PC gamers often dream of a world where all games are exclusively on Steam, but they are burdened with multiple launchers. These additional software programs are not well-regarded by users, who are forced to use them due to poor performance and exclusive titles. A notable example is Alan Wake II, which is only available on the Epic Games Store. Long before the “Steam or Epic Games” debate, another launcher faced significant backlash from players for many years.
If you’ve played The Sims, FIFA, or Battlefield on your PC over the past decade, you’ve likely encountered the notorious Origin. EA's launcher has been criticized for its lack of usability and recurring issues since its launch in 2011. After eleven years, the gaming giant introduced a new software in 2022, the EA app, which still falls short of providing a satisfactory user experience.
Some players have chosen to stick with Origin for the last three years, but they will need to prepare for its final shutdown on April 17, 2025, due to the loss of compatibility with 32-bit software on the latest Windows versions. Users will be required to switch to the EA app, which necessitates a 64-bit version of Windows. Players without compatible PCs will have to upgrade their hardware. Game libraries and saves will transfer automatically upon first use of the EA app, but players are advised to complete this migration before the shutdown date to avoid potential issues.
