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What Happens to Origin Games? Your Guide to the EA App Transition

The short answer is: your Origin games are not going anywhere. Electronic Arts (EA) has retired the Origin client on PC and replaced it with the new EA app. Any games you purchased or downloaded through Origin are intended to be accessible through the EA app. The transition is designed to be seamless, transferring your games, save data, and friend lists. However, it is crucial to understand the nuances of this shift to ensure a smooth gaming experience.

Understanding the Transition from Origin to the EA App

The decision to sunset Origin came from EA’s desire to offer a more streamlined and user-friendly platform. The EA app is built to be faster, more reliable, and more integrated with EA’s current ecosystem, including EA Play and EA Play Pro subscriptions. While Origin will no longer receive updates or be available for download on PC, it is still available on Mac for Mac users.

The transition process typically involves an invitation from EA to upgrade to the EA app. This invitation usually appears within the Origin client. Once you accept, the EA app will be downloaded and installed, and your existing Origin account and library will be migrated. The EA app is replacing Origin, not any of your games.

Potential Issues and How to Resolve Them

While the transition is designed to be smooth, some users might encounter problems. The most common issues include:

Missing Games: The games library is not showing all the previously owned games.
Login Problems: Inability to log into the EA app with the same credentials as Origin.
Installation Errors: Difficulty installing the EA app.
Game Launch Errors: Games appearing in the library but not launching.

If you experience missing games, the first step is to double-check that you are signed into the correct EA account. It’s easy to accidentally create multiple accounts over time. Try logging in with any other email addresses you might have used with Origin. If you still can’t find your games, contact EA Support. It is possible that your account got hacked which means you might have created a new account on the same email as you used before. Another possibility is that your game is under “Hidden Games” in Origin.

For login problems, ensure that you are using the correct email address and password. If you’ve forgotten your password, use the “Forgot Password” option to reset it. If installation fails, ensure your computer meets the minimum system requirements for the EA app, run the installer as an administrator, and add the EA app executables (EADesktop.exe, EALauncher.exe, and EABackgroundService.exe) to your antivirus and firewall exceptions. Also, try fully exiting the app by ending the EA and EA Background Service processes in the task manager, then relaunch the EA app and try again. If you still cannot launch The Sims 4 please run an EA Error Report and provide the Report ID in a new thread.

If games appear in your library but fail to launch, try repairing the game files through the EA app. You can also try uninstalling and reinstalling the game.

FAQs: All You Need to Know About Origin and the EA App

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the transition from Origin to the EA app:

FAQ 1: Is EA Origin being discontinued?

Yes, Origin on PC has been discontinued and replaced by the EA app. Origin for Mac continues to serve our Mac players.

FAQ 2: Will all my Origin games transfer to the EA app?

Yes, any games you’ve downloaded through Origin will be ready to launch through the EA app. The transfer should be automatic when you upgrade to the EA app.

FAQ 3: What if my games are missing after I switch to the EA app?

First, double-check that you’re signed into the right account. If you think you may have another account, try logging in to Origin with other email addresses you may have used. If you find another account, check if your game is there instead. If your games have suddenly disappeared, you are likely logging in on the wrong account.

FAQ 4: Do I keep my Origin games forever?

Once you purchase a game from Origin (or the EA app), it is added to your account and yours to keep indefinitely. There is no expiration date on purchased games.

FAQ 5: Will I lose my games if I uninstall Origin?

Uninstalling Origin on PC will not remove your games from your account. Your games will be available on the EA app. The uninstallation of the Origin client will not remove local save game files and will certainly not delete online saves. You will be completely safe!

FAQ 6: What’s the difference between the EA app and Origin?

The EA app is our latest PC platform and has replaced Origin on PC. The EA app is designed to be faster, more reliable, and more integrated with EA’s ecosystem.

FAQ 7: Can I still use Origin for The Sims 4?

No. You can use the Origin client on Mac for The Sims 4, but the EA app is the PC client that replaces Origin.

FAQ 8: Does EA Play transfer from Origin to Steam?

EA Play is available for PC via Steam or Origin, as well as on Xbox One and PlayStation®4. Please note: while EA Play is available on multiple platforms your membership is tied to the platform you joined on. If you joined on Steam, your Play List, member discount, and all other benefits will only be available here.

FAQ 9: What happens to my Origin account after the transition?

Those who already have an Origin account will be automatically invited to transfer all their games, cloud saves, friends lists, and content onto the EA app seamlessly.

FAQ 10: Can I move games from Origin to Steam or other platforms?

It is not currently possible to move games from Origin to any other platform.

FAQ 11: I have problems installing the EA app. What should I do?

Double-check that your computer meets the requirements. If you’re on PC, make sure you’re running the EA app as an administrator. Then add EADesktop.exe, EALauncher.exe, and EABackgroundService.exe to your anti-virus and firewall allow lists.

FAQ 12: Can I use Origin codes on the EA app?

Any keys you would have previously redeemed in Origin should still work in the EA app, yes!

FAQ 13: What happens to games after EA Play expires?

The games you purchase using the EA Play discount that an active membership gives, remain yours to keep and play even after the membership expires. Members have unlimited access to the full versions of a selection of games published by EA, dubbed “the Vault”, for as long as their membership is active. If membership is suspended, the games can no longer be played, but all progress and game saves are retained.

FAQ 14: Why can’t I play The Sims 4 on the EA app?

At this time if you cannot launch The Sims 4 on the EA app, please fully exit the app by ending the EA and EA Background Service processes in the task manager, then relaunch the EA app and try again.

FAQ 15: How do I keep Origin instead of the EA app?

It’s generally not recommended to try to keep Origin on PC since it is no longer supported. However, if you want to try to keep the older client, uninstall the EA App, remove the EA App files, install the old version of Origin, login to Origin, block Origin Updates, fix Origin settings, and fix Mouse Input Delay.

The Future of Gaming and Learning

The shift from Origin to the EA app reflects the ongoing evolution of the gaming landscape. New technologies and platforms continue to shape how we play and interact with games. Understanding these trends is crucial not only for gamers but also for educators and researchers interested in the power of games. To explore the possibilities of learning through games, visit the Games Learning Society at https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. The Games Learning Society explores the intersection of video games and learning.

The replacement of Origin by the EA app is an upgrade that offers new features and a better user experience. It will be interesting to watch how this change shapes the digital gaming landscape for years to come.

What happens to Origin games?