Origin (formerly EA Store) is a digital distribution, digital rights management system from Electronic Arts that allows users to purchase games on the internet for PC and mobile platforms, and download them with the Origin client (formerly EA Download Manager, EA Downloader and EA Link). It released on June 3rd,2011. It’s EA’s version of Valve’s Steam. Steam has revolutionized PC gaming over the years,reducing the number of PC piracy and providing its users with the ultimate gaming experience.

EA had removed its Crysis 2 from Steam last year due to some issues with Steam. Many believed that EA launched Origin because of it’s differences with the PC Giant Steam. EA intended to release only it’s own games on Origin which gamers would need to log on to in order to run their games. Over the time,EA has changed its policies and is adding 11 other publishers to its store.

The first game to be added is the aforementioned Rift from Trion Worlds, with games from Robot Entertainment, CD Projekt RED, Freebird Games, Recoil Games, Autumn Games, 1C Company, Inxile Entertainment, Paradox Interactive, Core Learning, and N3V Games joiningRift‘s ranks soon.

EA says that more specific information on pricing and release dates will be offered in the near future via Origin.

Looks like Origin is slowly and steadily giving Steam a run for their money,Only time will tell.

-Haris.