Crysis 2 and Others Disappear from Steam, EA's Relationship With Steam Unknown [UPDATED]

EA: "Wow, people are buying games on the PC again! I wonder why that is?"

Market Researcher: "It seems that people are excited to be using this digital Steam platform, because it is easy, feature rich and secure."

EA: "Ha, why would we use somebody else's platform just because consumers like it? We're EA! The big dogs! If Apple can own every aspect of it's product, so can we!"

Market Researcher: "People really seem to love Steam though. And if you start fracturing the digital download sphere that could eliminate the convenience factor in the long term."

EA: "We're trying to compete with Activision on every front, including short-sightedness. This is an excellent opportunity."

Is it just me, or does anyone else find this kind of funny, given the situation with other EA games?

Origin is great! I love how you can only download the game for a year after purchase. Woo EA!
http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3333/1308102784038.jpg  I'm sticking to steam. Thanks.

@Jeffsekai said:

Good move on EA. People seem to forget that Steam is run by Valve, a video game company and a rival for EA. I mean, can you even buy TF2 or other Valve games anywhere else other than Steam? Nope, double standards need to go away.

Oh the irony....

As long as they don't touch the Mass Effect series I'm okay with this. I don't want to have to use an inferior digital distribution service to play ME3. 

Well then... I shall not buy Battlefield 3 or Crysis 2 if it's not on Steam. 

I'm pretty sure EA have been looking at Steam for some time and realise that they cannot mess up Origin. If it's a slick service that doesn't allow origin to be the sole launcher of origin games - ala GOG and Blizzard games can be launched from Steam for example - Then this wouldn't bother me at all.

It's like buying digital music from Play.com (uk), amazon and iTunes.

Battlefield 3 dissapearing? It hasn't been on Steam at all yet.

@GrandHarrier said:

I remember, some seven plus years ago, when Valve forced me to install a piece of shit connectivity service onto my PC that ate up CPU and actually STOPPED ME from playing my legally purchased game for several days because their authentication servers were getting hammered.  We hated them then. We love them now.  Why can't this be the same for EA? You're pissed now, but in may be great in the future.

From what i am reading, their ToS is horrible. It is along the lines of limited downloads, if your account is inactive (whatever that means, perhaps you have to keep buying games to be active, or maybe just logging in (it isn't clear to me)) for 2 years, you lose your account and all games tied to it, and they reserve the right to do anything to you at any time without reason... So yeah, if they change their ToS to be a lot more friendly, then yes, it might be great, but it is doubtful as of right now.

From Whiskey Media's own Will Smith:

"Wow, tried to log on to EA's Origin service, and they've let 5 other people sign up for accounts associated with my email address."

Not the way to instill confidence, EA.

@Jeffsekai said:

Good move on EA. People seem to forget that Steam is run by Valve, a video game company and a rival for EA. I mean, can you even buy TF2 or other Valve games anywhere else other than Steam? Nope, double standards need to go away.

Oh the irony....

Competition is good. Assuming Origin doesn't fail horribly within 6 months it could be a serious competitor... with Impulse.

Hey, that's a great move on EA's part... if they're hoping to lose a huge chunk of their sales.

@SlashDance said:

Well... I guess I'm not buying EA games on PC anymore.

This.

Oi, EA, this is a bad move, snap out of it!

Bad move by EA, can't see anyone using Origin.

They'll regret that!

What a bag of dicks.

Maybe it's because i don’ t play pc games but the idea of not playing a game because its not on steam is insane.

Plus as others have said, you can only get valve games on steam so how is this different.

This seems like a poor move on EA's behalf, as instead of driving traffic to their new Origin service, they're just alienating those who would've bought their games on the PC through Steam.

How is it any different. From buying a game from GOG

doesn't take a genius to figure out it's because of the new DD platform EA is launching (Origin isn't it?)
 
They're going to yank their products from other DD sources, probably, until they know whether or not Origin bombs.  If it does bomb, they'll return.
 
I don't see the question as to WHY this happened.  EA's only going to hurt themselves, if anyone, though.

Aww, trying to cut out the evil, money grubbing middle man. How cute.

this seems like a major misstep on EA's part, they should have gone the route of providing it on both services but giving those who buy through Origin something extra...

Alice was on steam??

I don't think it was. Been looking for that until they announced it game as a bonus with the new game.

EDIT: nevermind, I was thinking of the first game. sorry!

I'm sure Bobby Kotick is just fine with them making Battlefield exclusive to origin and letting Call of Duty have the Steam userbase all to themselves.

No way am I fooling with another DD service, especially not from EA. If it's not on Steam I'll play it on console, or play something else.

My biggest issue with Origin is that I'm buying a game directly from the publisher, yet I'm paying MORE than I would at a local store. If they really wanted to attract costumers for this thing they should've at least not taken more than their normal profit margin. One of the main advantages to download services is that it cuts costs (especially in this case) which should leave to more attractive pricing.

hmm EA why are you going to war with everyone, bf3 vs mw3, origin vs steam, star wars vs wow, stop being dicks, making me not want to buy your games.

EA have finally mastered the art of stupid decision-making.

Read this whole thread, still don't have an answer as to whether these games are available for redownload and as to whether or not users who pre-purchased games received refunds. Things like this, by the way, are why digital futures terrify me.

The correct way to handle this is to make it available on both Steam and Origin, and then give people a reason to choose the Origin version. If they can't do that, then Origin doesn't deserve to exist.

@Jeffsekai said:

Good move on EA. People seem to forget that Steam is run by Valve, a video game company and a rival for EA. I mean, can you even buy TF2 or other Valve games anywhere else other than Steam? Nope, double standards need to go away.

QFT!

I wonder if Valve might want to consider going with other publishing partners for retail. Like say, Activision? I'm sure EA would love that.

The correct way to handle this is to make it available on both Steam and Origin, and then give people a reason to choose the Origin version. If they can't do that, then Origin doesn't deserve to exist.

Doesnt EA publish valves console games? Its all abit strange

@slightconfuse: The truth is it's the same as having an "X-Box Exclusive" you are limiting yourself to more customers. Steam is a COMMUNITY that has it's own set of achievements and forums and everything. I'm invested into this community, why would I goto another one just so I could play one or maybe two games? I wouldn't. It's why so many people stick to one Console.

Steam is the only Digital Download service that offers a community, the rest are JUST storefronts and THAT is why people are mad.

Also Valve games can be purchased on Origin.

They have made a grave mistake.

Smartest move is to have that physical dlc thing part of the preorder for BF3.

And fuck... I'm pretty sure most people would more rather pirate these EA games than purchase from some 'new service'...

And is it just me or has all EA games been starting at $60 recently for pc? wtf?

@Zor said:

@GrandHarrier said:

I remember, some seven plus years ago, when Valve forced me to install a piece of shit connectivity service onto my PC that ate up CPU and actually STOPPED ME from playing my legally purchased game for several days because their authentication servers were getting hammered.  We hated them then. We love them now.  Why can't this be the same for EA? You're pissed now, but in may be great in the future.

From what i am reading, their ToS is horrible. It is along the lines of limited downloads, if your account is inactive (whatever that means, perhaps you have to keep buying games to be active, or maybe just logging in (it isn't clear to me)) for 2 years, you lose your account and all games tied to it, and they reserve the right to do anything to you at any time without reason... So yeah, if they change their ToS to be a lot more friendly, then yes, it might be great, but it is doubtful as of right now.

Haven't read it. Don't doubt that it could be terrible. So people should let them know what they dislike about it rather than faboi-i-love-steam-hissy-fit. I'm not saying I will buy any of their games yet either. I need to research. But I also remember the past and how things changed. Steam was garbage. Steam got better. Origins may be garbage. Origins could get better? Who honesty wants zero competition in anything? Would you prefer one choice of TV? One choice of console? One choice of car? Variety is a good thing. It forces innovation.

Right guess that means I won't be buying any more EA games. 

Just buy the damn disc version, then you will always have it. Internet or not... can't believe PC users are so tied to their digital purchase. I'm just buying BF3 pc version on disc. That way no one can screw me over

While competition is undoubtedly a good thing, Steam (and Valve in general) has been one of the few places where they haven't really needed it in order to stay fair and honest with consumers.

What I hate about all the other services is it's only one publisher and it just seems so forced and obnoxious. Valve understandably pushes and advertises everyones games. That makes a huge difference in perception, I wonder if individual publisher platforms can survive. While Steam is owned and operated by one development house they do an incredible job at making it open and fair to all developers and publishers. Valve gets it.

steam

great sales, download games when ever, however, for as long as ever as i want. steam take a 30% cut seems fair.

origin

costs more than a boxed version, 2 year limited download time, 5 downloads per game, ea takes all the cash,

yeah balls to you ea

They are killing battlefield 3 sales for pc..

This is just a big "FUCK YOU PC GAMERS" from EA.

Well, fuck you, EA.

@Butano said:

@Jeffsekai said:

Good move on EA. People seem to forget that Steam is run by Valve, a video game company and a rival for EA. I mean, can you even buy TF2 or other Valve games anywhere else other than Steam? Nope, double standards need to go away.

Oh the irony....

Thank you sir