Do I have to install the new EA app?
The short answer is yes, all PC players will need to install Electronic Arts‘ newly launched EA app to continue enjoying EA titles. As a passionate gamer who has chronicled EA‘s announcements closely, allow me to elaborate on Origin‘s retirement and why adoption of the EA app is now mandatory for the foreseeable future.
Origin is Shutting Down on PC, Making Way for the EA App
After serving for over 10 years as EA‘s PC gaming client, Origin as we know it is being phased out. By now, most hardcore EA fans have heard that Origin is not long for this world – in statements direct from the developers themselves, they‘ve made clear that the EA app for Windows represents Origin‘s replacement going forward.
Over 50 million players have used Origin, so why the drastic change? EA claims their new app will provide gamers with faster speeds, improved stability, and certain social enhancements that were more difficult to implement on dated Origin infrastructure. How the app actually performs remains to be seen.
The mandatory transition process from Origin to the EA app is already underway. At the time I wrote this in early 2023, both clients can be installed simultaneously on PC. But full migration must occur eventually as EA shifts resources away from maintaining and updating the now aging Origin platform.
EA App Perks – Upgraded Features for Modern Gaming Demands
As an active member of various player gaming communities, I‘ve had my ear to the ground on initial impressions of EA‘s next-generation client. According to EA‘s press statements, the EA app introduces several notable features:
Speed & Performance Gains
- App is lightweight while still providing access to advanced social options
- Enhanced navigation compared to sometimes clunky Origin
- Testing shows snappier response when installing games
- Booting and matchmaking times reduced due to efficiency gains
Social & Community
- Modernized friend management system with cross-game chat options
- Ability to monitor friends‘ activities in real-time feed
- Built from ground up with social gaming demands in mind
- May hint at future cooperative and multiplayer innovations
As influential industry sources like IGN describe it, the EA app feels like "Origin, Evolved" – an appropriate tagline indicating EA‘s commitment to satisfying the expectations of technically savvy contemporary gamers through community-centric features.
The EA App is Now Required for New Releases Like FIFA 23
While the Origin client still functions for the time being in early 2023, the writing is on the wall for its discontinuation based on EA‘s public product roadmap. This reality makes adoption of the EA app mandatory for those eager to experience fledgling EA franchises and titles as they release over 2023 and beyond.
Case in point – FIFA 23 and other brand new EA games can only be installed and accessed using the company‘s EA app. Attempting to rely solely on Origin will result in a dead end. So players intent on keeping up with the latest entries in EA‘s catalog of triple-A gaming content have no choice but to get on board the EA app train sooner rather than later!
Some theorize that this aggressive product linking strategy essentially forces the widespread transition that EA management ultimately desires. Regardless of motives, dedicated players investing countless hours across game worlds like Battlefield or The Sims must download the app if you hope to continue the journey!
| Client | New EA Release Support | Peak Players |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | No | 15 million |
| EA App | Yes | TBD |
As the table depicts in black and white, playing upcoming EA titles is simply not possible by relying solely on Origin.
Enhancements Hinted At for Popular IPs Like Sims 4
In a blog post on EA‘s website, the company teased new social features designed with specific game communities in mind – most notably The Sims 4. One can reasonably speculate that the richer modding and creative capabilities diehard Sims fans expect could receive a shot in the arm thanks to the EA app‘s next-gen foundation.
While concrete details remain scarce at time of writing, reading between the lines suggests the potential for:
- Smoother collaborative builds
- Seamless content sharing
- Integrated galleries to publish custom designs
As an avid Sims player myself, I share the optimism that many in the mod community have following EA‘s plan to modernize their PC infrastructure with built-in support for socially-driven gameplay.
The EA App – Streamlined Social Play is the Way Forward
Like it or not, Electronic Arts is signaling that the EA app and the scalable backbone powering it are integral to continuing one‘s enjoyment of leading franchises like Madden, Apex Legends, Need for Speed and more.
While the app is still in its infancy, early testing confirms at minimum a simplified and speedier experience compared to the aging Origin clientORIGIN (, which candidly has faced criticism in recent years for instability and bloat).
Considering gaming‘s gravitation toward interconnected communities and shared worlds, EA‘s laser focus on social features makes strategic sense. As publishers like EA envision the possibilities of the metaverse, the EA app‘s premium handling of player networks could represent merely the first leap toward boundary-pushing innovation still years down the line.
So for any passionate gamer unwilling to be left behind, be sure to download the mandatory EA app today to stay current with emerging titles from one of video gaming‘s premier giants!
