EA's Origin, launched in 2011 as a competitor to Steam, has finally been replaced by the EA app. This transition, however, comes with significant drawbacks. The clunky user experience and frustrating logins that plagued Origin haven't been resolved. Worse, users risk losing access to their purchased games if they don't actively transfer their accounts from Origin to the new EA app. This is particularly problematic for those who own games like Titanfall on Origin.

Further compounding the issue, the EA app only supports 64-bit operating systems, leaving 32-bit users in the lurch. While Steam also dropped 32-bit support in early 2024, this move highlights concerns about digital ownership and access. Most modern systems are 64-bit, but older machines running 32-bit Windows (sold until 2020) are now incompatible. A simple RAM check (32-bit systems max out at 4GB) can determine your system type. Reinstalling a 64-bit OS is necessary for 32-bit Windows users.

This situation underscores the precarious nature of digital game ownership. Losing access to a purchased library due to platform changes or obsolete hardware is a significant concern. This isn't unique to EA; Valve's Steam also dropped 32-bit support, leaving some players stranded.

The increasing use of invasive DRM, such as Denuvo, further exacerbates the problem. These solutions often require deep system access and impose arbitrary installation limits, despite legitimate purchases.

A viable alternative is GOG, which offers a DRM-free library. Games purchased on GOG are yours to keep and play on any compatible hardware, indefinitely. While this approach presents a risk of software piracy, it hasn't prevented new titles, such as the upcoming Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, from being released on the platform.