EA's Games Won't Be Origin Exclusive, Might Return to Steam

Electronic Arts has confirmed that it's not trying to force its new Origin service down the throats of its fans, as its new games won't be exclusive to the service, and will be allowed to appear on other digital distribution services, even Steam, if Valve straightens out its publishing policy.

EA caused quite an uproar in the gaming community, recently, as its new Origin digital distribution service was confirmed as a mandatory requirement for people who want to play Battlefield 3, for example.

According to EA's European boss, Jens Uwe Intat, EA games exclusive to Origin isn't something the company wants, largely because it would upset the actual consumers, who are robbed of being able to choose where they get their entertainment.

"When we were talking about it's best for the consumer that competition is a good thing, for the consumer also choice is a good thing," the EA executive told Eurogamer. "Competition and choice go hand in hand. So the fact we will only distribute our own games on our own platform, I don't see that."

What's more, he also confirmed that EA is in talks with other games publishers to see their titles be available on Origin.

"We are discussing with other publishers to distribute their games," Uwe Intat said. "[Other publishers' games] May very well be [sold on Origin]. But the key is really to develop and impressive consumer experience where people are happy to play and buy games."

In regards to Valve's Steam eliminating big EA games from its catalog, including Crysis 2 or Dragon Age 2, citing violations of the service's publishing policy, Intat didn't say anything concrete, but revealed that gamers "should never say never," in regards to seeing the titles make a comeback on the service at a later time.

While EA did make some mistakes with the promotion of its Origin service, it seems that the large games publisher wants to make it successful, while not forcing it on consumers.