About Origin
- What is Origin?
- Origin is a cross-platform gaming service that helps you connect with friends, purchase and manage your games, and stay up to date on the latest video game news and releases. Becoming a part of the Origin community also gives you access to exclusive events and offers.
- Why should I use Origin?
- Origin lets you connect to games and accounts on Xbox LIVE, PlayStation Network, Facebook, iOS, and Android. You can also use your Origin Account to log in to EA games and sites across the web.
- What is the Origin client?
- The Origin client is a free, lightweight application used to download, install, and play games on your computer.
- Why should I use the Origin client?
- The Origin client lets you easily access and play games from almost any computer, and with its built-in cloud saving feature, your in-game progress travels with you as well. The Origin client also integrates a sophisticated social system, allowing you to chat and play games with friends.
- How do I create an Origin Account?
- Create your free Origin Account at www.origin.com/za/create, or sign up directly through the Origin client by clicking Create an account on the log-in screen.
- How can I make my account more secure?
- Your account and personal data security is of utmost importance to EA. While EA has robust security measures in place, we strongly recommend that you take steps to safeguard your Origin Account as well by creating strong passwords, and changing your password often. Your password must be 8-16 characters, and include: at least one lowercase letter, one uppercase letter, and a number. To reset your password, select Can’t access your account? under the password field at sign in.
If you cannot access your account for any reason, or if you are concerned for any reason about the security of your Origin account, please contact Origin Help for assistance. - Can I access Origin on PC, Mac, or on my mobile device?
- Yes. Origin is available on all of those platforms. Additionally, those of you on both Mac and PC can appreciate dual-platform play (Mac/PC) for select EA titles, and a unified (Mac/PC) My Games library.
Games And Downloads
- How do I download and install the Origin client?
- Installing the Origin client is just like installing any other program:
- Go to www.origin.com/za/download and click the orange Download Origin button.
- Run OriginThinSetup.exe.
- Follow the instructions to install Origin on your computer.
- How do I purchase a game?
- From the Origin client:
- Launch the Origin client and log in to your account.
- Navigate to the Store tab, then locate and click on the game you want to purchase.
- Click Add to Cart to place the item in your cart.
- Open the shopping cart menu and click Checkout.
- Follow the instructions to complete your purchase.
- Go to store.origin.com.
- Locate and click on the game you want to purchase.
- Choose your platform (PC download, PC physical, etc.) from the options listed, then click Buy Now to place the game in your cart.
- Select a Delivery Method and Language if applicable, then click Add to Cart.
- Click Check Out.
- Follow the instructions to complete your purchase.
- How do I access a game I’ve purchased?
When you purchase a digital copy of a game through Origin, Origin automatically adds the game to your My Games library. You can access your library at any time by launching the Origin client, logging in to your account, and clicking the My Games tab.
Physical game purchases will not show up in your My Games library.- How do I download a game?
- The Origin client makes it easy to download your purchased games:
- Launch the Origin client and log in to your account.
- Find the game you want to download under the My Games tab.
- Mouse over the game and click the orange Download button.
- How do I install a game?
- Once you’ve downloaded a game, you are ready to install it. Here is how:
- Launch the Origin client and log in to your account.
- Find the game you want to install under the My Games tab.
- Mouse over the game and click the orange Install button.
- Follow the instructions that appear to install and play your game.
- How do I download a game that is in beta?
- Games in beta can be downloaded and installed just like regular games. Launch the Origin client and log in to your account, then follow the instructions in this FAQ for downloading and installing games.
- How do I download a free game or demo?
- You need to add free games and demos to your My Games library before they can be downloaded. Here’s how to add a free game to your collection:
- Launch the Origin client and log in to your account.
- Click on the Store tab.
- Click on the Free Games tab.
- Find and click on a title to add it to your My Games library.
Once the free game or demo has been added to your My Games library, you can download and install it like a regular game.
Web games and streaming demos play directly in your browser, and do not require a download. - Can I download a game more than once?
You can download a game as many times as you like without limit.
Here’s how to re-download a game you have previously purchased:- Launch the Origin client and log in to your account.
- Find the game you want to re-download under the My Games tab.
- Mouse over the game and click the orange Download button.
- How do I redeem a product code?
- Full game and DLC product codes can be redeemed directly through the Origin client. Here’s how:
- Launch the Origin client and log in to your account.
- Select Redeem Product Code… from the Origin menu.
- Can a game expire if I do not play it?
- No. Once you have paid for a game, it is yours.
- Can my account be deleted for inactivity?
The term in our Service Agreement regarding account cancellation due to non-use is designed so that we can disable accounts created for inappropriate reasons, such as spamming or harassment.
Legitimate accounts will never be cancelled for inactivity.- How do I find a game I've purchased?
- When you purchase a digital copy of a game through Origin, the game is automatically added to your My Games library. You can access your library at any time by launching the Origin client, logging in to your account, and selecting the My Games tab.
You can also add games purchased outside of Origin, including physical games purchased for your PC, to your My Games library by selecting Add Game… from the Origin menu. - Can I stream my gameplay through Origin?
- Yes, but only on PC—this feature is currently unavailable on Mac. Our broadcasting technology, currently in beta, is controlled via Origin In Game. To get started:1. Press Shift F1 (or your custom hotkey) to launch Origin In Game
2. Select the Twitch.tv Video Broadcast icon at the bottom of the screen
3. Log In to your Twitch account, or create one by selecting Sign Up
4. Enter a Game Name and adjust your volume settings
5. Select Start Broadcast
When you’re ready to stop broadcasting, just start Origin In Game and select Stop Broadcast.
Please note: Some games, particularly non-Origin titles you’ve added to your library, may cause conflicts with Origin In Game and may not be able to support broadcasting. Additionally, broadcasting your game takes up bandwidth and may affect your frame rate. If your gameplay slows considerably while streaming, consider reducing the resolution of your broadcast. - What is the difference between a demo and a free trial?
- A demo is often a short, stripped down version of a game and usually you can only play through a designated section. A free trial is a time-limited version of the full game with no restrictions on how you play.
- After playing a free trial, will I have to start over if I purchase the game?
- No, if Origin’s cloud storage functionality is enabled, you can pick up right where you left off.
- After playing a free trial, will I have to re-download the entire game if I purchase the game?
- Upgrading from a free trial to a full game typically does not require any additional content to be downloaded.
- Are there limitations on how many free trials I can play?
- Free trials can only be played once per account/per machine.
Cloud Storage
- What is cloud storage?
- Our cloud storage feature houses your in-game progress file in the “cloud”—on EA’s secure global computing network—so you can pick up right where you left off from any Origin-enabled computer. It’s also a helpful backup for locally saved games.
- How do I enable cloud storage?
- Cloud saves can be enabled through the Origin client:
- Launch the Origin client and log in to your account.
- Select Application Settings… from the Origin menu.
- Scroll down to Origin Beta Participation and check the box next to “Enable cloud storage for all supported games.”
- Click Done to save your changes.
- How much can I save to the cloud?
- Origin gives you up to 100MB of storage per game.
Unreleased Games
- What is pre-ordering?
- Pre-ordering is when you purchase a game before its official release date. Pre-orders often come with exclusive incentives, such as in-game items or early access.
- What is pre-loading?
- Pre-loading is when you download a game before its official release date. Pre-loading lets you get the download and update process out of the way early, so you can play your game sooner on launch day.
- What is beta?
- Beta is a period of time before a game’s official release when certain players (usually those that have pre-ordered) are invited to try the game early.
Troubleshooting
- My game will not download or install.
- Make sure to correctly configure your security software and check that any Internet monitoring services (e.g. Net-Nanny) are turned off. If you continue to experience issues, contact Origin Help.
- I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
- From the Origin client:
- Launch the Origin client.
- Click the Can’t access your account? link under the password field.
- Enter your email or Origin ID and click Submit to begin the password reset process.
- Go to http://www.origin.com/za/account.
- Click the Forgot Your Password? link under the password field.
- Enter your email or Origin ID, complete the CAPTCHA, and click Submit to begin the password reset process.
Data Collection
- What types of data does EA collect through Origin?
In addition to data about your online feature usage and preferences, EA collects a limited amount of information about your hardware specifications, your system’s interactions with Origin, and any crashes you encounter while using Origin. This data is used to improve the performance of the Origin client, identify software bugs, and enhance your overall customer experience.
Hardware specification data includes information about your device’s CPU, graphics card, display, memory, browser, and operating system.
Crash reports transmit information about Origin crashes, including the time and approximate location of the crash, as well as information about your device. These reports help identify current crash trends and prevent future errors from occurring.
System interaction data includes basic information about your device (including MAC and IP addresses), plus details on how it interacts with Origin. Successful installs, unsuccessful game downloads, game launch data, client errors, and lost network connections are all included in this category.- Can I opt out of data collection through Origin?
- You can opt out of sharing hardware specifications and crash reports at any time. Sharing of system interaction data can be limited and made anonymous, but not completely disabled. All data sharing preferences can be controlled through your Origin Settings.
- Are any other types of data collected through Origin?
There are two types of information that are always collected through Origin.
The first type is system interaction data essential to the continued operation of Origin. This includes anonymous information about crash occurrences, game launch successes/failures, information about download sessions, and other functional details. MAC and IP addresses are collected as well, but are obfuscated or hashed to protect your anonymity.
The second type of collected data is information that you give to Origin directly. This includes Origin preferences, online feature usage (chat, cloud storage, etc.), purchase information, and account information. This type of data is used only to allow specific services to work. Origin cannot, for example, process a video game purchase without first collecting and verifying your personal information.
For more information about EA’s collection, storage, and use of consumer information, please see EA’s Privacy Policy.