EA's Origin app, launched in 2011 as a rival to Steam, is finally being replaced by the EA app. This transition, however, comes with significant drawbacks. The clunky user experience and frustrating logins that plagued Origin haven't been resolved. Worse, users risk losing access to their purchased games if they don't actively transfer their accounts from Origin to the new EA app. This means gamers who own titles like Titanfall on Origin could find themselves locked out.
Adding insult to injury, the EA app only supports 64-bit operating systems. This leaves users of 32-bit systems in the lurch. While Steam also dropped 32-bit support in early 2024, the move highlights concerns about digital ownership. Losing access to a paid-for game library due to outdated hardware is a significant issue.
Fortunately, determining if your system is 32-bit is simple. 32-bit systems are limited to a maximum of 4GB of RAM. If your system has more RAM, you're likely safe. However, if you're running a 32-bit version of Windows, a complete system wipe and 64-bit OS reinstallation are necessary. This is less of a concern for newer systems, but older machines using Windows 10 (32-bit versions sold until 2020) are affected.
This situation underscores the broader problem of digital rights management (DRM). Intrusive DRM solutions, such as Denuvo, often require extensive system access or impose arbitrary installation limits, despite legitimate purchases.
A potential solution is supporting platforms like GOG, which offers DRM-free games. This ensures that downloaded titles remain playable regardless of future hardware changes. While this approach opens the door to piracy, it doesn't seem to deter game developers, as evidenced by the upcoming release of Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 on GOG. The ongoing debate between convenience and ownership in the digital gaming landscape continues.
