Once you’ve linked your accounts and installed your first EA game through Steam, installing future games gets a lot easier:
You can buy EA games on Steam the way you’d buy any other game.
If you’re playing a Steam-native game, you can’t buy DLC (downloadable content) on Origin.
You can only buy DLC both on Origin and Steam if you’re playing a game that uses Origin.
If you buy a game on Origin, you’ll need to buy all DLC for that base game on Origin.
You may need to clean up files on your computer to save disk space. We suggest you uninstall the game on Steam before installing it on Origin (or the other way around).
You might get this error if you bought the same game on both platforms, then decided to unlink your accounts. You can still play the game by clicking on the game tile in Origin, even if the disabled banner is on it.
You may need Origin to launch some EA games from Steam.
When you do, Steam will tell you the game needs to be launched using a third-party DRM and will show Origin software installation in the system requirements.
Otherwise, you can launch the game as you would any other Steam game by clicking the title and then Play.
No—games bought on Origin can only be played on Origin.
This can sometimes happen if you have both Origin and the EA app installed on your computer. If you do, make sure they aren't both running at the same time. Check Task Manager (press the Windows key and X, then choose it from the menu) for anything running in the background. Once only Origin is running, you can launch the game.
You’ll also have to launch the title from Origin once before you can launch it from your Steam Library.
This happens because changing the language in Steam doesn’t change it in Origin at the same time.
Relaunch Steam and the game you’re playing twice to see the changes.
You can tell if a game requires Origin if it says it “Incorporates 3rd-party DRM: EA on-line activation and Origin client software installation and background use required.”
For games that need Origin but were bought on Steam, you’ll need to add your friends on Origin to play with them. You won’t be able to add friends on Steam.
Native games on Steam don’t need Origin to launch, but you can only play with friends on the same platform as you. For example, if your friend is playing on Steam, you’ll need to play the game on Steam too.
Cross-play games are available for Steam and Origin, and you can play with both Steam and Origin friends at the same time!
To invite friends, you’ll need to add them in-game.
You can only send game invites between EA Accounts.