 fades out and the sight of EA dragging their games back to Steam.

  • Sam39150

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 5:29 pm GMT

    I'll say this like I said in the other video. The biggest flaw for Battlefield 3 (pc version only) is Origins. Now during the beta, I had a chance to download Origins but all Origins did was open a web browser and then I played Battlefield 3 directly from the web browser and not from Origins. If my my web browser crashed, the entire game crashed. SInce the game opens up like a web browser, the game sometimes closes by itself. I wasn't sure if they were going to fix this in the final build, but now theres even talk of viruses and spyware on Origins. Dang EA, you shot yourselves in the foot with Origins... should of just put it on Steam.

  • The_Gaming_Baby

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 4:39 pm GMT

    Steam vs. Origin. It's like the WWF versus WCW all over again!

  • Jspaz

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 12:39 pm GMT

    I think one of the biggest differences between steam and origin is you have to press shift f1 instead of shift tab. Trail blazers.

  • Assimilat0r

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 12:11 pm GMT

    STEAM pwns EA and whole their system of menagment with 1 single reason. Because STEAM is a legendary company, not because they made one of best games (Valve) ,.... But because they have cheapest sales of games with 20 euros i got 10 good games on steam like L4D 2, . . . And EA ruined one of best frenchies only to make big profit, + they a lot spaming mails and users for difference of Steam

  • WolfwoodX89

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 10:24 am GMT

    Wow. They act like EA's breaking ground with origin reaching 6 million.

    Ya....lets just not even mention how the ONLY reason they have that figure is because they FORCE you to use their crappy download software if you want to play the games made by the great developers who they bought out.

    I find it funny really. If one were to just look at the EULA for origin before they blindly agree, you'd realize that in that agreement, you gave EA the legal right to invade your privacy on new levels, and screw you over in so many ways, I don't even want to list them all.

    Love Battlefield, but thanks to EA and their bullcrap, I will not be buying Battlefield 3

  • Tripwolf

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 8:51 am GMT

    Sorry, unless I'm forced to use Origin (BF3) - I'm using Steam.

  • Soothsayer42

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 7:04 am GMT

    Third Party Games? One Word : Steam

  • 999realthings

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 3:57 am GMT

    So far Steam have better deals and don't charge me Australian retail price for the games so I'll stick with Steam.

  • Hakkology

    Posted Oct 29, 2011 1:06 am GMT

    Don't care, the only time i actually installed Origin was Dragon Age 2 and battlefield 3 beta. Beta is over and Dragon Age 2 was a huge disappointment. Already uninstalled it and im way happier with steam.

    Of course, wherever money goes, EA comes to screw things up. How the history repeats itself.

    Not to mention i got my DA2 on steam...

  • Ze_Muffin_Man

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 8:19 pm GMT

    Am I the only one with something nice to say about Origin? I swear people are as mad about this as they were when tf2 went f2p, and frankly some of these accusations have been false in my case. Origin having slow connection is being tossed around, yet i get 30% faster download rate (roughly) on Origin, and Steam servers can get unstable when there is a lot of traffic. Steam has a practically unusable offline mode, my internet went down some time ago, Steam says i wasn't connected online, so i activated offline mode, wait 3-5 minutes and it says i couldn't connect to Steam, so i have to be connected to the internet to use offline mode? Useless, but after 10 minutes or so of repeating it worked =/ I'm not saying Steam is bad, in fact I like Steam way more than i do Origin, but holy hand grenades don't bag on a product with information that most Origin users haven't experienced, maybe I'm just their favorite customer, even though i've only purchased Battlefield 3 =/

    (watch out rant #2) Which reminds me, why the f*ck did I need Origin for Battlefield 3 again? It says launching BF3 on Origin then i just run BF3 through battlelog, yeah I don't even use Origin for anything other than logging on to it, As much as I like the little goodies I got for pre-ordering BF3 on Origin, I would've just liked it on Steam so I could actually use its features, Its lonely on Battlefield 3 without the constant steam messages I get while on any other game through steam =(

  • nurnberg

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 7:30 pm GMT

    They need to fix their Origin client... That thing runs horribly slow on my computer and takes forever to load anything.

  • ADDADAC

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 6:05 pm GMT

    So EA is going against an establshed service with loyal costumers and huge game library, inclding alot of EA games, and its easy to use. Does EA even have loyal customers, people who would buy a game just because it says EA on it?

  • Wula_

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 5:59 pm GMT

    As long as those companies still have steam offerings that do not use Origin in anyway. I will be happy and keep buying from them. But when they go Origin exclusive like EA did. Then ima stop supporting them.

  • naomha1

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 5:29 pm GMT

    The only reason they got to 6 million users is because they demanded you have Origin to run BF3. Otherwise, they would be lucky to have 600. Everything they're doing now is simply copying STEAM. I love me some Battlefield, but I guess I'll be buying the PS3 version to keep Origin off my comp. EA can keep their subpar service and developer punishing demands to themselves. It's pretty much getting to the point where they're acting like Microsoft in demands. Pretty saddening. EA has taken "gaming" and made it "maddening". Screw 'em.

  • wexorian

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 5:04 pm GMT

    @chilly-chill stop humiliating xlive )) it's useles thing ever done by microsoft for pc so what? DDD

  • wexorian

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 5:03 pm GMT

    they forced warner bross also seems, why ea was not happy with steam? it was much more good

  • Hurvl

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 3:56 pm GMT

    I wonder if EA will force these publishers to make these games Origin-only/Origin-required, like EA:s own titles. That would suck and make Steam seem even more like the better choice (with EA you dont have a choice it would seem,.it's Origin or not being able to play the game).

  • chilly-chill

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 3:12 pm GMT

    Haha THQ and Capcom would ink with this. Two of the best devs evar!!!! *sarcasm

  • shimya

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 3:01 pm GMT

    Origin really sucks. I prefered the old EA download manager. It was simple yet effective. The only reason i used it is because you can get really cheap cd keys off ebay. Other wise it is a useless server. The delivery system is patchy and the connection is aweful. The customer support never answers any ticks you issue. Steam has nothing to worry about. Useless service.

  • rasputin177

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 1:08 pm GMT

    I am surprised some of the posters here actually seem to like EA. I enjoy some of their games but I stil hate them. Left to thier own devices they would ruin gaming.

  • bumbum1991

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 10:57 am GMT

    @MasterTheHero: First, I must admit that I was so angry and well, out of my mind to say that. Second, I don't think EA even tested Origin whether it would work well with BF3. All I see is so much hyped about BF3 and Origin itself. "Pre order now to gain early access, to have Map pack for free, etc." And in the end, I couldn't play the game, instead, sitting and waiting hopelessly. Plus, they have the online support, but most of the time, I hardly find anyone to ask for help. EA put too much hyped and hope for their customers. Finally, I don't feel being respected by EA. As you could see, pirated players have finished campaign 3 days ago while legit user is punished like this. I'm totally disappointed, man. I'll stick with Steam in the future and good luck to EA and their Origin.

  • Crash_WL posted Oct 28, 2011 10:13 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    Crash_WL

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 10:13 am GMT (hide)

    Wah Origin launched some months ago and it's not perfect, because Steam's launch was perfect, and it's perfect now. Wah.

    Still haven't completed the first Mass Effect because it keeps crashing at a certain level, and everything the support told me was far from helpful. I gave up. Give Origin some time before you judge it and go "wah".

    P.S. it's pitiful that some people don't even read the news and jump to conclusions. It was Sony's fault for us not having the game; they traded it with the "1 week earlier DLC" deal.

  • mtait01

    Posted Oct 28, 2011 10:01 am GMT

    I don't think steam should be worried, their service is far superior and us gamers realize that

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