EA's Origin app, launched in 2011, aimed to rival Steam as a digital storefront for EA's PC games. The mandatory Origin requirement for *Mass Effect 3* in 2012 highlighted this ambition, but Origin's clunky user experience and frustrating logins hindered its widespread adoption. Despite this, EA persisted, ultimately replacing Origin with the similarly criticized EA app.

This transition, however, comes with significant caveats. Players who haven't migrated their accounts from Origin to the EA app risk losing access to purchased games. This is particularly concerning for those owning titles like *Titanfall* on Origin. Furthermore, the EA app only supports 64-bit operating systems, leaving 32-bit users behind. While Steam also dropped 32-bit support in early 2024, this decision raises questions about digital ownership and access to purchased games.

It's highly improbable that anyone with a recently purchased or built PC uses a 32-bit OS. Microsoft ceased selling 32-bit versions of Windows 10 in 2020, and 64-bit support has been available since Windows Vista (nearly 20 years ago). A simple RAM check can confirm your system's architecture; 32-bit systems are limited to 4GB of RAM. If you have more than 4GB and are on Windows 11, you're fine. If you're on a 32-bit system, a complete OS reinstall is necessary.

The phasing out of 32-bit support, while unsurprising in 2024, underscores the fragility of digital ownership. Losing access to a game library due to hardware changes is frustrating, a problem not exclusive to EA, as Valve's Steam also dropped 32-bit support. This situation highlights the risks associated with relying solely on digital distribution platforms.

The increasing prevalence of invasive DRM solutions, such as Denuvo, further complicates matters. These often require deep system access and impose arbitrary installation limits, regardless of legitimate purchase. This raises concerns about user control and ownership of purchased software.

A potential solution is supporting GOG (CD Projekt), which offers a DRM-free catalog. Games downloaded from GOG can be played on any compatible hardware, ensuring long-term access. While this model presents a risk of piracy, it hasn't prevented new titles, such as the upcoming *Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2*, from being released on the platform.