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Origin Required For Digital, Physical Copies Of Mass Effect 3 On PC

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by Jeff Cork on January 15, 2012 at 07:33 AM
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If you want to take a stand against EA's PC download service Origin and you're looking forward to playing Mass Effect 3, it looks like you'll be playing the game on console. According to a post on BioWare's forums, Origin is required to play the PC game, whether you plan on downloading it or buying it at retail.

BioWare's Chris Priestly explained how it all works in a forum post. The game will require a single online activation for players wishing to experience the game's single-player campaign. You'll have to remain connected if you wish to play the game's multiplayer component.

You'll be able to purchase the game directly from Origin or via a few other third-party digital resellers, but not on Valve's popular Steam site. "Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content," he writes. "We are intent on providing Mass Effect to players with the best possible experience no matter where they purchase or play their game, and are happy to partner with any download service that does not restrict our ability to connect directly with our consumers."

Priestly also addresses user concerns about Origin being spyware (surprisingly enough, he says it's not), and says that players will be able to opt out of the game's data-collection services.

What do you think, PC players? Is this a deal-breaker for you, or is it just the cost of doing business on your preferred gaming system?


[Via IGN, by way of a news tip from VolcanicSilver]

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  • by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:42 AM
    I haven't played any of the ME games yet. Mass Effect 2 is the only game in the series on the PS3, and while I do have an Arcade unit 360, I'm not even sure if it'd be worth playing since I wouldn't be able to carry over any progress. And I wouldn't play all the games on my Arcade mainly because of patches,no online connectivity for it and so on. I'm considering just buying the first one for the 360 playing it for story and just playing the rest on the PS3.
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 07:59 AM
    "The game will require a single online activation for players wishing to experience the game's single-player campaign." That's for retail releases as well, right? OH Gawd! The golden age of video gaming is over!! *** you EA, it's like 1969 all over again!
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:03 AM
    EAs way to make people register the game, and also limit the amount of pirated copys, i dont mind this at all! we do it for steam, why not Origin?
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:06 AM
    It is funny how ONLY EA is complaining about Steams "set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content,"

    Why wont they just say the truth? Origin is struggling as a digital distribution service and if it was not for BF3, SWTOR, and now this it would already be dead. I understand that EA has invested lots of time and money into Origin so they are doing what they can to ensure it succeeds but don't treat us like idiots. We know why the games are not available on Steam.
  • by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:08 AM
    "Screw EA, I'm going to buy it on console instead." You do that...and pay them $10 extra.
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:11 AM

    Was really really really looking forward to pre-ordering/buying this on steam. But I'm not getting a second platform on my PC whatever the reason may be. I'm sticking with steam.

  • by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:12 AM
    I was planing on getting it on the 360 anyways, since thats where my Mass Effect 1 and 2 saved datas are.
  • by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:18 AM
    I really enjoyed mass effect 2 and I can't wait for 3 and I don't mind this but no doubt there are going to be a bunch of gamers that will complain out there in the baron wastes of the internet cause they have nothing better to do. FYI I enjoyed the majority of all the games EA has made over the past 20 years and I just don't understand why everyone thinks they are so cartoonishly evil, I guess that makes me an idiot for enjoying myself :P
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:21 AM
    Valve does this with retail copies of their games, right?
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:23 AM
    *** u EA! i want steam!! sorry but origin is terrible...1 less sale from me :|
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:24 AM
    This is a total travesty! As a consumer, I have already chosen my digital distributor in Steam. Now I really want to buy this product, but I refuse to be part of an inferior digital distributors service, and I sure as hell will not support EA's policies and string arm tactics. I will not buy ME3 under these conditions. I will wait and pray that the title will eventually become available Steam, If that fails, and EA continues to be obstinate, maybe the hacker crowd will provide.
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:28 AM

    I'm very excited about the last chapter of the ME trilogy. I'm a big ME fan, but since EA decided to removed their games from Steam, getting the game (buying it) will be an odysey. Why? I'm in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the Origin Store is not properly configured for users that are from Latin America (except for Mexico and Brazil users): game prices are in Euros instead of US Dollars, so if we want to buy a game using this digital provider, we'll have to pay 30% more.

    I've contacted EA support in several occasions, but looks like they don't want to fix this (the issue was reported when Origin was launched).

  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:43 AM
    It's absolutely a deal breaker. I refuse to put Origins on my computer. The only EA games I will even play are those allowed on Steam. And even that I'm uncomfortable with. EA is the embodiment of every wrong turn the industry has taken and is in the process of taking.
  • by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:51 AM
    I want all of my games in one place and that is Steam. Origin is inferior to Steam in every single way and I won't wait for that to change. As long as pirates offer me a better service than the publisher there is no reason for me to spend money on something.
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 08:53 AM
    I'm getting it for Xbox so it looks like there's no problem for me, but do you have to put in another online pass to access the multiplayer?
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:01 AM

    I think I'll just end up buying it on console. No need to go through all the hassle.

  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:06 AM

    Now That I've Got Your Attention, I HATE ORGIN! Good To Get That Out.

  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:08 AM
    Well... goodbye mass effect :( I will never support something as stupid as origins.And buying it for consoles is not worth it when we have a computer with better hardware.I will simply not buying it.
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:19 AM
    Very lame, I will be purchasing the Xbox 360 version of this anyway. I hope EA changes its tune eventually, I already own ME 1 & 2 on steam as well(great deals).
  •
    by Sunday, January 15, 2012 at 09:21 AM
    I was planning on getting it for Xbox anyways so I guess I'm in the clear. I'm not sure I understand what the big deal is though, I used Origin when I purchased my copy of Star Wars:ToR and I didn't encounter any issues with it and I say this as a fellow steam user. Also I'm pretty sure Origin is still in the beta stage so maybe it isn't quite so fair to be comparing it to steam in the first place.
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