EA games on Wii U to require Origin

An updated policy document from EA confirms that you will need an Origin account to play EA games online on the Wii U.

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Nintendo has been cagey about its online plans for the Wii U, so aside from a few details about voice chat and vague statements about relying on publishers, we've been left almost entirely in the dark. A policy document from Electronic Arts is shedding a little more light on how publishers will apparently get involved: by requiring their own proprietary online accounts.

GameSpot reports that an updated EA privacy policy confirms that EA games on the Wii U will require an Origin account. You'll also have to agree to allow EA to collect your e-mail address, Mii information, friend list, country, language, and date of birth. This is similar to the online requirement for online play in EA's games on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, which are generally simply linked once to your PSN ID or Xbox Gamertag.

The document also mentions a "Nintendo Network ID," which may be the company's new name for Friend Codes. If so, we can only hope that the Origin requirement will be a one-time link like its other current-gen counterparts, to make the bizarre Friend Code requirements somewhat easier. Somewhat.

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From The Chatty
  • reply
    October 23, 2012 1:30 PM

    Steve Watts posted a new article, EA games on Wii U to require Origin.

    An updated policy document from EA confirms that you will need an Origin account to play EA games online on the Wii U.

    • reply
      October 23, 2012 1:39 PM

      "Nintendo has been cagey about its online plans for the Wii, ..."

      I think we know a pretty great deal about how the Wii online works by now. It's been 6 years.

      • reply
        October 23, 2012 1:54 PM

        That doesn't mean they haven't been cagey about their plans for it though.

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      October 23, 2012 1:57 PM

      Hinted from nearly a year ago

      http://www.shacknews.com/chatty?id=27082036#item_27082036

    • reply
      October 23, 2012 7:33 PM

      NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

    • reply
      October 23, 2012 7:53 PM

      There's no news here right? Don't the other consoles do it also? Additionally it reads like it's automatic anyway, so who really cares?

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      October 23, 2012 8:19 PM

      [deleted]

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      October 24, 2012 12:06 AM

      I'm not fond of Origin, neither do I hate it, but it sounds kinda intrusive on the Wii U. My Miis and friend list? Nowhere on PC does it ask for my facebook friends, my e-mail contacts or pictures of me...

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      October 24, 2012 12:07 AM

      lolzzzzz

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      October 24, 2012 12:11 AM

      Are people really surprised, it was clear from day one Nintendo had learnt nothing from Live and PSN

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      October 24, 2012 2:24 AM

      BWAHAHAHAHAHHA

      You don't need third-party support that bad, Nintendo.

    • reply
      October 24, 2012 5:19 AM

      So, what else is new?

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      October 24, 2012 5:34 AM

      hahaha

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      October 24, 2012 5:38 AM

      LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

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      October 24, 2012 5:46 AM

      They basically do this for many sports titles if you want to use all the features they have as it is for some time now.

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      October 24, 2012 5:53 AM

      I can't believe people are still buying EA games despite this kind of bullshit.

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        October 24, 2012 5:56 AM

        I have to buy SimCity. I don't give a shit about anything else they have out right now or in the near future.

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