Eas Origin Access The Evolution Of Free Games And Subscription Services

Electronic Arts' Origin Access program has undergone significant changes since its inception, transforming from a subscription service with a library of games to a more complex tiered system that now includes premium options. This article examines the history of EA's free games offerings, the current state of Origin Access, and promotional opportunities for consumers to access free content.

Overview of Origin Access

Origin Access is Electronic Arts' subscription service that provides gamers with access to a library of games and additional benefits. The service was first introduced in August 2014 for Xbox One under the name EA Access, with a PC version called Origin Access launching later. The basic subscription tier, known as Origin Access Basic, originally cost approximately $30 annually and included a 10% discount on all digital content through the Origin store, in addition to access to a library of free games.

The service features a collection of games referred to as "The Vault," which members can download and play as long as they maintain their subscription. EA has committed to never removing games from this vault, ensuring that once a title is added, it remains available to subscribers. This policy provides long-term value to members who can build a substantial library of games over time.

In July 2018, EA expanded its offerings with the introduction of Origin Access Premier, a higher-tier subscription option priced at $14.99 per month or $99.99 per year. This premium tier provides subscribers with unlimited access to imminent-launch games five days before their official release, in addition to all the benefits of the basic tier.

The On the House Program (Historical Free Games)

Before focusing solely on subscription services, EA operated a program called "On the House" that offered free games to all Origin users, regardless of subscription status. This program began in spring 2014 when EA gave away Dead Space, and it continued periodically until its official retirement in 2018.

The On the House program featured a variety of games across different genres and time periods. Some notable titles included Plants vs. Zombies, Dragon Age: Origins, Theme Hospital, Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, and various entries in the Battlefield and Mass Effect series. The program also occasionally offered DLC content, such as additional maps and heroes for Battlefield 4 and Battlefield Hardline.

A distinctive feature of the On the House program was that games were often repeated; for example, Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault was given away three times throughout the program's lifespan. This approach allowed multiple opportunities for users to claim free games they might have missed initially.

In April 2018, the program gave away its final game, Peggle, after which it became dormant. By July 2018, EA officially retired the On the House program, redirecting the program's former webpage to the Origin Access subscription sales page. In a statement to the press, EA confirmed that "Origin On the House will be retired and games will no longer be offered through the program."

Importantly, users who had previously downloaded games through the On the House program retained permanent access to those titles, even after the program's discontinuation. This policy ensured that consumers who had taken advantage of free offers could continue to enjoy their games indefinitely.

Current Origin Access Benefits

The current Origin Access service offers several key benefits to subscribers. The most significant is access to The Vault, a curated library of games that members can download and play at no additional cost as long as they maintain their subscription. This library includes a diverse selection of titles from EA's extensive catalog, spanning various genres and release dates.

Subscribers also receive a 10% discount on all digital purchases through the Origin store, which applies to both games and in-game content. This discount provides ongoing savings for members who regularly purchase EA products.

For gamers interested in early access, Origin Access Basic offers 10-hour trials of upcoming EA titles before their official release. These trials allow subscribers to experience new games early and determine whether they want to purchase the full version.

The premium tier, Origin Access Premier, enhances these benefits by providing unlimited access to new EA games five days before their official release. This early access applies to the full versions of games, not just time-limited trials, giving premium subscribers the opportunity to complete entire games before they're available to the general public.

Special Promotions and Free Trials

EA has periodically offered promotional opportunities for both existing and potential Origin Access subscribers. One notable promotion occurred during E3 2017, when EA announced a week-long free access period to the EA Access and Origin Access Vaults. During this event, Xbox One and PC players could select games from the vault in their entirety without payment.

For PlayStation 4 users, who historically lacked access to the full Origin Access service, EA offered alternative free trials. These trials included complete access to games such as Madden NFL 17, FIFA 17, Titanfall 2, EA Sports UFC 2, and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare. Additionally, PlayStation 4 owners who already had a copy of Star Wars Battlefront received free access to all DLC maps and heroes for the duration of the event.

Notably, Xbox One participants needed an active Xbox Live Gold subscription to take advantage of this free promotion, adding a requirement beyond just accessing the EA content.

Another significant promotion occurred in October 2019 during National Cybersecurity Awareness Month. EA offered a free month of Origin Access Basic to any user who enabled two-factor authentication, referred to as "Login Verification," on their EA account. This promotion applied to all users, including those who already had 2FA enabled and existing Origin Access Basic subscribers, who received a complimentary month without being charged in November.

Origin Access Premier subscribers were also included in this promotion, receiving a free month of their premium tier instead of the basic service. This initiative demonstrated EA's approach to using promotional offers to encourage improved account security while simultaneously growing its subscriber base.

How to Access Origin Access Freebies

For consumers interested in accessing Origin Access freebies, the process varies depending on the type of offer available. For the subscription service itself, users can sign up through the Origin client on PC or the Microsoft Store on Xbox One. After creating an account, they can choose between the monthly ($4.99) or annual ($29.99) subscription plans for Origin Access Basic, or the monthly ($14.99) or annual ($99.99) plans for Origin Access Premier.

During special promotional periods like the E3 2017 free week, users could access the vault games without a subscription by navigating to the appropriate section in the Origin client or Xbox Games Store. These limited-time events typically required no additional purchase beyond the standard platform subscription requirements (such as Xbox Live Gold for Xbox One users).

For the 2FA promotion in October 2019, users needed to enable two-factor authentication through their EA account security settings. Once enabled, the free month of Origin Access was automatically applied to their account, with access beginning on November 1st. Existing subscribers received their complimentary month as an extension of their current subscription period.

Comparison of Subscription Tiers

Origin Access offers two primary subscription tiers with distinct benefits and pricing:

Origin Access Basic: - Monthly: $4.99 - Annual: $29.99 - Benefits: Access to The Vault library, 10% discount on Origin purchases, 10-hour early trials for upcoming games

Origin Access Premier: - Monthly: $14.99 - Annual: $99.99 - Benefits: All Basic tier benefits plus unlimited access to new EA games five days before official release

The price difference between tiers reflects the value of early access to full versions of upcoming games. For gamers who primarily want to play a back catalog of EA titles, the Basic tier provides substantial value at a lower price point. For those who want to play the latest EA releases as early as possible, Premier offers a premium experience at a higher cost.

Platform Availability

Origin Access availability varies across gaming platforms. The service launched on Xbox One in 2014 and expanded to PC shortly thereafter. However, PlayStation 4 has never had an official version of Origin Access, with Sony citing that the service "does not offer the kind of value PlayStation fans have come to expect" as the reason for not supporting it.

Despite this lack of official support, PlayStation users have occasionally received alternative free content through special promotions, such as the E3 2017 free trials mentioned earlier. These offerings typically consist of time-limited access to specific games rather than a comprehensive library like what's available on Xbox and PC.

The absence of Origin Access on PlayStation represents a significant limitation in the service's reach, potentially excluding a substantial portion of the gaming market from accessing its benefits.

Conclusion

EA's approach to free games and subscription content has evolved significantly since 2014. The On the House program provided valuable free content to all Origin users before its retirement in 2018. The current Origin Access service offers a different model, requiring a subscription but providing ongoing access to a growing library of games.

For consumers interested in maximizing value, Origin Access Basic offers an extensive collection of games at an affordable price point, while Premier caters to those who want the earliest possible access to new EA releases. Special promotions, such as free weeks or incentives for enabling security features, provide additional opportunities to experience the service without commitment.

As EA continues to develop its subscription offerings, consumers should stay informed about new promotions and changes to the service structure. While the era of completely free games through On the House has ended, Origin Access continues to provide substantial value through its subscription model.

Sources

1. Sims 4 Included Free Origin Access Subscription Starting July 11th
2. Freebies No More: The Paid Lunch EA Abandons On The House Program
3. All The EA/Origin Access Free Games
4. E3 2017: EA/Origin Access Free Week Starts Now, Includes PS4 Free Trials
5. EA Free Origin Access Two-Factor
6. Play 200 Origin Store Games For Free All Next Month By Making Your EA Account More Hack-Proof
7. Origin Stops Giving Away Games On The House