EA’s Origin service adds 7 new publishers to the roster

EA’s digital download platform Origin is starting to pick up steam (get it?), adding a healthy seven more publishers to its current ranks of 14.

The biggest name in the pack is Remedy Entertainment, developer of Alan Wake who will be selling the title on Origin. Bringing up the rear are Focus Home Interactive, Iceberg Interactive, Strategy First, Macro Games, Selectsoft and Legendo Entertainment.

Origin is currently boasting an impressive registered user base of 9.3 million, and the platform has already generated 100 million dollars in revenue since its release on June 1st, 2011.

Admittedly the majority of this comes from using Origin to distribute its own AAA titles, most notably Battlefield 3 and Star Wars: The Old Republic, the latter of which has sold nearly 40 percent of all its copies through the service.

PC gamers wanting to play Battlefield 3 were forced to use the Origin service, which caused some negative feelings in the community, but the ploy has definitely helped break Origin into a market heavily dominated by Valve’s Steam service. Mass Effect 3 for PC will similarly require Origin, testing the stubbornness of even the most strong-willed of gamers.

“The momentum that we’ve achieved with Origin since launching in June has been incredible, buoyed by great games and great partners,” said David DeMartini, Senior Vice President of Origin at EA. “Our fast-growing user base demonstrates the interest from gamers across the world in fully-connected, 365-day digital game experiences. We’re committed to evolving and expanding Origin to help players get the absolute most out of their games, and we’re just getting started.”

Origin exclusivity for EA titles certainly helps to fight digital distribution end-boss Valve, but EA still has a long way to go to rival that particular juggernaut.