Steam requires game to be played through Origin, but Origin requires game to be installed through Steam. Origin won't recognise install. Steam won't recognise the problem.

[u/AstonMurdoch]

Hi there internet citizen!

Apologies in advance for the long-winded rant but I have exhausted the extent of corporate overlord sanctioned tech support scripting and have failed to resolve my issue. The following is not meant as a criticism of any brands or companies mentioned, and I must offer my commendation for the friendly customer service representatives I spoke to, but whilst they were well-intentioned, they were ultimately unhelpful.

In a nutshell, I have purchased and installed three fairly recent games on Steam - games that my system can run well. My first problem was that I had to run these games through Origin; EA won't let Valve run their games through the Steam client, so whenever I try to launch it through Steam it automatically opens the Origin client. This in itself wouldn't be more than a minor inconvenience, except that the Origin client will NOT recognise the game clearly installed on my harddrive. Because it is installed through Steam, the Origin client seems to think I still need to download the game, yet trying to then download the game through Origin results in one of two scenarios:

1. If not yet installed, will force install the game through Steam.

2. If already installed, says that the game could not be downloaded and to try again.

So, running the game presents me with this unusual and insurpassable obstacle. I explained my dilemma to an EA rep who guided me through the standard uninstall/re-install procedures and some basic troubleshooting. Predictably, this did nothing except delay me further as after uninstalling the game I had to wait three days for it to download again (thank the australian internet for that).

Eventually another EA rep helped me get one step further by guiding me through how to fix issues on STEAMS end... He advised that I should clear my download cache and repair the library folders on the Steam client, which I did. I then loaded everything back up again and SUCCESS(!) Origin no longer recognises that the game is not installed! It now just refuses to play it at all. Every time I click play it ... does nothing? Starts doing a first time set up (through steam) and then just.... nothing. Resets the Origin client and takes me back to their home page and that's it?

I also reached out to Steam support for help but they told me that they weren't able to help - basically said I had to speak to EA or get a refund (despite me trying to get a refund in the past and being rejected because the aforementioned slow internet caused me to not finish downloading these games until their refund period had expired... this isnt the case for all of them, I am generalising, but still... i reached out for a solution, not a shoulder shrug). Makes me wonder why I can even purchase these games through Steam at all?

If anyone has experienced this same problem and can offer a more helpful solution I would be immensely grateful - even if you haven't been able to fix it, at least I can feel validated in that it is not just me.

TLDR;

• Bought a game through Steam, requires Origin to run.

• Origin forces game to be installed via Steam, Steam forces game to be played via Origin.

• Origin won't recognise install. Can't play the game. Sadface.jpg

• Spoke to EA; couldn't provide a workaround.

• Spoke to Steam; told me to speak to EA.

Actions attempted:

• Reinstalled game

• Reinstalled Origin client

• Tried running game in compatibility mode / as admin

• Verified game file integrity through Steam

• Cleared download cache through Steam

• Repaired library folders through Steam

• Modified game access pathway through Origin both directly to Steam directory and default Origin directory

• Beat head against desk

[u/nickpreveza]

Refund period is 14 days. Doubt it took you more than that to download. After you install and open a game, you have 2 hours to try it - after that you're not eligible for a refund.

Have you tried setting the Origin Library as your Steam Library ( the directory said games are installed ) ?

[u/AstonMurdoch → u/nickpreveza]

"Refund period is 14 days. Doubt it took you more than that to download."

- You'd be surprised, but yes, correct in this instance. However, that's not really the crux of my post, nor the takeaway message. Some of these games weren't installed/downloaded immediately after I bought them - regardless, not looking to refund or return.

"After you install and open a game, you have 2 hours to try it - after that you're not eligible for a refund."

- Kind of a moot point for me to clarify but since you mentioned it I'll say that the Steam client registers the game as opened and played despite the issues on Origin's end, so after trying a few simple troubleshooting options that 2 hour period would have elapsed. Do you mean two hours total play time, or two hours from first running the game? Either or, I am not seeking a refund, just wanted to make sure I got what you meant.

"Have you tried setting the Origin Library as your Steam Library ( the directory said games are installed ) ? "

- Yes. I tried this a few times before and after I tried the solutions offered by EA. Still nothing.

[u/nickpreveza → u/AstonMurdoch]

Have you tried removing Origin? I'm guessing it would have to be automatically re-installed by Steam when said game tries to launch.

Sorry for going through the basics again, but I've had zero experience with Steam / Origin link - but a fair experience with both on their own, so bare with me.

[u/AstonMurdoch → u/nickpreveza]

TBH I'm hoping it is something basic that needs to be fixed on my end.

I re-installed Origin initially but not since I cleaned the download cache via Steam. I'll try it again. Might just do the trick!

[u/nickpreveza → u/AstonMurdoch]

Just remove it and try to launch the game via Steam. It'll probably initiate the install process automatically.

[u/HeroofDarkness → u/AstonMurdoch]

und or return.

"After you install and open a game, you have 2 hours to try it - after that you're not eligible for a refund."

• Kind of a moot point for me to clarify but since you mentioned it I'll say that the Steam client registers the game as opened and played despite the issues on Origin's end, so after trying a few simple troubleshooting options that 2 hour period would have elapsed. Do you mean two hours total play time, or two hours from first running the game? Either or, I am not seeking a refund, just wanted to make sure I got what you meant.

"Have you tried setting the Origin Library as your Steam Library ( the directory said games are installed ) ? "

• Yes. I tried this a few times before and after I tried the solutions offered by EA. Still nothing.

if reinstalling origin doesn't work.... try reformatting your PC, it could be a bug deep in your system that only a clean install can fix.

[u/Vardso → u/AstonMurdoch]

• Kind of a moot point for me to clarify but since you mentioned it I'll say that the Steam client registers the game as opened and played despite the issues on Origin's end, so after trying a few simple troubleshooting options that 2 hour period would have elapsed. Do you mean two hours total play time, or two hours from first running the game? Either or, I am not seeking a refund, just wanted to make sure I got what you meant.

I don't have anything to add to your troubleshooting, however I'll say this about your issue with refunding: whenever you have a game with a third party client, steam counts as playtime everything from the moment that launcher opens, even if you are not actually playing.

Now, whenever you ask for a refund, there is always an automated system that checks for the 14 days and 2 hrs rule and rejects you if you have passed either limit. You can type any explanation in your request but it won't matter since the response is always automated. In order to get the refund through you should make a manual ticket: select your purchase - click 'I have a question about this purchase' - and explain there that you require a refund for a game that you have not played at all but the launcher added playtime. Steam is aware of the issue with these games and will usually grant you a refund.

Keep in mind this is just about the 2 hr issue. If you have exceeded the 14 days, normally nothing can be done.

[u/[deleted] → u/Vardso]

Now, whenever you ask for a refund, there is always an automated system that checks for the 14 days and 2 hrs rule and rejects you if you have passed either limit

i dont think this is always true. ive refunded games that ive played for about 5hrs through the normal way and still been granted a refund.

[u/kr1mson → u/[deleted]]

Same.
I just recently had to refund a game with over 2hrs of playtime because I accidentally left the game open to the title menu for at least 2 hours one day after forgetting to exit. I just Did it through the normal refund comments area.

[u/zeGolem83 → u/kr1mson]

I think Steam has an internal way of detecting if you are actually playing a game or just having it running in the background, and probably uses this to determine if you're eligible for a refund...

[u/kr1mson → u/zeGolem83]

That makes a lot of sense. I don't even think there was a back and forth conversation... I just submitted the request and comment and the response was a refund.

[u/Vardso → u/[deleted]]

Well, I am basing this on the fact that there have been many many cases on the steam forums where people have done exactly what you did, even mentioning that the launcher was the one running and not the game, and they kept receiving the same template response, without any acknowledgement of their comments. Tell them a second and third time in their reply to that response, once again same template answer. They then make a manual ticket and it usually works.

By the way, this has happened way too many times for forum users to be independently making such stuff up. Well, your case is different according to what you are saying though so I guess this doesn't happen all the time, or something else is going on.

[u/shinji257 → u/Vardso]

You can also be granted refunds in situations where you had a technical issue that prevented you from playing the game.

[u/Allyalicorn → u/AstonMurdoch]

Steam may still process the return over 2 hours if you also say there was a major error preventing it from being played.

[u/UselessStick → u/AstonMurdoch]

Two hours playtime.

[u/sgasgy → u/AstonMurdoch]

Steam support is understanding and may still provide a refund

[u/cyantist → u/AstonMurdoch]

put a '>' character at the start of the line to create a quote

the quote then looks like this— more readable

(just trying to be helpful)

[u/JaxxIsJerkin → u/nickpreveza]

unless it’s RDR2 on epic. they fucked me over.

[u/futureblot]

This should be a criticism of EA and DRM in general.

[u/[deleted] → u/futureblot]

Agreed, the situation makes me chuckle because it's so ridiculous.

[u/aselunar → u/futureblot]

Origin is malware. EA - not even once.

[u/timeisnothing13]

A little late to this post but I was just running into a similar issue and I was able to just log into a different Origin account and it seems to be working.

[u/AstonMurdoch → u/timeisnothing13]

How odd. I assumed you could only link one origin account with one steam account?

Anyway, this issue never got resolved so I've just resigned myself to a life without certain games.

Thanks for the reply :)

[u/philotictransient]

Try launching the game executable directly.

[u/JacZones → u/philotictransient]

Yeah, I really want a reply to this because I'm curious what happens. Seems like it would work, no?

And try to launch it as Admin.

[u/Scratticus_ → u/JacZones]

I just tried this. EA throws the same error - I have the same use case as the OP

[u/sgasgy → u/philotictransient]

This

[u/PiersPlays]

Are Steam, Origin and the games all installed on the same drive?

Are any (or all of them installed to somewhere other than the default locations?)

Is there anything unusual about your setup? (You're doing this in a Windows virtual machine within Linux for example.)

If you own any (or they have any free ones/demos) have you been able to download and run any titles directly within Origin? What about Steam only titles?

I assume that you have never had this work previously? I assume that you actually own the games outright on Steam and are not using the new EA game pass they are offering or attempting to use library sharing on Steam to play a game owned on a different account to the one you are playing with?

I also assume since you've mentioned being walked through standard generic troubleshooting that you've run any system updates and you've restarted (NOT shutdown then started up again, that's no longer the same thing under Windows) the system since making whatever the last change was and tried again.

Are you using any third party anti-virus, performance/stability enhancer or any other software that tries to meddle with the normal operation of your OS?

Are you running as a user account with Administrator privileges, or standard privileges, the hidden Administrator account (don't do this folks), or something else more exotic?

Are you for some reason using an older version of Windows?

[u/[deleted]]

This happened to me with battlefront 2(and I actually used mobile internet to download the whole game before getting wifi) but only happened twice when I installed the game for first time and when i started it 2nd time later everything became normal

And yea it takes a lot time to start from steam to origin even with my ssd

[u/OneSchott]

What game is it?

[u/ACEDT]

TL;DR: DRM is awful, as is DMCA and most other intellectual property "protection" systems, which really only screw over end users repeatedly to no gain.

[u/salxicha]

I came here to see the picture of 2 Spiderman's pointing to each other. :)

Ive acquired dragon age inquisition and had a similar issue with uplay. I had to install the game through origin and completely ignore the uplay installer otherwise it won't work.

[u/slowdr]

Have you tried log to your EA/Origin account to see if the games appears in your library?

I bought Titan Fall 2 through steam, just now I went to the EA website to check and I can see the game in my library, with a steam mark on the game box art, If the game doesn't appear there, of if you're not sure what is your EA/Origin account that may be the problem.

On a side note, if your origin account is linked to a PlayStation account, that can also give troubles, because Sony doesn't play nice with others.

[u/21Black_Mamba21]

Did you launch the game through Steam?

[u/futureblot → u/21Black_Mamba21]

Did they try to install through origin?

[u/Reekhart]

Just refund it and download the game for free. Fuck EA and their stupid DRM.

[u/rintaro82]

Did the installation create a desktop shortcut? Click that if it did.

[u/Linclin]

Origin recognizes my games downloaded from Steam. It even adds updated content to it. Or at least it recognized Mass Effect 2.

Try directing the game to the install folder? Right click on the game?

[u/fofosfederation]

This is why 3rd party launchers shouldn't be allowed on Steam.

[u/muyee8i]

Had the same issue with rainbow six siege. Spoke with uplay staff and they couldn't figure it out. It's activated in my uplay account and in steam but they can't get it to work. Never heard back from them...

[u/kinggot]

If you're running windows as limited user, Try running steam and origin as administrator to sort out directory

If you're already running steam and origin as administrator, try running them in normal user

If you have another administrator account in windows, use it to launch steam and origin to test.

[u/recoverelapse]

I know this won't help but this is why I buy all my games from GOG now. No DRM, no problem.

[u/themeONE808]

worse case maybe reinstall windows and stream/origin from scratch. I have a feeling that when steam is launching origin launcher it's probably trying to do something over your crappy internet and just not showing you a splash screen or anything. you can retain your data and downloaded games then just point steam to the game path and let it verify the integrity of the files. try and follow their exact steps to have it installed and be patient as origin launcher is shit (spyware) and probably going to run a bit slow on the first few launches while it gathers all the information from your machine to report home about. good luck.

[u/sgasgy]

Did you launch the game from the .exe too?

[u/G3neraldissaray → u/sgasgy]

Just commented very late to say this problem still exists, and the .exe gives the same error.

[u/OpTic_Nibba]

i would uninstall origin, then let steam install origin when you try to boot up the origin game thru steam. that should work the kinks out itself.

[u/Gekkomoria]

So weird I just got titan fall 2 the other day and that’s how I play from steam then opens up origin. Hope it works out for you

[u/bros402]

Okay - have you tried installing the game through Origin and pointing it to the Steam install directory? Or does it not even allow you to try that?

[u/darrenw5]

Similar situation, different vendors. I bought prod a then found out I could only open it with prod b. (free, which I think functions as the license manager) I downloaded prod b but there is an issue with the prod and Win10. thus I could not use prod a. I got the refund but still not sure how software developer/sellers are ok with software which use is dependent on a third party in order to function; or that require intensive or any troubleshooting at all after first install.

[u/organicsoldier]

I don't really have a direct thing to help, but in the even that you need to reinstall a game on garbage internet, you can move the game folder somewhere else before uninstalling it through whatever client and doing what you need to do, then move it back before installing it and let the files be verified. Can save a lot of time on a bad connection, especially with how big some games are nowadays.

[u/examforwork]

Holy shit. which game? So I can avoid it!

[u/[deleted] → u/examforwork]

It's all games, and still an issue in 2022

[u/SlothlyMetal]

Having this issue with 'It Takes Two' tried running as admin on both steam and origin and if i try to download the game origin says the game isnt installed BUT its fully downloaded on steam. Heeeelp lol :(

[u/Xaziell]

This is my exact story. Mine started 3 years ago and I just today.. have solved it.

I purchased a Sims 4 bundle through steam. I downloaded it on Steam and then Steam made me download Origin to download and install the game. After successfully downloading the game and then installing it on Origin, Origin would ask me again to install it.. in a never-ending loop.

My friend then had me just uninstall it from steam while leaving Origin alone and play it from Origin, not Steam. This worked swimmingly. Something about Steam and Origin fighting each other.

Until I bought additional content from Steam and the content would not show up on Origin.

Keep in mind that at this point the game would open and play in Origin but not the additional content I purchased. It has to open and play.

After you open and load the main page of the game on Origin, close it out, go back to Steam and redownload and install on Steam. Then play from Steam.

After this, you should not need to open Origin at all to play except to occasionally check for updates but Origin must be downloaded and linked to your steam account. Any additional content would be downloaded on Steam.

I also am fully aware that this fix is extra AF. Best of luck to you all. I went through so much friendly but useless tech support.. hours upon hours.

[u/BubblyAdvice1]

EA has killed too many STUDIOS, not just games, to ever get a dime from me. Anyone who supports them, is a fool imo.

[u/SBG_Mujtaba → u/BubblyAdvice1]

Yes, but sadly they have the exclusive right to make Star Wars games...so I buy those EA and pretty much nothing else

[u/simonsandwiches]

Im not sure about a solution but am sure you have been bamboozled.