[New Report] Mass Effect Online Pass-Access Error For Multiplayer Modes

I’m having the same issue, I have the regular ME3 but I try to jump online it asks for me to either redeem or purchase online pass code but when I try to purchase it says I have to be online to access it

I'm having this same issue. It tells me that I'm not allowed to access the online features of this game. I see where others have gone through Twitter, but I don't have a Twitter account. Any other suggestions on how to fix this?

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@DvlDuk1975 Did you happen to have EA Play at any point on your EA account?

@tallventii  I understand how frustrating this must be. I used to have the exact same problem years ago, and a support agent managed to fix it on their end no problem. This is definitely something support should be able to fix, but I think the game is old enough that newer support agents may no longer know how to properly respond to this issue.

Edit: I just saw the thread by @EA_Shepard : https://answers.ea.com/t5/Other-Mass-Effect-Games/PC-Mass-Effect-3-Error-An-Online-Pass-Is-Required/m-p/12557021#M72907

Is this the one you were talking about? If support is being unhelpful, link directly to the thread. They might take it more seriously if they see an EA community manager posted about the issue.

Heyo!! Thanks so much for your reply. I did manage to get an agent that responded and gave a potential solution (added as attachment, agent name censored for their privacy). They said they "added the game from their end" onto my account and directed me to install/launch through the EA app. I uninstalled from Steam (where I have my EA Play sub), and went to install on the EA app, only for it to now be stuck continually in the dreaded endless "Preparing" loop before it stops itself. One issue ends, another begins I guess xD 

Making a new ticket with EA Help, here's hoping agent #9 is able to get this fixed up. Thanks again!!

@tallventii 

In EA app > click on the three line in the top left corner > Settings > Download 

Check if, under "Updates", "Update games automatically" and "Enable background downloads" are activated.

This didn't do anything. I reached out to EA Help, and this is what they told me:

"Please try the following troubleshooting steps in the exact format.
First please delete the EA app from your computer.
Second please try this steps clearing the cache from your system.
Open the Run box by pressing the Windows key and the R key simultaneously on your keyboard.
Enter cleanmgr.exe into the command line and press Enter.
Then choose a location where you want to proceed.
After that, click Ok.
Go to the Clean up system files option.
Select All Items and click on OK.

Third try this steps
 link to EA help site article referencing download issues, removed for HTML formatting issues
Once everything is done please check for your system update and then restart the computer.
Redownload the EA app and you are good to go."

This also didn't help. It's just stuck in preparing. I think the EA agent that "fixed" the online issue finagled the system into thinking I owned the game outright instead of the EA copy, but then again if I install it through Steam (which is connected to my EA account, where I have EA Play), the EA app says I that somebody else bought the game and I need to log in to their account to play it, and it won't let me open the game whatsoever. Kind of an endless loop, but Ouroboros, the snake devours its own tail, I'll keep trying.

P.S., I'm exclusively trying to go through the EA app for this now since the middle-man of Steam has just been causing issues for me this time around. Didn't have any trouble previously, but, y'know

I followed these steps to the letter and unfortunately it still does the Preparing loop before saying "Download error." No other EA app game install does this -- I downloaded ME: Andromeda and Mirror's Edge Catalyst without any issue, it's just ME3.