Valve rival handing out free games after accessing certain data
Electronic Arts appears to be automatically supplying Origin customers with games they have already purchased on rival PC platform Steam.
The publisher has not announced the policy, but a number of purported customers have discussed the matter publicly.
One post on the Day One Patch Forums read:
“I just booted up Origin today to play BF3 and I see Dead Space 2 there. Why? I bought this game on Steam four months ago. I just beat it last week and haven't booted it up since. The purchase date in Origin states Feb 18, 2012 (today). The CD keys match.”
Another read:
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“Yep did the same to me with Dead Space and Mass Effect 2.”
The claim that “the CD keys match” would suggest EA can access and use certain Steam data to reference what games its Origin customers have purchased elsewhere.
It is unclear if or when Valve sanctioned EA access to such data. It could have been a term in its original publishing contract, or later on when EA established the Origin portal.
Develop has contacted Valve and EA for comment.
Glad I decided to pass on Origin. EA's EULA stated the software could scan your hardisk. I wonder how many developers have accidentally leaked info to EA on their unannounced titles over the service...
You sign into these games with your EA account. That's how they know you own these games. But no, implying that EA is stealing the data from Valve makes for a better story doesn't it.
Actually it's simpler than that, all of your owned games (plus playtime etc. etc.) are all on the Steam community site. Please take a look at:
http://steamcommunity.com/id/"PUT_YOUR_STEAM_ID_HERE"/games/
