The long-awaited re-release of the Mass Effect trilogy collection drops today, but fans on PC are concerned about the Mass Effect Legendary Edition Origin release — or more specifically, whether the Mass Effect PC collection on Steam still needs Origin installed. Does Mass Effect Legendary Edition require Origin on PC even if players buy the game on Steam, or is Origin optional?
Is Origin required with the Mass Effect Legendary Edition Steam version?
Unfortunately for anyone on PC planning to purchase Mass Effect Legendary Edition on Steam who hoped they could bypass EA’s own client, Origin is a requirement for the Mass Effect collection on PC. Anyone who buys the Mass Effect collection’s Steam version will have to install Origin and have a full EA account to play it.
While the requirement is not made completely obvious on the Legendary Edition Steam page, it does clearly state on the side that “EA on-line activation and Origin client software installation and background use required.” This means that not only is Origin required to play Mass Effect Legendary Edition even if bought and owned through Steam, but the Origin client will also run in the background while playing the game. Essentially, players will be running two clients at once.
While players can still enjoy the general advantages to owning the collection on Steam, such as the community and Trading Cards, in terms of just playing the game they might as well have just bought it on EA’s Origin. Alternatively, they could instead get Mass Effect Legendary Edition on EA Play, although it is currently only available with the more expensive EA Play Pro subscription.
However, without the support of mods the Mass Effect Legendary Edition isn’t necessarily the best way to experience the Mass Effect saga, although in a bit of good news for PC fans, their older saves will work with the new collection.
