Origin

Origin is a client of the digital distribution platform owned by Electronic Arts, one of the largest publishers of computer and console games. In fact, it is a branded store where gamers can buy and download digital copies of games, as well as all kinds of additions to them. The platform was launched in 2011 and was one of the main competitors to the well-known Steam service owned by another major gaming company, Valve. EA replaced Origin with the EA app in 2022 and shut down the Origin client for Windows on April 17, 2025.

Besides the store, the client offered a number of useful possibilities to the modern gamer. In addition to a fairly large selection of games, Origin users had access to social functions. Players could add each other as friends, chat, join friends' games and try free game trials. The client also stored game saves in the cloud. Origin was a 32-bit application, and existing game libraries now open in the 64-bit EA app.

Origin let gamers buy and download EA games, play free trials and use friend lists, chat and cloud saves in one client.