Electronic Arts: Difference between revisions
More work, needs section on NFTs eventually |
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==Consumer impact summary== | ==Consumer impact summary== | ||
* User freedom: limited; removed capability to play games on 32-bit systems via Origin, extensive abuse of DRM ([[SecuROM]], [[Denuvo]]), monopolization of game genres, orphaned content/game licenses, and more. | *User freedom: limited; removed capability to play games on 32-bit systems via Origin, extensive abuse of DRM ([[SecuROM]], [[Denuvo]]), monopolization of game genres, orphaned content/game licenses, and more. | ||
* User privacy: questionable; uses kernel-level anti-cheat in many games,<ref>{{Cite web |last=SEgopher |date=Sep 15, 2022 |title=The insanity of EA's anti-cheat system by a Kernel Dev |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/xf1cwr/the_insanity_of_eas_anticheat_system_by_a_kernel/ |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> DRM abuse, considerations for advertisements in games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=May 10, 2024 |title=EA is prototyping in-game ads even as we speak |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/10/24153809/ea-in-game-ads-redux |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref> | *User privacy: questionable; uses kernel-level anti-cheat in many games,<ref>{{Cite web |last=SEgopher |date=Sep 15, 2022 |title=The insanity of EA's anti-cheat system by a Kernel Dev |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/xf1cwr/the_insanity_of_eas_anticheat_system_by_a_kernel/ |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> DRM abuse, considerations for advertisements in games.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hollister |first=Sean |date=May 10, 2024 |title=EA is prototyping in-game ads even as we speak |url=https://www.theverge.com/2024/5/10/24153809/ea-in-game-ads-redux |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |work=The Verge}}</ref> | ||
* Business model: Game sales, [[microtransactions]], DLC, [[Non-fungible tokens|NFTs]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=Nov 3, 2021 |title=EA calls NFT and blockchain games 'the future of our industry' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-calls-nft-and-blockchain-games-the-future-of-our-industry/ |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref> | *Business model: Game sales, [[microtransactions]], DLC, [[Non-fungible tokens|NFTs]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Colp |first=Tyler |date=Nov 3, 2021 |title=EA calls NFT and blockchain games 'the future of our industry' |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/ea-calls-nft-and-blockchain-games-the-future-of-our-industry/ |access-date=Jun 1, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref> | ||
* Market competition: Extensive; [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]]/[[Xbox]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Valve]] | *Market competition: Extensive; [[Nintendo]], [[Microsoft]]/[[Xbox]], [[Ubisoft]], [[Valve]] | ||
Though EA did something right by [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|open-sourcing older Command & Conquer games]] in 2025, the company continues to have a history of putting profits ahead of player experience continues to dismantle consumer trust. | Though EA did something right by [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|open-sourcing older Command & Conquer games]] in 2025, the company continues to have a history of putting profits ahead of player experience continues to dismantle consumer trust. | ||
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===Switching to in-house kernel-level anti-cheat after purchase=== | ===Switching to in-house kernel-level anti-cheat after purchase=== | ||
{{Main|EA moves to in-house kernel-level anti-cheat on PC after purchase}} | |||
EA has implemented a change to the anti-cheat of several games after release including: EA SPORTS WRC, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, Battlefield 2042, Battlefield V, and Battlefield 1. This change breaks the ability to play the game, even after purchase, on older [[Windows]] versions and alternative operating systems to Windows including Linux and SteamOS. EA refuses to give you a refund for these games. | EA has implemented a change to the anti-cheat of several games after release including: EA SPORTS WRC, Plants vs. Zombies Garden Warfare 2, Battlefield 2042, Battlefield V, and Battlefield 1. This change breaks the ability to play the game, even after purchase, on older [[Windows]] versions and alternative operating systems to Windows including Linux and SteamOS. EA refuses to give you a refund for these games. | ||
===Shutting down Anthem=== | |||
{{Main|Anthem}} | |||
On July 3, 2025, EA announced that Anthem's servers would be shut down on January 12, 2026.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-03 |title=Anthem Game Update |url=https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704091220/https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update |archive-date=2025-07-04 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=EA}}</ref> As the title is exclusively online-only, the closure of the servers renders the game unplayable, even offline.<ref name=":02" /> | |||
==Positive incidents== | ==Positive incidents== | ||
===Release of Command & Conquer source code (2025)=== | ===Release of Command & Conquer source code (2025)=== | ||
{{ | {{Main|EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles}} | ||
In February 2025, EA worked with C&C community members to open source four Command & Conquer games under the GPL license, in a move widely celebrated by the gaming community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Feb 2025 |title=EA Open Sources Command and Conquer: Red Alert, along with other games |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43197131 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=HackerNews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Unbelievable! EA Open Sources 4 Command & Conquer Games |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/ea-open-source-cc-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=It's FOSS News}}</ref> Despite this good measure, the only content available to consumers via these repositories is exclusively the code, and the only way to compile the source code continues to require ownership of a copy of Command & Conquer, meaning once users cannot purchase any Command & Conquer game, this source code repository is effectively useless. | In February 2025, EA worked with C&C community members to open source four Command & Conquer games under the GPL license, in a move widely celebrated by the gaming community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Feb 2025 |title=EA Open Sources Command and Conquer: Red Alert, along with other games |url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43197131 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=HackerNews}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rudra |first=Sourav |date=28 Feb 2025 |title=Unbelievable! EA Open Sources 4 Command & Conquer Games |url=https://news.itsfoss.com/ea-open-source-cc-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=It's FOSS News}}</ref> Despite this good measure, the only content available to consumers via these repositories is exclusively the code, and the only way to compile the source code continues to require ownership of a copy of Command & Conquer, meaning once users cannot purchase any Command & Conquer game, this source code repository is effectively useless. | ||