You have the perfect gaming setup already so now you are looking for the perfect game launcher.
Among the many different gaming platforms available nowadays, the only platforms gamers, like myself, seem to talk about are Steam and Origin.
There is no wrong choice here. You will have plenty of fun with either of these platforms but if you keep reading, you will definitely find out which one is more suitable for you.
So, what are you waiting for? Grab your cup of coffee and read this article from first to last to find out which client you should download today.
Is Origin Better Than Steam?
No, Origin is not better than Steam. It’s actually the other way around and the reason can be summarized in four words: Steam offers better services. However, if you are a big fan of EA games, then Origin would be a good option for you.
One of the easiest ways to identify which client is more stable or better is to simply look at their release dates. Steam was released on September 12th of 2003 and Origin was released an entire 8 years later.
It’s only natural that applications improve over time, and Steam had many years to improve their client and add or remove features that users want. Origin might be a good option someday in the future once they work on improving their application.
Here are the differences between Origin and Steam:
1. Game Availability
Both Origin and Steam have plenty of games to keep you occupied. However, I can say with full confidence that Steam has the biggest library of games compared to any other game launcher, including Origin.
Steam offers more than thirty thousand game titles, and it has games for every genre you can think of.
Origin focuses more on the games that are developed by EA, like FIFA and Battlefield, and that’s why it offers some exclusive games that Steam doesn’t.
Another reason why Steam offers so much more games is that most of its games are from third-party publishers while Origin offers very few games from third-party publishers.
2. Online Community
There’s an online community for everything nowadays and Steam and Origin both do have a pretty big consumer base with a very active online community.
However, as I mentioned earlier, Steam has a significant number of more users when compared to Origin.
This means that if you have a question or an urgent issue with Steam or Origin, it is more likely that the Steam community has already answered the question or posted the fix.
Check out the easiest way to fix Origin won’t go online error.
3. Sales On Games
If you are the type of person who loves purchasing items when they are being offered at reasonable deals, there’s no doubt that you should go with Steam.
Steam goes crazy with sales sometimes, particularly in the summer and winter, by offering 50 to 90 percent discounts. You will also find many games for just a dollar and some big titles without paying a dime.
In addition to that, Steam always has a sale on games every day so you can get your favorite games without emptying your wallet. They are also well known for organizing giveaways so there are many options to save your money.
Origin also offers sales throughout the year, but they are mostly on EA games and they don’t have a specific time of year when users can be prepared for a sale, like Steam.
Follow our guide on how to Stream Origin Games Over Steam
Steam is a completely free service to every user out there and there is no way you can get an extended subscription for it. They make their money when you purchase a game or make transactions using their client.
On the other hand, Origin offers a premium subscription in the form of Origin Access and this will basically allow you to download whatever game you want, no matter the price, for free.
Well, technically, it’s not exactly free. You have to pay 4.99 dollars every month for this subscription.
5. Client
Both Origin and Steam have very good and reliable clients for major operating systems like Windows and Mac.
However, Steam is the clear winner in terms of client availability because it also offers clients for Linux, Android, and iOS.
This won’t be a major deal-breaker for several gamers because neither of these operating systems is suitable for gaming. In fact, the Android and iOS clients will only allow you to purchase games and keep up with the Steam community.
However, Origin client has the advantage when it comes to being light. The client offered by Steam comes with more features and games, so it is more resource-intensive and larger in size.
As a result, if you plan on using Steam, you need to invest in a PC that at least has average specs, if not better. In my opinion, this shouldn’t be a problem since you should already have a decent PC if you are serious about gaming.
On the plus side, Steam made up for that small flaw by offering a client that not only offers more features but is also more user-friendly.
Lastly, Steam servers are reportedly much faster than Origin’s and I can confirm this by observing the download speeds for the same game on both clients.
FAQ
Do I need Origin if I have Steam?
No, you don’t need Origin if you have Steam. However, no one’s stopping you from using Origin if you enjoy playing the exclusive games from EA on Origin from time to time. You can choose to run both if you want.
Can I transfer my Origin games to Steam?
No, you cannot transfer your Origin games to Steam. If the game was purchased with Origin, you can only use it on the Origin client. If you want it on Steam, you will have to purchase it again using Steam or add it as a non-steam game to the Steam client.
Should I buy Sims 4 Steam or Origin?
You can buy Sims 4 on both Steam or Origin depending on which client you are more comfortable with using. There’s really no difference in purchasing a game from either client.
Can I play EA games without Origin?
Yes, you can play EA games without Origin. EA games were unavailable on Steam for a while but as of October 2019, they are officially back on Steam. However, there are still some EA games that are exclusive to Origin.
Where are Origin games installed?
Your Origin games are installed on an installation folder on your hard drive. The default installation path for your Origin games is C:\Program Files(x86)\Origin Games. You can change this path to your desired location through Origin settings.
Follow our guide to Fix Origin Your Request Could Not Be Processed
Final Thoughts
Origin is perfect if you are new to the gaming world and you have a laptop that has specifications that are below average. You should also use Origin if you love playing EA games.
However, if you like having a huge library of games to choose from, like me, you should go for Steam. You won’t be making a wrong choice either way.
If you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new, do visit our website whenever you need information or help.
