Mon, Oct 15, 2012 | 05:08 BST

Origin error awarded dozens of free games to users

Over the weekend, Origin awarded $20 vouchers to users in certain territories who completed a survey on the digital distribution service; unfortunately for the publisher’s coffers, the multiple-use code which unlocked the voucher was rapidly distributed around the Internet, resulting in some end users grabbing a hefty slice of EA’s PC catalogue for free. The code has since been shut down, and it’s not clear whether those who utilised it will find these ethically ambiguous acquisitions removed from their Origin accounts.

Thanks, Kotaku.

6 comments

DarkPyroZXA
15/10/12, 8:03 am

i can’t believe i missed out on this D: woulda got a game or five

wilson576
15/10/12, 8:09 am

EA already made a statement regarding the case, saying that no game will be taken away:

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/60/9040620.page#25426225

freedoms_stain
15/10/12, 8:17 am

It was unfortunately US/Canada only.

The code was a bit bizarre, although billed as a $20 off coupon the actual effect was anything <$20 = free, therefore people were adding a dozen titles to one transaction and getting them all for free. Later they revised the code so it would only work for one item.

wilson576
15/10/12, 8:38 am

It wasn’t – you only had to use an URL which told the site you want to view the US content, just like on Steam.

Talkar
15/10/12, 8:52 am

^Or use a VPN…

CyberMarco
15/10/12, 10:13 am

Yeah!!! I grabbed 5 games!