Is EA Origin Worth It in 2026? No, for Most Gamers

As an avid gamer and tech expert, I don‘t believe EA‘s Origin client is worth the hassle for most PC gamers in 2024 beyond accessing exclusive EA games. With far superior options available like Steam, Origin‘s outdated interface, limited library, technical issues and privacy concerns make it hard to recommend for the average user. EA diehards will find it essential, but general gaming enthusiasts are better served looking elsewhere.

What is EA Origin and Why Use It?

For those unfamiliar, Origin is a digital distribution platform developed by Electronic Arts over a decade ago to provide direct access to purchase and play EA games on Windows and Mac PCs. It serves as the gateway to EA franchises like The Sims, Battlefield, Mass Effect, Dead Space, Dragon Age, Star Wars and more.

Some key features include:

• Access to EA games, DLC and in-game purchases
• Cloud saves and account management
• Automatic game updates and patching
• Social tools like chat and friend lists
• Origin Access subscription with free games and trials
• Integration with Steam after linking accounts

So for hardcore fans of EA games, having Origin is pretty much mandatory if you want to play their portfolio of titles on PC. It also provides conveniences like cloud syncing, auto-updating games, and connects you with EA multiplayer communities.

But how does Origin stack up against the competition a decade later? Let‘s dig into the pros and cons.

Pros: Access to EA Games & Discounts

Here are some of the main benefits that can make Origin worthwhile:

Necessary for Most EA Games

The most obvious pro is that Origin is required to play about 90% of EA‘s catalog on PC. So if you absolutely must play franchises like The Sims, Battlefield, Mass Effect, Dead Space, Dragon Age, Star Wars and more, you need Origin installed.

The only exceptions are a handful of EA games now available on Steam too, like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. But the vast majority still exclusively require Origin to purchase and launch.

Frequent Discounts and Deals

Another perk is that Origin runs seasonal sales on EA games, DLC, and in-game currency that parallel Steam‘s major discounts. For patient gamers, you can often snag older EA titles for up to 75-90% off if you wait for the big holiday blowouts.

Popular titles like The Sims 4 and its expansions see deep cuts, especially if you keep an eye out for sitewide coupon codes stacking for extra savings. This can make it more affordable to build up an EA collection.

Origin Access Provides Curation

For $4.99/month or $29.99/year, the Origin Access subscription service lets you play a vault of over 200 curated EA games spanning classics to newer releases. It can be a great way for casual EA fans on a budget to explore and try titles they overlooked. Access also provides 10% discounts on purchases.

(Somewhat) Integrated with Steam

After some turbulent history, EA now allows you to conveniently link your Steam account to Origin and access most games from either library. In 2022 this integration remains a bit clumsy—you still need both clients installed—but it‘s doable for those who shun juggling multiple launchers.

Cons: Major Drawbacks vs. Competition

However, when weighed against competitors like Steam, Origin comes up very short in several areas as a gaming client:

Limited Library With Few Exclusives

With only around 300 total games compared to Steam‘s 50,000+ catalogue, Origin‘s library feels extremely limited. And EA‘s lineup of exclusives you can‘t play elsewhere has massively deteriorated over the past decade. Many former EA exclusives like Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order have made the jump to Steam and beyond.

Frequent Technical Issues and Bugs

One of the most common complaints for years has been Origin‘s instability, from random crashing to games failing to launch to corrupted installs. A quick browse of forums reveals players frequently venting about bugs that interrupt gameplay or lose progress. Problems that should have been patched long ago persist.

Privacy Concerns and Controversies

Origin‘s EULA has concerning language about harvesting data for marketing purposes. And back in 2013, players discovered it was scanning and transmitting detailed data on their PC usage beyond just EA games, raising huge privacy red flags. While EA has denied spying accusations, discomfort around Origin‘s data collection lingers.

Inferior Interface and User Experience

Navigating Origin often feels clunky and unintuitive compared to the sleek polish of Steam. Essential features like mod support, user reviews, forums, and robust social integration are either lacking or poorly executed. This makes it less appealing for players who value those community and curation elements.

How Does Origin Access Stack Up?

How does EA‘s gaming subscription fare against leading rivals like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Premium? Here‘s a quick rundown:

• Xbox Game Pass offers a vastly bigger buffet of major day one releases, but lacks most EA offerings.

• PlayStation Plus Premium again has a larger library of 400+ games, but skimps on EA blockbuster franchises.

• Origin Access fills a niche for its broad access to EA‘s back catalogue in one place. But it pales in scope next to Game Pass and PlayStation Plus.

In summary, hardcore EA fans will find great value having a year-round all-access pass to EA games new and old. But it lacks appeal for general gaming enthusiasts wanting variety beyond just one publisher.

Head to Head Store Comparison

Let‘s examine how Origin‘s catalogue sizes up against top competitors:

Store	Game Count
Origin	Around 300
Steam	Over 50,000
Epic Games Store	About 600
GOG	Over 3,500

As you can see, Origin‘s library is absolutely dwarfed by the competition. The only reason to stick to Origin is for its handful of exclusives, or deep discounts on EA catalog titles. For sheer variety and breadth of titles, other PC options leave Origin in the dust.

Key Feature and Spec Comparison

Looking beyond just game libraries, how do the clients themselves stack up? Here‘s a quick rundown of key software features:

Feature	Origin	Steam
Interface and UX	Dated, clunky	Polished, smooth
Social Tools	Limited	Robust with forums, reviews etc.
Mod Support	Minimal	Full Steam Workshop integration
Download Speeds	Average 22MB/s	Average 30MB/s
Cloud Sync Limit	1GB per game	No limits imposed

Steam consistently offers a smoother, more feature-rich experience compared to the dated and barebones Origin client. For hardcore mods or social gamers, Steam clearly better caters to their needs.

The Road Ahead: Transition to EA Desktop

Looking ahead, dedicated Origin as we know it is on the way out. EA has announced plans to sunset Origin in favor of an all-new streamlined client called EA Desktop over the next couple years. Currently in open beta, EA Desktop aims to provide a lightweight and more gamer-friendly alternative.

If EA manages to stick the landing, EA Desktop may resolve many of the longstanding gripes around Origin‘s performance and dated design. But until it gets finalized and widely adopted, the client transition remains a major question mark heading into 2023 and beyond.

Final Verdict: Only Worth It for Diehard EA Fans

Given all factors discussed, is EA Origin still essential in 2024? Here is my final verdict based on gamer profile:

• For diehard EA franchise fans, Origin remains a necessary evil to access exclusive titles not on Steam. If you must play The Sims, Battlefield, Madden, FIFA etc. on PC, Origin is unfortunately inescapable.

• For casual gamers only occasionally dabbling in EA titles, Origin provides sufficient access and convenience. The ability to link accounts makes juggling it alongside Steam or GOG Galaxy palatable enough.

• For deal hunters, Origin does frequently offer deep discounts on EA games to build a backlog cheaply over time. Just be prepared for a frustrating client experience.

However:

• For general gaming enthusiasts playing a wide variety of titles, Origin provides very little value. Steam and other clients satisfy virtually all needs better.

• For multiplayer fans, communities and lobbies for EA titles now exist cross-platform. Console and mobile competitors offer much smoother social experiences.

• For patient players, almost all newer EA titles make their way to Steam and cheaper sales given time. Dragon Age: Inquisition GOTY Edition is currently $5 on Steam, for example.

So in summary, only diehard EA fans will find Origin a must-have in 2024. Mainstream gamers focused on variety and quality software are still better served looking to Steam or Epic Games Store over Origin for the foreseeable future. The EA Desktop wildcard remains, but won‘t be a magic bullet turning Origin‘s fortunes overnight.

For EA fans, Origin remains an annoying necessity. For everyone else, it should be avoided unless you find a particular EA title on a deep discount that‘s exclusive to the platform. Here‘s hoping EA Desktop eventually evolves into the client gamers deserve when it comes to organizing and accessing their EA libraries.