Origin vs Steam: game platforms compared

In addition to the market giant Steam, there is now a lot of competition with Origin and others. We compare the two game portals for you and show you the respective advantages.

Steam vs. Origin: This is what Steam offers

Steam was originally just a multiplayer platform for Valves Half-Life and has since developed into the first large download shop for PC games.

• Steam offers a gigantic library of PC games that includes almost everything from big game titles - but also an almost endless number of smaller indie titles.
• EA games are an exception because EA wanted to offer them exclusively on its own platform with the release of Origin.
• At the same time, Steam is constantly bringing more games to Linux and Macs and is working on better support here.
• Last but not least, Steam is popular due to its regular and extensive discount campaigns, which are increasingly becoming large community events.
• Last but not least, Steam is so widespread because many games use the platform as copy protection. Game codes often have to be registered on the Steam account and cannot be used again. After all, codes that were bought directly via Steam can now be returned with restrictions.
• The community functions of Steam are extremely extensive and range from simple friend lists and chats to extensive profiles, groups and direct game forums.
• Steam has also made the achievements on the PC market big, which players can display large in your profile.
• The market itself also has strong community participation through Steam Greenlight: Here indie games can be chosen by the community in the market if the concept appeals to enough people.
• Steam customer service has a rather bad reputation because it is neither quick nor guaranteed to help, and Steam is not always customer-friendly - the refunds that are now possible have had to be sued.

Origin vs. Steam: EA's own platform

With Origin, the video game publisher EA wants more of the download cake than would be possible with a third-party platform like Steam. Alternative concepts are also tried out.

• Meanwhile, Origin is no longer EA-exclusive, so there is at least a fine selection of non-EA titles such as Assassin's Creed and Witcher.
• Origin also has big discount campaigns and of course impresses above all with EA's own titles. In general, the platform cannot trump as much as Steam.
• For this Origin has the "Aufs Haus" program, in which games are regularly given away to the community. It can be anything from "Peggle" to "Dragon Age: Origins". The actions usually run quite long and merge directly into one another.
• Origin also offers Origin Access, a subscription program that lets you play an even more manageable but growing selection of games - the Vault. In addition, you can test new EA games prematurely as full versions and receive discounts.
• Origin also serves as copy protection, but EA guarantees lifelong availability for all registered games and the right of return is relatively accommodating thanks to the "game satisfaction guarantee".
• In general, community and developer functions are much less important with Origin than with Steam, but the achievements are similar here.
• EA's customer service team also looks after Origin with its own teams and is very committed to customer satisfaction.

Steam vs Origin: the conclusion

• Steam is still the top dog among the download platforms with its gigantic community and the huge selection of games.
• But if you mainly play EA titles and otherwise only a small selection of particularly large AAA game productions like Witcher 3, Origin should fully cover your gaming needs.
• As the vault grows even more, Origin Access could be a good choice for you - an idea that Steam could also tackle.
• If community features, indie games and developer-supported forums are important to you, there is hardly any way around Steam.
• Since both platforms are free, with non-exclusive games it can be worthwhile to simply look wherever you can get it at the cheapest price.