EA launching competitor to Steam

[Great Rumbler]

In an interview with Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello, the Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required to view) Star Wars: The Old Republic will exclusively be a part of their new digital delivery service named Origin. EA will announce more details about Origin tomorrow (Friday).

The article reaffirms players will be able to purchase SWTOR in retail stores as well as from Origin, but the EA service will be the only internet-based one to digitally distribute the game. As we reported in our coverage of the UBS Media and Communications conference, EA CFO Eric Brown stated the game's PC client will be available in both a retail packaged format and digital download format. The Origin service is described as similar to iTunes and will let players purchase, download and keep track of multiple EA game purchases as well as act as a social networking platform. This functionality is available to players even if they don't purchase the game through Origin.

http://darthhater.com/2011/06/03/wsj-rep...d-service/

Can't really say that I have much interest in this, but they're supposedly offering exclusive content for their games so maybe it would be worth it for that. Still, I like having all my DD games on Steam, and not scattered across a dozen different services.