game is free on steam but cant open?

I download the game through steam while it's free, to see if I want to go ahead and purchase it. Download the dumb origin launcher. Log into EA. Then it says "Unidentified Game - Activation Required, please use your product code to activate the game blah blah blah. I obviously don't have a product key because the game was free on steam. Now I'm worried that if I DO purchase the game, the same thing will happen and I won't even be able to play it. EA, I know you're an awful company, but this is absurd. Apparently this has been a problem for a long time, as I've discovered threads from the day the game launched.

What, so I just don't get to try the game for free even though it's free on steam? Glad I downloaded this worthless origin installer.

How do I play Madden 23 on Steam for free for 3 days?   Origin is asking for a code to launch after I installed.

Yeah, EA what the heck, I'm having the same issue and have been at this for over almost an hour, PLEASE REPLY EA, I'M DYING HERE

Hey Everyone, 

Thanks for letting us know what your seeing with Madden 23, anyone running into this can you check a few things and if you keep running into the issue let us know the following?

1. Have you already linked Steam and EA Accounts?
2. Have you recently changed the accounts that were linked, or unlinked any accounts recently?
3. Can try running Steam and Origin as an admin, and ensure any anti-virus is not limiting either client. 
4. Verify the game in Steam and try to relaunch
5. Put your device in a Clean Boot then launch the game

If the above steps do not help let us know the following...

• Steam and Origin Persona?
• What Region are you in?
• When did you claim the game?
• Which OS version are you on?
• A Screenshot of the error message?

@lxostt @noahthegreatandh @Gregbleu @PoorUsername 

accounts are linked
havent had to change the linked accounts, so no
didnt work
didnt work
didnt work


steam - lost
origin - lxostt (both accounts are linked)
USA
last night right around time of posting my message
Windows 10
screenshot provided

also having the same problem. 

steam: cadinho1408

origin: paul0ricard0

I play from Brazil, so probably south america servers (são paulo).

Have other five friends of mine around Brazil having the exact same problem as well. 

also having this problem

i play from north america
orgin:Meeshi23
steam:Meeshi
i have a few friends that are having the exact same issues.

Everyone who has taken the time to download Madden 23 from Steam, A 39 Gigabyte download because there was supposed to be a free weekend trial to play the game but unfortunately, when launching Madden 23, it opens up your Origin account and of course asks for an activation code which is nowhere to be found and was not mentioned at all in the download or steam page for Madden 23.  I've looked through hundreds of comments on steam asking where is the code what is the issue of course with no response back from EA Games. The least your company could do is put a post or something on the steam page explaining the issue to the thousands of people searching the internet trying to figure out what to do and if the activation code is something they can actually find or are they just wasting their time. Put an article on your website about the issue so at least people can find out that they are wasting their time until you get the problem resolved. If your even planning to resolve it.