Last week, we saw hints that EA titles could make a return to Steam, and today those suspicions were proven true. Electronic Arts announced that their first game to release on Steam since 2011 will be Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order. Additionally, we can expect to see more EA games coming to Valve’s digital storefront, as EA Access will arrive on Steam in spring 2020. Major publishers have pushed for separate storefronts in recent years, so two major stores coming together like this is a big deal.
Reunited and it feels so good
Origin was Steam’s first big competitor back in 2011, and it has continued to grow since then. There’s a large portion of gamers who prefer to keep Steam as their only game client, though, so this move might bring EA games to a wider audience.
EA will bring even more games to Valve’s service in the coming months. Users can expect to play The Sims 4 on it before the end of 2019. Apex Legends, FIFA 20, and Battlefield V will be playable in 2020. Also, crossplay between Origin and Steam is guaranteed. That said, you will still be required to download and install Origin to play the games.
One thing to note is that our friends over at The Verge state that any games you have purchased on Origin will not be transferred over to Steam. The two services will remain separate storefronts.
EA Access
EA Access is a subscription service that provides members with access to different benefits as well as EA’s game library. Access comes in two tiers: basic ($4.99 a month) and premier ($14.99 a month). Some of the service’s benefits include catalog-wide discounts and in-game member bonuses for tentpole franchises.
The biggest difference between the two tiers is that the premier membership allows you to play newly released titles. We saw it earlier this year with the release of Anthem, but you can also get your hands on Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order once it releases. Basic members receive a 10-hour trial alongside their 10% discount. This is the closest thing you’ll get to a demo these days, so at least you can try before you buy.
Just remember, this demo-like experience won’t be available on Steam until EA Access arrives next spring. As such, it won’t be there when Jedi: Fallen Order launches.
You can pre-order Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order on Steam (check out the requirements). It releases on November 15.
