How do Steam/Origin keys work?

[PhantomSquat]

I am trying to weigh the options of whether to buy the game on Origin or Steam. Given the recent integration of Steam and EA via EA Play, does any know if I buy a digital copy of Mass Effect Legendary Edition on Steam, will I be able to launch it from Origin and vice versa? Or, if purchased from Steam, will it only be launchable from Steam and not be present in the my Origin library?

Thanks!

[mcsupersport]

It is my understanding that if you unlock on Steam, it is launched through Steam, which then launches Origin to start the game....

Personally, I try to use the platform that the game is ultimately going to use to buy the game, unless there is just too good of a deal elsewhere.  Basically, I use Origin for EA games, Steam for things like The Elder Scrolls, UbiSoft Connect for things like FarCry, and so on.  To me it just creates too many issues and potential conflicts to do otherwise, as I don't know how many threads I have seen where people are having issues connecting or launching a game from one platform that then uses another to launch the game.

[holger1405]

@PhantomSquat 

You should be able to launch the games from Origin or from Steam if you have the game on Steam.

If you launch from Origin, Steam is started and the game launces, if you launce from Steam, Origin is started and the game launces.

[EA_Mako]

Hey @PhantomSquat,

Just to add on to what's been mentioned here, we do have a breakdown of how various games interact with Origin/Steam here: https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/troubleshooting-ea-games-on-steam/ 

Notably in this case:

---

If I have already purchased a game on Origin, can I play it on Steam?

No — games purchased on Origin can only be played on Origin.

---

While you can manually add non-Steam games to your Steam library and they'll technically appear there, it will still launch Origin to start the game if it was purchased on Origin.

If you purchase this title on Steam you will still need to connect it to an Origin account as part of the install/launch process.

---

Do I always need Origin to play EA games in my Steam library?

You may need Origin to launch some EA games from Steam.

When you do, Steam will tell you the game needs to be launched using a third-party DRM and will show Origin software installation in the system requirements.

---

In this case the game may appear in your Origin library, but will still open Steam if you try to install or launch it from your Origin library.

Essentially Origin will be used to some extent in either case, but you should ultimately expect to be using the launcher for whichever platform the game's purchased on. 

[PhantomSquat]

Thank you I think I likely just stick with Origin in that case!