What you need to know
- EA is working on an all-new PC games launcher to replace Origin, its current controversial solution.
- The EA Desktop app is being built from the ground up to be fast, seamless, and easy, and makes the games front and center.
- There will also be PlayTime controls to monitor how much time you and your friend circle is spending in-game.
- The EA Desktop app is going into closed beta, with a first-come first-serve invitation system that users can sign-up for.
EA is clearly focused on making some gaming-centric changes, starting with a company-wide rebranding that dropped the Access and Origin names in favor of EA Play, before expanding EA Play to Steam and then even including EA Play in Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at no additional cost. Now, EA has announced that they're working on an all-new desktop application appropriately named the EA Desktop app, which has been built from the ground up to offer a much faster, better looking, and easier-to-use experience than the older, and often criticized, EA Origin software.
The EA Desktop app will include:
- A faster experience
- Less clicks to get back into games
- PlayTime controls to monitor how much time is spent in games, including friends and family
- Easier discovery for purchasing games and playing through EA Play
- New benefits for EA Play and EA Play Pro members
- Dark mode
Hopefully the EA Desktop app will deliver on all of its promises, as EA Origin gets its fair share of criticism for a reason. If you're interested in test driving the EA Desktop app, EA is asking players to join the closed beta and share their feedback on the developing program. You can sign-up for the EA Desktop Beta, and EA will give out invitations on a first-come, first-serve basis. It's not clear how many invitations will be available, so be sure to sign-up soon if you're interested.
Are you glad EA is re-doing its desktop software? What are you hoping to see? Let us know in the comments below!
