According to a report from the Wall Street Journal Electronic Arts will be unveiling a new digital distribution service similar to Steam at E3 this year. The PC download service will be called Origin and will feature Star Wars MMO The Old Republic as a digital exclusive.
The new service is expected to carry titles from EA’s stable of games, including Battlefield, Need for Speed and Bioware’s titles but it appears as if The Old Republic will only be offered digitally through Origin, eschewing Steam as a distribution platform. The Old Republic is currently not listed on Steam as an uncoming title and may drum up some business for EA’s new platform if it remains exclusive.
The Old Republic will still be available as a retail boxed game. More details of the Origin service are expected next week at the E3 convention.
Brett Venter
