Date: March 2022
Overview
In early March 2022, EA titles—specifically those requiring Origin or EA App keys—were quietly removed from several digital retailers, notably the Humble Store, as well as Fanatical, Gamesplanet, and Green Man Gaming.(GamesRadar+, Gamepressure.com, toisthe.com)
What Happened
- Removal Date: EA games were pulled from the Humble Store on March 4, 2022.(GamesRadar+, Gamepur, delistedgames.com)
- Redemption Deadline: Customers who had purchased EA/Origin keys from Humble were given until March 18, 2022 at 5 p.m. PDT to redeem their keys—or else they would become invalid.(GameRevolution, GamesRadar+, Gamepur, delistedgames.com)
- Automatic Redemption: Humble attempted to auto-redeem linked Origin accounts on March 17 at 3 p.m. PDT, though users were strongly advised to redeem manually.(GamesRadar+, ResetEra, delistedgames.com)
- Exceptions: This only affected purchases made via the Humble Store. Keys obtained through Humble Bundles or Humble Choice were not affected.(GamesRadar+, ResetEra, delistedgames.com)
- Impact Beyond Humble: Reports and speculation confirmed similar delistings from Fanatical, Gamesplanet, and Green Man Gaming.(GamesRadar+, Gamepressure.com, toisthe.com)
Why It Happened
- Official Reason: Humble cited “changes in third-party promotions” as the reason for EA’s removal.(delistedgames.com, GamesRadar+)
- Speculation: Many believe this move was part of EA’s broader shift away from Origin toward its EA App and EA Play subscription model. Speculations also included potential pivot to focusing on Steam as a platform.(Gamepressure.com, toisthe.com, ResetEra)
- EA’s Statement: EA stated that it would “continue to seek opportunities to bring EA games to Humble players” through other programs.(GamesRadar+)
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Removal Date | March 4, 2022 |
| Redeem Deadline | March 18, 2022 at 5 p.m. PDT |
| Auto Redemption | March 17, 2022 at 3 p.m. PDT |
| Affected Purchases | Humble Store only, not Bundles or Choice |
| Other Stores | Fanatical, Gamesplanet, GMG also impacted |
| Official Reason | Changes in third-party promotion agreements |
| Speculation | EA shifting focus to EA App / Play or Steam |
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