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EA reveals Origin

03.06.2011
On Friday, Electronic Arts unveiled its new digital distribution service, Origin. The new service is both a rebranding and reimagining of the EA Store and Download Manager. In a press release, the game publisher and developer revealed that www.origin.com will be a source for buying, downloading, and demoing EA's titles. Though users can still expect to see EA's content appear on Steam's digital download service, EA is clearly offering not only a complimentary service but a partially competing service with its new venture.

In addition to being able to download and play games on Origin, EA states that you'll also be able to remotely access your games even when you're away from your home machine. That said, the press release did not state whether or not you'll be required to download game content on your new machine to play the game.

Origin will have its own chat overlay, ability to add friends, and mobile aspect as well. This mobile platform will allow you to access your profile and play against friends with your iOS or Android device. EA's press release also promises that from the mobile platform you'll be able to see what your friends are playing, compare high scores, and challenge them to play. Clearly, EA sees a gap in the mobile market that GameCenter and OpenFeint aren't addressing.

Origin's beta launched today and is free to download. EA will reveal more content on the site next week at E3, including exclusive content and trailers for Mass Effect 3, FIFA 12, SSX, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Need for Speed: The Run, The Sims 3, and Battlefield 3.

This article originally appeared on GamePro.com as