EA To withdraw from Steam and focus on Origin

Andy Ruffell June 15, 2011Last Updated: June 15, 2011

8 502

I’m sure you’ve all heard the buzz around the blogospheres but if you haven’t yet, here it is. Electronic Arts is pulling ALL of their content from Valve’s groundbreaking content delivery service we know as Steam. The publisher is moving all of their current and future releases to their “Origin” direct delivery service for purchasing, playing, and networking.

This does not bode well for PC players such as myself who are looking forward to Bioware’s new Star Wars MMO, as well as Battlefield 3 being on a digital distribution system using EA’s already shaky single-player kerfuffles (i.e- bad-mouthing EA on their forums equals you don’t get access to your games that you’ve bought and paid for/not being able to play single-player without a network connection). This is a direct ploy to topple Steam and their kingdom of gaming deals, content delivery, as well as community so that EA can get a slice of that action.

How this will pan out remains to be seen, but I will be keeping up to date tabs on it from now on as I am interested in both “The Old Republic” and “Battlefield 3”.

Update: 6:10PM EST- Cnet received a response from EA regarding this matter “Electronic Arts sent us this statement in regard to the removal of Crysis 2 from Steam: “It’s unfortunate that Steam has removed Crysis II from their service. This was not an EA decision or the result of any action by EA. Steam has imposed a set of business terms for developers hoping to sell content on that service–many of which are not imposed by other online game services. Unfortunately, Crytek has an agreement with another download service which violates the new rules from Steam and resulted in its expulsion of Crysis II from Steam.”

Update 2: regarding Battlefield 3 at least http://twitter.com/L_Twin/status/81013165768450049

Update 3: Regarding Origin’s TOS- http://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/i0j2q/in_the_origin_tos_it_only_allows_you_two_years_to/

Attached files

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Andy Ruffell June 15, 2011Last Updated: June 15, 2011

8 502

Read Next

That news isn't up to date :p

Rock, Paper, Shotgun wrote: THINGS ARE GETTING REALLY STRANGE NOW. Now being outside of UK office hours mean were yet to get our own EA response to why Crysis 2 vanished from Steam yesterday, but across-the-ponders have now received one. The upshot? Despite all this only on Origin stuff, EA didnt do it. So: who did?Valve, apparently. Said an EA bod to GameFront, Its unfortunate that Steam has removed Crysis 2 from their service. This was not an EA decision or the result of any action by EA.Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?Steam has imposed a set of business terms for developers hoping to sell content on that service many of which are not imposed by other online game services. Unfortunately, Crytek has an agreement with another download service which violates the new rules from Steam and resulted in its expulsion of Crysis 2 from Steam.Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?And which other download service is it that Cryteks been batting their eyelids at? Given EA earlier revealed it would be making some of its own games exclusive to its own download platform, could it be EAs own Origin and a Steam-baiting term and/or condition therein? Or a change made at one of the others the games still available on, such as Direct2Drive, Gamersgate (their impending free service, perhaps?) and, in the US only, Gamestop and Amazon?On the other hand, theres that reference to new rules from Steam. Anyone heard anything about that?War. War never changes. Or gets any less weird.Tell you what though: this is happening with a game that was released several months ago and thus theres probably not tooooo much revenue to be lost as a result of this platform bickering. When this happens with a big new release, with a whole lot of money in the balance, then thingsll get really serious. Of course, Crysis 2 might end up being the sacrificial lamb that leads to new harmony between the two firms, although one side publicly blaming the other does of course complicate that.Ive asked Valve for their side of things will update as and when we hear back.

8 Comments

Archangel says:

June 15, 2011 at 10:53 pm

wow i have EA games on steam will this effect the ones i have and can they legally stop you playing your games that you paid for as this would be in effect obtaining money under false pretenses this is another reason to stick to hard copy IMO

Eternalchaos says:

June 15, 2011 at 10:58 pm

That news isn't up to date :p

Rock, Paper, Shotgun wrote: THINGS ARE GETTING REALLY STRANGE NOW. Now being outside of UK office hours mean were yet to get our own EA response to why Crysis 2 vanished from Steam yesterday, but across-the-ponders have now received one. The upshot? Despite all this only on Origin stuff, EA didnt do it. So: who did?Valve, apparently. Said an EA bod to GameFront, Its unfortunate that Steam has removed Crysis 2 from their service. This was not an EA decision or the result of any action by EA.Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?Steam has imposed a set of business terms for developers hoping to sell content on that service many of which are not imposed by other online game services. Unfortunately, Crytek has an agreement with another download service which violates the new rules from Steam and resulted in its expulsion of Crysis 2 from Steam.Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?And which other download service is it that Cryteks been batting their eyelids at? Given EA earlier revealed it would be making some of its own games exclusive to its own download platform, could it be EAs own Origin and a Steam-baiting term and/or condition therein? Or a change made at one of the others the games still available on, such as Direct2Drive, Gamersgate (their impending free service, perhaps?) and, in the US only, Gamestop and Amazon?On the other hand, theres that reference to new rules from Steam. Anyone heard anything about that?War. War never changes. Or gets any less weird.Tell you what though: this is happening with a game that was released several months ago and thus theres probably not tooooo much revenue to be lost as a result of this platform bickering. When this happens with a big new release, with a whole lot of money in the balance, then thingsll get really serious. Of course, Crysis 2 might end up being the sacrificial lamb that leads to new harmony between the two firms, although one side publicly blaming the other does of course complicate that.Ive asked Valve for their side of things will update as and when we hear back.
Iainfixie says:

June 15, 2011 at 11:09 pm

Eternalchaos;19372 wrote: That news isn't up to date :p

Adding in the updates right now.

Iainfixie says:

June 15, 2011 at 11:16 pm

Archangel;19370 wrote: wow i have EA games on steam will this effect the ones i have and can they legally stop you playing your games that you paid for as this would be in effect obtaining money under false pretenses this is another reason to stick to hard copy IMO

From what I understand if you paid for those games on steam, they are there for good.I will update as needed.

Eternalchaos says:

June 15, 2011 at 11:42 pm

Iainfixie;19375 wrote: From what I understand if you paid for those games on steam, they are there for good.I will update as needed.

Well we should hear more tomorrow *fingers crossed* but it isn't a big deal anyway if EA want to be dumb <img src="http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn217/soundwave656/SuperEpicFail.jpg" alt="" />
Dean Oldfield says:

June 16, 2011 at 5:34 am

ouchhhhhhh

lucas4 says:

June 16, 2011 at 7:36 am

Oh well.I have more games on origin than steam anyway. Now, for EA to improve origin so it isn't a bandwidth sap that blocks my internet usage while it downloads :rolleyes:

Shadow1954 says:

June 16, 2011 at 3:32 pm

Shocking 😐 … will try to get more info on this personally as to the real reason for the withdrawal. But my guess will be security reasons.