How to use EA Origin on Linux

Electronic Arts distributes its video games through Origin, a DRM gaming platform similar to Steam. Sadly, it hasn’t ever had a Linux release, and it doesn’t appear that EA will ever put it on the platform. However, it is possible to install the Windows version on Linux with Lutris. Here’s how to do it.

Installing GPU drivers

To use Origin on your Linux PC, you will need to install GPU drivers. Sadly, games in origin require things like Vulkan. To get Vulkan working on your Linux PC, you will need to get GPU drivers set up.

This section of the guide will walk you by setting up Nvidia, Intel, and AMD GPU drivers on your Linux system. To start the installation, open up a terminal window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T on the keyboard or search for “Terminal” in the app menu.

Nvidia

To get proprietary Nvidia drivers up and running on your Linux operating system, follow these instructions.

Ubuntu

On Ubuntu, you can get the latest Nvidia drivers set up by entering the commands below in succession.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386 

sudo apt install nvidia-driver-450

sudo apt install libvulkan1 libvulkan1:i386

Arch Linux

If you’re on Arch Linux, ensure you have the “multilib” software repository enabled in your Pacman configuration file. Then, use the commands below to get Nvidia drivers up and running.

sudo pacman -Syu

sudo pacman -S nvidia-dkms nvidia-utils lib32-nvidia-utils nvidia-settings vulkan-icd-loader lib32-vulkan-icd-loader

Fedora

To get Nvidia drivers on Fedora working, you’ll need to use a combination of terminal commands as well as the Gnome Software application.

sudo dnf install fedora-workstation-repositories

sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled rpmfusion-nonfree-nvidia-driver

sudo dnf install vulkan-loader vulkan-loader.i686

After all of the commands are entered into the terminal, open up Gnome Software and do the following operation to get Nvidia drivers working.

Add-ons > Hardware Drivers > NVIDIA Linux Graphics Driver > Install

AMD/Intel

If you’re using an AMD GPU or Intel graphics, follow the instructions below that corresponds with the OS you use.

Ubuntu

On Ubuntu, drivers can be set up on your computer with the following commands.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa

sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade

sudo apt install libgl1-mesa-dri:i386

sudo apt install mesa-vulkan-drivers mesa-vulkan-drivers:i386

Arch Linux

If you’re on Arch Linux, ensure you have the “multilib” software repository enabled in your Pacman configuration file. Then, use the following commands to get everything working.

sudo pacman -Syu

AMD:

sudo pacman -S lib32-mesa vulkan-radeon lib32-vulkan-radeon vulkan-icd-loader lib32-vulkan-icd-loader

INTEL:

sudo pacman -S lib32-mesa vulkan-intel lib32-vulkan-intel vulkan-icd-loader lib32-vulkan-icd-loader

Fedora

You can get the Fedora drivers up and running with the following commands.

sudo dnf install vulkan-loader vulkan-loader.i686

Reboot when done.

Installing Lutris on Linux

Now that the GPU drivers are installed, we need to install the Lutris application on Linux. Lutris will automatically set up EA Origin as they have an installation script that takes care of everything.

Ubuntu

On Ubuntu, the Lutris app can be installed with the following commands.

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lutris-team/lutris
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lutris

Debian

If you’re on Debian Linux, you’ll be able to get Lutris working with these commands.

echo "deb http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/strycore/Debian_10/ ./" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/lutris.list
wget -q https://download.opensuse.org/repositories/home:/strycore/Debian_10/Release.key -O- | sudo apt-key add -
apt update
apt install lutris

Arch Linux

Get Lutris working on Arch Linux with the following command.

sudo pacman -S lutris

Fedora

Fedora user? Install Lutris with the command below.

sudo dnf install lutris

OpenSUSE

To get Lutris up and running on OpenSUSE, enter the command below.

sudo zypper in lutris

Installing Origin

To install Origin, head over to the Origin Lutris page. Once on the page, click on the “Install” button. When you click on “Install,” your web browser will attempt to open up Lutris. Allow it to open up the app.

Once Lutris is open, an installation window will appear. In this installation window, find “Install” and click it to start the Origin installation process.

After selecting the “Install” button, you will be asked to choose an installation directory. Leave the default configuration. Then, click on “Install” at the bottom of the page.

When you’ve chosen your Origin install location, Lutris will tell you that it must download two files. Select “Continue” to allow these files to download to your computer.

After downloading the necessary files, Lutris will begin downloading and installing Origin. Sit back and allow the installation to finish. When the installation is complete, click “Launch” to open up Origin!

Please note that you may notice an installation error the first time you install Origin. If this happens, go to Lutris, right-click on Origin, select “Stop” to close the app, and re-open it. When Origin re-launches, the error should be gone!