EA to Launch 'Origin' Digital Distribution Service with 150 Titles
http://goo.gl/XDHnK
Posted June 2, 2011 by James Brightman
EA is taking its digital initiative to the next level.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, the publisher, which has been
steadily growing its digital revenues and hinted at its next steps on its last
quarterly call, will be launching a brand-new digital distribution platform
called "Origin" (not to be confused with the old Origin Systems label).
The Journal's report says that the service will kick off with 150 titles and
will be the only place online to purchase BioWare's upcoming MMO,
Star Wars: The Old Republic (which will still see a PC retail release).
EA's hoping the much anticipated BioWare game will fuel interest in the new
digital platform.
Origin will make use of an iTunes-like client that manages consumers' game
downloads and also offers social networking features.
EA's been big on social elements for some time now, and that will hold true
for Origin as well. Even if consumers don't purchase any games, they can use
Origin "to create profile pages that record all of their scores and other
progress on EA games and to establish Origin friend lists based on their
friend lists on Facebook and other social networks," the Journal said.
EA CEO John Riccitiello is naturally very excited about the Origin service,
already calling it a cornerstone of EA's business before it's even launched.
EA rival Activision recently announced Call of Duty: Elite, as a special
digital and social service for their biggest franchise.
This new Origin service from EA could be an interesting way to counter Elite
as we think it's likely that the PC version of Battlefield 3 would make ample
use.