Mass Effect 3 Requires Origin, Won’t Be on Steam

By Brian P Rubin | 16 January 2012 | 24 Comments

It seems that BioWare’s upcoming action-RPG Mass Effect 3 won’t be made available on Steam, and will also require a one-time connection to EA’s Origin service to activate—which is true for even physical copies of the game. The news comes from a post on Eurogamer today.

Now where have I heard this before…?

Oh, yeah, it was way back in July, when the very first story I wrote for this blog was about how EA’s Battlefield 3 wouldn’t be appearing on Steam due to a disagreement between the two companies about how to handle DLC and patches.

Here’s the statement from BioWare’s Chris Priestly on the reason for side-stepping Steam:

“Steam has adopted a set of restrictive terms of service which limit how developers interact with customers to deliver patches and other downloadable content. 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.”

Let’s all remember, of course, that BioWare is owned by Electronic Arts.

In addition, Priestly explained why the game will need to connect to Origin, and that, in fact, Origin is definitely not spyware that will eat your computer’s soul:

“Origin is not spyware and does not use or install spyware on user’s machines. In order to allow Origin to install games and their patches for everyone to use, Origin implements a permission change that results in Windows, not Origin, reviewing the file names in the Program data/Origin folder. This is an ordinary Windows function, not an information-gathering process.”

But you know what’s kind of a bad sign? Having to say over and over again that your game-playing platform WON’T harm your computer. Doesn’t that kind of point to a larger problem with your service? Maybe instead of always defending something, it might be a good idea to listen to consumers’ concerns and try to find a legitimate fix for what people perceive to be a problem…just thinking out loud. Pay me no mind.

The Eurogamer post points out that two of EA’s other titles, Crysis 2 and Dragon Age 2 were removed from Steam in 2011 because of this disagreement. Despite the many intervening months, the rift between the two companies has yet to be repaired.

Will this affect your potential purchase of Mass Effect 3?

Via Eurogamer

24 Comments

Posted by VaporWare on 16 January 12 at 10:58am

What will really affect my purchase, is EA. I have been ripped off by EA one too many times. Even though I want to finish the trilogy, I may actually not; or I may just wait for ME3 to drop down to “steam prices.” So, like $5.
Posted by DarthSatoris on 16 January 12 at 11:05am

No, as I don’t care which platform it is on. I just want to play Mass Effect 3. I have BF3 too so it’s no biggie for me to have it on Origin.
Posted by Imatablerumble8 on 16 January 12 at 12:31pm

Thats Cool, I’ll Just Play Skyrim FLAMEWAR
Posted by Hytch on 16 January 12 at 12:34pm

I’m the first to criticise publishers, especially EA. However, it’s no different from Steam ultimately, and it’s only a one-time activation (as far as I can gather…people are still saying different things). Put it this way: it’s not Ubi’s DRM…
Posted by Hytch on 16 January 12 at 12:35pm

Also, Sheperd + Origin logo = Legion WUUUUUUUUUUUUT
Posted by BTfromNC on 16 January 12 at 12:51pm

I bought ME and ME2 on steam, as well as dragon age origin, awakenings, and DA2 on steam. I will not be buying them via origin. I don’t want that on my PC
Posted by J on 16 January 12 at 1:47pm

I don’t understand why they would even create origin. Steam is perfectly fine, and in my opinion, probably the BEST experience I have ever had :) I really am into RPG’s now, and I was thinking about getting this, but now I probably won’t.
- Posted by VaporWare on 16 January 12 at 4:54pm
  
  Origin is just EA:DM rebranded. They created it to keep games up to date, much like steam.
  - Posted by ChunkyMilk on 16 January 12 at 5:33pm
    
    They can do the same with steam. So no, it is just EA power play and greed. It will cost them…
Posted by Nick on 16 January 12 at 2:30pm

Cool, guess i’m not buying Mass Effect 3.
Posted by Rob on 16 January 12 at 2:41pm

It won’t affect me, I’m playing on the 360
Posted by Bull3t on 16 January 12 at 2:53pm

I got a BF3 physical copy from my bro. Found out later that i needed Origin and that I couldn’t use steam .. such a dissapointment. I’m not a big fan of this series myself, but now you guys know how it feels to ripped of by a company (EA) that is more concerned in making money than actually provide support and fix the goddamn games.

If you want to spend the afternoon laughing, check out the feedback & support area of EA and search some user posted chats with the EA staff ..
Posted by Toasty on 16 January 12 at 2:56pm

The main reason as stated that they will not allow it on steam is due to the fact that certain licensing issues didn’t allow updates and patches, this was also the main case that didn’t allow Minecraft on steam. In my opinion, if you played Mass Effect 1 and 2 then you are already a fan and this problem should not really worry you or even change your perspective on the game itself, and that is the main part about these services, the games.
Posted by Maximilian Lange on 16 January 12 at 3:24pm

I love my pc and all my games, but i will not buy it over origin. I rather buy it for ps3 or 360. Also I’m using a different launcher for bf3, that way i don’t have to have origin open and running in the background.
Posted by Chris on 16 January 12 at 3:40pm

Can’t they get their little tiff settled? I’ll have to wait awhile to play it. Sooner or later they’ll make up and bring it to Steam so I can buy it there.
Posted by MagnusDune on 16 January 12 at 4:10pm

Which is why my copy is for the Xbox and not the PC, cause shit like this, (ie requiring you to have 15 different DL services on the PC) is destroying what is left of PC gaming.
Posted by WildOat on 16 January 12 at 4:27pm

Somebody peeled the taters
and took away my fun,
Then they ate my hotdog
so I’ll just eat the bun.
Posted by Devin on 16 January 12 at 5:37pm

Origin wouldn’t be as much of an issue for me if it wasn’t for the fact that it’s a shit service and there’s been no improvement. It’s the ONLY reason that I didn’t buy BF3. If they fixed origin itself and fixed their shitty customer support people wouldn’t hesitate to using it. Until then, they’re not getting my money.
Posted by Mugenite on 16 January 12 at 7:01pm

Calling it now… Microsoft and Sony will be coming out with their own gaming centers (Live and PSN) for the pc within the next few years… Bet it’ll be a big part of the next gen consoles…
- Posted by mitch on 16 January 12 at 11:31pm
  
  there is a microsoft version for PC its call GFWL and is terrible
Posted by Sairagna on 16 January 12 at 7:38pm

Am I the only one pissed that Microsoft is stopping mass effect 1 from being on ps3. It’s not like they get any more sales over it
- Posted by Famous on 17 January 12 at 2:07am
  
  Its on steam for $10.
Posted by mitch on 16 January 12 at 11:30pm

*sigh* guess I will get it on 360 then, sad times. at least its not ubisofts DRM
Posted by Landon Robinson on 17 January 12 at 9:10am

It’s not spyware. Never has been, isn’t currently, never will be. It’s a legitimate gaming platform that offers EA published titles.

Not sure where the spyware argument came from.