The next-generation PC gaming platform
tl;dr This post is about how the new EA app is rather bad and could be better but we don't know what's really going on right now, just go to functionalities breakdown section if you want to skip the longish introduction.
I've been a bit of a fan of Origin, I must admit. I've spend a number of years with this platform playing various games from the store (starting with FIFA 13 back in late 2012) and claiming titles from the On The House promo with joy, when EA gave games away "before it was cool" and so my relationship with Origin developed. I happily welcomed the news that the journey with PC platform will continue in the form EA Desktop. But my enthusiasm quickly faded when I saw how lacking this new application is.
Yes, yes, I know, it's still in beta phase (thankfully). But the lack of communication worries me a little so with this post I'd like to wrap up how the current situation looks like and what the prospects for the future are. Fan or no fan, every gamer and every type of gamer playing EA's games on PC deserves the best and most complete experience possible.
The reason I decided to create such a post is that I saw some dissatisfaction with several aspects concerning the new app. It's clearly far from done and we don't really know what to expect. Also, the feedback questionnaire for EA app is closed currently. Maybe this post gets some recognition and helps improving the overall experience. I'd kindly ask a community manager to pass it to the company in case the post becomes relevant.
I encourage other users to express their opinions as well. I surely cannot grasp and describe all the visions on my own. If you have something I didn't put in here, please add your idea and some substantiation to it. Let's collectively create a go-to overview of what we would like the EA app to eventually look like and offer.
Origin vs the beta
The landscape of PC gaming platforms and launchers is a complicated one. We have some well established ones as well as smaller and emerging ones, all offering a varying level of features and access to libraries of various sizes. Some will say there is just one meaningful player, I could specify 4-5 almost equally relevant ones and place Origin within this landscape definitely in the top 3 in terms of functionalities and library size/quality. I perceive it as an important and valid platform.
The app itself, of course not without some flaws, is stable, handy, friendly to use and good-looking. I don't mind the rebranding and as said, I'm happy to welcome its expansion (which EA app actually is not, but we'll see in details later).
Origin has what a modern platform should – basic game management, basic community system, game stats, achievements, digital store. EA app replicates only some of these. But adds some new things, with limit-playtime and limit-monthly-spending being the most advertised ones.
The roadmap is rather enigmatic about what's yet to come. As of 10.02.22, under "ongoing updates" we have "download stability", "faster load times in My Collection" and "previously logged gameplay" (so technical stuff only) and under "thing's we're exploring" – "launch games directly from desktop", "repair games", "backup cloud saves" (nothing groundbreaking we haven't yet seen).
Probably the most disturbing is no word about achievements, which are one of the core functionalities. As observed somewhere on this forum, it's been an industry standard for a long time and it's one of the things most loved by gamers. With the removal of that and the addition of limit-playtime and limit-spending EA app seems to drastically change the target to those who like limits in gaming (so, parents?) instead of more hardcore consumers. Combining this with no cart in digital store and only cart-like "build your bundle" for the Sims 4 being around, it is starting to look like a launcher dedicated for The Sims 4 (probably EA's most important PC game, also without achievement support).
Okay, that's rather a joke but EA, please, don't go this way. PC gaming is so much more than combining expansions for The Sims 4 and watching over children playing.
Now I'd like to break all the functionalities down, one by one.
Core (what is necessary and unquestionable, yet some are missing!)
- Basic game menu:
- Game settings like add launch arguments, change language, show key – where did these disappear? They were present in Origin but I can't locate them in EA app, so most likely removed. Pls bring them back.
- Manage DLC – games in library have a dedicated DLC tab, moreover, the store separates base games and DLCs similar way – that's a big improvement, because Origin listed everything together in a big mess.
- Game stats like time spent, last played – they exist but progress is not carried over from Origin. This is subject to change according to the roadmap.
- Cloud save – according to the roadmap it doesn't work. This denies the very fundamentals of digital gaming. But at least it's acknowledged by the devs and hopefully changes soon.
- Basic community system:
- Friends – ok
- Chat – ok, also now keeps chat history for 29 days, nice improvement compared to Origin where it was deleted after closing the app (I guess?, I've never seen any chat history there).
- Digital store:
- Well-done game and DLC separation already mentioned.
- Cart system is very badly needed (personal experience from last sale: I got like 7 games or so and making 7 payments instead of 1 felt like a joke). How an online store doesn't have it in 2022 is beyond me. This should be introduced ASAP.
- Wishlist – seems it was removed, must be brought back.
- Achievements – probably the thing most of us will be interested in. You know, as mentioned, it's a standard. EA's games will always have achievements because consoles de facto require them. Origin had that (here it was enthusiastically announced back in 2013 Origin at gamescom). Why get rid of it? What difference does it make to allow console players have a little more fun and PC gamers not? I know on PC it cannot be outsourced like on consoles. I don't know if EA find it unnecessary but I can assure you, there are lots of achievements enjoyers, even present on this forum (I saw a guy with over 30k Origin Points).
This bullet point should also cover Origin Points, this one console-like total achievement counter and cool thing none of the PC platforms have. Sadly, this is confirmed to be discontinued. EA, why? How is that one more column in players database a problem? Too much disk space on servers? 😂 I know excel doesn't forgive but each and one of the points is an actual time invested by one of the players. This must be reconsidered or a valuable substitute solution must be presented.
Parental controls (added as one of the notable new features)
Child account, limit spending, limit playtime, such stuff. To be honest I won't make a good use of these, I can control myself 😂 but I accept these new introductions, targeted mostly at parents as I understand. A step towards a platform welcoming different types of players. +1 for that and let's move on.
Advanced (these don't exist and are ideas for potential expansions of the core features)
- Expanded game management:
- Allow more languages – I'll never understand why a gamer cannot use a different language version than local or sometimes English, especially that all versions are made by EA and sharing them globally doesn't cost extra money (or does it?). Maybe it doesn't make sense for Americans but in Europe it's a little different.
- Expanded social features:
- Player profiles – a full page with games, friends, achievements and wishlist was reduced to friends and games only. It should be improved alongside the return of achievements and wishlist to the platform. Maybe also some profile customization?
- Rate game – MS Store has it, Steam has it, GOG has it. Would be cool to have a place to express opinions and write reviews on EA games as well.
- Game forums – a page on each game allowing users to create threads and write whatever about them, for example search for gamers to play together. Last time I needed someone for FIFA22 co-op I was forced to look on Steam, while I don't even have this game on Steam! I know there's AQH but it's problem-focused rather than opinion- and friend-focused.
- Gamer groups – allow creating micro communities of gamers with own forums.
- Find currently playing – some search engine for gamers currently playing a specific game, it would allow finding friends for co-op or pvp in real-time, spontaneously. A far better solution than searching on a forum. I think only XBL has it on PC these days. (Among all the ideas, this would be the most next-gen imo).
- Reputation system – a little controversial maybe, but a some system to rate experience having played with a fellow gamer. This hit me when one guy in FIFA22 immediately blocked me for no reason after we did one co-op achievement together. No idea, probably just toxic personality but I'd like to warn others of such guys.
- Last online – a feature that allowed to make the meme (-tomorrow same time? -ok -last seen: 12 years ago 😂). Would be nice to see which of the friends stopped playing.
- Store improvements:
- Store gift cards – you could buy a game for a friend on Origin, it is absent in EA app. But gift cards (either digital or physical) would allow making actual surprise presents 😄
- Achievements for older (pre-2013) games – ok this is rather bold but why not. I doubt this is possible (it's definitely senseless from EA's point of view), if it was possible, we would have seen it back in 2013. Unless…? 😂
Display features (improved customization of the library)
This is a personal impression but EA app's look is so much worse compared to Origin. Square game tiles, weird spacing between them (a lot more space vertically that horizontally), main view unclearly divided into 3 areas and overall messy look and chaotic style. You can't even hide friends list.
- Resize tiles – small, medium, large, Origin had that.
- Grouping games into collections – divide games into own categories and display which you want.
- Hide games – it seems to have disappeared.
Beyond (crazy ideas requiring a whole approach shift rather than just manpower)
- Add games from acquired studios – other companies have no problems integrating such games into their platforms (e.g. MS-Bethesda) but we still see no Dirt nor GRID (pre-Legends ofc) on Origin. Why?
- Create API – some open API for fan use to build community tools and sites and maybe news use (numbers of players playing a game in a moment of time and such, there are tons of news like this based on Steam API). User stats, games owned/played, time spent on game, origin points, achievements earned and so on. It's already been raised on AHQ. (Another really next-gen idea).
- Don't treat PC and Origin/EA app like an inferior platform by design and a liability only:
- Mind the voice of the community.
- Update the roadmap more often and reveal more features to come, state actual vision for the platform.
- Bring EA Sports and more console-only games to PC (ok, I know this is a serious business decision and I have nothing to do with it but worth mentioning still :P)
That's a brief idea how a next-generation gaming platform could look like (actually these are mostly last-generation ideas) but, EA, what can we really expect?
At current state, EA app serves no purpose but being the gate for PC gamepass, what the players also complain about.
No surprise if any of these ideas wouldn't make it to the app eventaully but if anything, I'd like to hear about an actual vision for the platform.
I'd be happy to hear from you fellow PC gamers but please be constructive and substantial, don't moan, don't swear and don't describe personal technical problems (I've seen such posts on this forum).
Most likely this post passes unnoticed but worth trying, I guess.
