EA Does Something Right: Origin Offers 24-Hour Refund Option

If you thought a devil couldn't sprout wings you haven't been living long enough... or you haven't been following EA closely enough. The company that was voted as the Consumerist's Worst Company in America two times in a row is doing something very pro-consumer... they're offering 24-hour refunds for their digital games for Origin.

Stickskills caught wind of the new policy being implemented by EA, which will allow Origin users to get refunds on their games that they – for any reason whatsoever – don't like.

For those of you so incensed at the idea that EA could do something that didn't benefit their own greed and hubris, I give you an official post for their new “Great Game Guarantee” policy, check it out below.

The new Origin Great Game Guarantee works like this: You may return EA full game downloads (PC or Mac) purchased on Origin for a full refund–within 24 hours after you first launch the game, within seven days from when you purchased it, or within the first seven days after the game’s release date if you pre-ordered it (whichever of these conditions happens first).If something doesn’t work out—you aren’t riveted by the storyline, or sucked in by the action, or even just if the game doesn’t play well with your video card—we’ve got your back.Requesting a refund is quick and easy. Just visit your order history and click the “request a refund” link next to your recent purchase, answer a few quick questions, and we’ll take it from there.

That is beautiful... really beautiful.

As you know, you can get refunds for some games on Steam but only if you go through an extremely lengthy customer support feature. It can be cumbersome and sometimes annoying.

With EA opening up an easy option to return EA's own games (because would you really need to return anyone else's games?) this definitely adds an extra feature to Origin that actually one-ups Valve's Steam. Surprised? I am.

Now, this doesn't detract from some other features of Origin, such as the whole spyware thing or the platform's pricing issues. However, this does at least give Origin a competitive air – it's not just some service that's leeching off the boom of PC digital distribution like Ubisoft's Uplay service, which is effectively useful for nothing.

Electronic Arts still has a long ways to go before they're out of the dog house with most gamers, just the same as Bill Clinton had to work his arse off to get back into the good graces with Hilary, but they at least acknowledge that they need to step up their game on the pro-consumer front.

So with all that said, it's time to give props where props is due... so props to you EA. Also, the next time they decide to release a game with always-on DRM, at least gamers will be able to return it within 24 hours as opposed to being told they could get a refund and then being denied a refund... like what happened with SimCity.

Will Usher

Staff Writer at CinemaBlend.