For the first time since breaking up with Valve’s service in 2011, EA is bringing its games back to Steam. The company announced today that they will gradually integrate EA Access into the platform in the coming months. This will be the first paid subscription service offered on Valve’s platform. The partnership will help bring gaming communities closer and streamline access to new PC releases from EA. However, it should also help both companies maintain their hold on the market against competitors, like the ever-growing Epic Games Store.
What this means for players
EA-exclusive multiplayer titles like Apex Legends, FIFA 20, and Battlefield V will become available to Steam players in 2020. Gamers using EA’s Origin client will be able to seamlessly play with those on Steam. This does not automatically enable cross-platform play for any multiplayer title, of course. However, it does mean that playerbases will already be merged when crossplay is ultimately implemented.
This, incidentally, is the biggest benefit this partnership between Valve and EA offers to players. Some EA titles already allow you to port over your Steam friends, but this is nothing like playing on the same platform. Steam’s existing social features should be a boon in multiplayer games. You’re dropping with randoms in Apex Legends and don’t feel like searching for one another on Discord? Steam’s built-in VoIP has got your back. You need help figuring out something? Steam’s communities are very active in producing guides and answering questions.
EA Access will be available for Steam users to subscribe to at the start of spring 2020. Some of EA’s PC titles will be playable on Steam sooner, beginning on November 15 with the upcoming Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order.
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