I know Steam refund policy expires are 2 hrs playtime and or 2 weeks of ownership.
However, we’re in unprecedented territory here, you see the new EA app removes the ability to play these games in offline mode, something Origin allowed, and effectively removes Steam achievements for the 2 and 3rd games.
Even now on the store page the game is advertised as having Steam achievements.
This is now blatantly false advertising, but what about those of us who bought the games for those features that have now been effected removed? Is consumer law modern enough to protect us from the digital thefts for giant multinational corporations?

Do you want the truth?

Bugs with such minor features as achievements do not entitle customers to refunds, no, nor do they rise to the level of "blatantly false advertising". The achievements work fine on my end, for the record.

A quick Google search reveals that the EA app does have an offline mode now, but it doesn't work with EA Play. Whether or not it'll work with this game when purchased through Steam is something I haven't tested.

They way I look at it is that Steam is like a regular store in the real world where you buy things. You have a return period during which you can return it to the store, but after that you are dealing with the manufacturer's warranty (if any), which in this case is EA.

It seems to me the issue is with the EA App and not with Steam, because the achievements were working fine before the EA App was forced on us. I don't think EA deliberately removed the achievements. I think it's a flaw in the app itself. This would further point to looking for a resolution from EA rather than Steam.

EA control what the store page says about their product, just like when you buy something from a real world store, the manufacturer puts it's own label on the product. If the store page is advertising features that aren't working - then that's on EA. Since it was working in the past, my guess is that eventually they will get it working again in the future.

As far as being "in unprecedented territory," I am not so sure about that. When the 2K launcher was released it immediately caused my vanilla unmodified X-COM 2/WOTC game not to launch. It seems to me that it took a month or so to get the 2K launcher fixed. In fact, every new launcher that opens from Steam has had major problems for long periods of time and the EA App is no different.

Having said all of this, make no mistake that I loathe EA, their app and their business practices. I have had more than one run in with them.

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

Do you want the truth?

Bugs with such minor features as achievements do not entitle customers to refunds, no, nor do they rise to the level of "blatantly false advertising". The achievements work fine on my end, for the record.

A quick Google search reveals that the EA app does have an offline mode now, but it doesn't work with EA Play. Whether or not it'll work with this game when purchased through Steam is something I haven't tested.

Are you from Earth 2, because nothing you said is true in this planet.

Originally posted by Steve (Dawn's Hubby):

They way I look at it is that Steam is like a regular store in the real world where you buy things. You have a return period during which you can return it to the store, but after that you are dealing with the manufacturer's warranty (if any), which in this case is EA.

It seems to me the issue is with the EA App and not with Steam, because the achievements were working fine before the EA App was forced on us. I don't think EA deliberately removed the achievements. I think it's a flaw in the app itself. This would further point to looking for a resolution from EA rather than Steam.

EA control what the store page says about their product, just like when you buy something from a real world store, the manufacturer puts it's own label on the product. If the store page is advertising features that aren't working - then that's on EA. Since it was working in the past, my guess is that eventually they will get it working again in the future.

As far as being "in unprecedented territory," I am not so sure about that. When the 2K launcher was released it immediately caused my vanilla unmodified X-COM 2/WOTC game not to launch. It seems to me that it took a month or so to get the 2K launcher fixed. In fact, every new launcher that opens from Steam has had major problems for long periods of time and the EA App is no different.

Having said all of this, make no mistake that I loathe EA, their app and their business practices. I have had more than one run in with them.

I’m just saying that I think there should be laws to protect gamers. Imagine this happening in any other industry - you buy a car and two years later thanks to an update your radio stops working or your electric windows won’t operate.

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

Do you want the truth?

Bugs with such minor features as achievements do not entitle customers to refunds, no, nor do they rise to the level of "blatantly false advertising". The achievements work fine on my end, for the record.

A quick Google search reveals that the EA app does have an offline mode now, but it doesn't work with EA Play. Whether or not it'll work with this game when purchased through Steam is something I haven't tested.

Are you from Earth 2, because nothing you said is true in this planet.

I knew I should've just asked if you wanted the truth, then waited for your reply saying "No".

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Are you from Earth 2, because nothing you said is true in this planet.

I knew I should've just asked if you wanted the truth, then waited for your reply saying "No".

Please. Just take a look at the forums here, the forums over at EA, and the comments to the guides I made - you’ll see the game does not run fine, and the faults I listed do exist. These faults resulting in feature removal are exclusive to the Steam edition of the games. And I assume you, losing achievements and offline play on Steam Deck are not ‘minor’ to many but cause untold distress.

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

I knew I should've just asked if you wanted the truth, then waited for your reply saying "No".

Please. Just take a look at the forums here, the forums over at EA, and the comments to the guides I made - you’ll see the game does not run fine, and the faults I listed do exist. These faults resulting in feature removal are exclusive to the Steam edition of the games. And I assume you, losing achievements and offline play on Steam Deck are not ‘minor’ to many but cause untold distress.

I didn't say the faults didn't exist, nor that the game runs fine. Read the actual words I wrote and reply to them, without making assumptions about what you think I said.

If I didn't say something, then my opinion/statement on the matter is unknown, not whatever you imagine it to be.

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by Steve (Dawn's Hubby):

They way I look at it is that Steam is like a regular store in the real world where you buy things. You have a return period during which you can return it to the store, but after that you are dealing with the manufacturer's warranty (if any), which in this case is EA.

It seems to me the issue is with the EA App and not with Steam, because the achievements were working fine before the EA App was forced on us. I don't think EA deliberately removed the achievements. I think it's a flaw in the app itself. This would further point to looking for a resolution from EA rather than Steam.

EA control what the store page says about their product, just like when you buy something from a real world store, the manufacturer puts it's own label on the product. If the store page is advertising features that aren't working - then that's on EA. Since it was working in the past, my guess is that eventually they will get it working again in the future.

As far as being "in unprecedented territory," I am not so sure about that. When the 2K launcher was released it immediately caused my vanilla unmodified X-COM 2/WOTC game not to launch. It seems to me that it took a month or so to get the 2K launcher fixed. In fact, every new launcher that opens from Steam has had major problems for long periods of time and the EA App is no different.

Having said all of this, make no mistake that I loathe EA, their app and their business practices. I have had more than one run in with them.

I’m just saying that I think there should be laws to protect gamers. Imagine this happening in any other industry - you buy a car and two years later thanks to an update your radio stops working or your electric windows won’t operate.

As to your general assertion that there should be some minimal protection for game purchases, sure, I think we can all get behind that.

If you are asking my opinion (which seems to be the case) on the matter of whether I feel I am entitled to a full refund due to to the achievements temporarily not working, well I don't feel that way.

Now the matter of a game being advertised as working offline when it doesn't, given that it's not just a temporary problem, does pose a more interesting question. The reason is that it could make it so you can't use the product at all.

Could you direct me to where it's promised the game will work offline? I am not saying that the store page doesn't say that, but I am not seeing it when I look at it.

EDIT: I can't find on the store page where it says it's guaranteed to work on the Steam Deck either, could you please point that out to me as well? It does say playable, but that does not seem like it's really 100% compatible.

And maybe I am reading it wrong, but below you will see that it seems an internet connection is required. Since I don't play offline, I will defer to others on this matter.

I do see this though: INTERNET CONNECTION; EA ACCOUNT; STEAM ACCOUNT; ACCEPTANCE OF EA USER AGREEMENT (terms.ea.com); AND DOWNLOAD & INSTALLATION OF EA’S CLIENT SOFTWARE (origin.com/download) REQUIRED TO PLAY. EA’S PRIVACY & COOKIE POLICY APPLIES TO YOUR USE OF EA’S SERVICES. YOU MUST LINK YOUR EA AND STEAM ACCOUNTS TO PLAY; EA WILL SHARE YOUR ACCOUNT ID AND INDIVIDUAL GAME AND PLAY RECORDS WITH STEAM TO VALIDATE YOUR PURCHASE AND/OR REFUND REQUEST. ACCESS TO SOFTWARE CONTENT IS LIMITED TO ONE EA & ONE STEAM ACCOUNT & IS NON-TRANSFERABLE AFTER PURCHASE. YOU MAY NEED TO BE 13+ or 16+ TO REGISTER FOR AN EA ACCOUNT (AGE MAY VARY, SEE http://o.ea.com/ea/child-access FOR DETAILS). SOME CONTENT MAY REQUIRE GAMEPLAY TO UNLOCK. CONTENT UPDATES MAY BE DOWNLOADED AUTOMATICALLY, REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STORAGE, AND INCUR BANDWIDTH USAGE FEES. EA MAY PROVIDE CERTAIN FREE INCREMENTAL CONTENT &/OR UPDATES. EA MAY RETIRE ONLINE FEATURES AFTER 30 DAYS NOTICE POSTED ON ea.com/service-updates.

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

I knew I should've just asked if you wanted the truth, then waited for your reply saying "No".

Please. Just take a look at the forums here, the forums over at EA, and the comments to the guides I made - you’ll see the game does not run fine, and the faults I listed do exist. These faults resulting in feature removal are exclusive to the Steam edition of the games. And I assume you, losing achievements and offline play on Steam Deck are not ‘minor’ to many but cause untold distress.

Who the hell is experiencing "untold distress" at some achievements not working? For the love of god, touch some grass dude.

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

I’m just saying that I think there should be laws to protect gamers. Imagine this happening in any other industry - you buy a car and two years later thanks to an update your radio stops working or your electric windows won’t operate.

You should read up on what the automotive companies are getting up to: software updates to your vehicle that happen without your knowledge, consent or control; features of your vehicle being deaccessioned, ditto; and in one instance I read about--i think it's GM--your car will lock you out and drive itself back to the dealership if you miss too many payments.

EA's policies--and the similar ones from UbiSoft, which has deaccessioned the DLC bonus items in several of their most recent games in the Splinter Cell series--are just a harbinger of things to come.

I think it's loathsome and that the decisionmakers involved should be give the Mikado's treatment ("...something lingering, I fancy: with boiling oil...or perhaps melted lead!") but I very much doubt that we can change the direction things are going in. And even if we could, any laws such as you propose would very likely simply entrench the incumbents at the expense of new entrants and the consumer.

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Please. Just take a look at the forums here, the forums over at EA, and the comments to the guides I made - you’ll see the game does not run fine, and the faults I listed do exist. These faults resulting in feature removal are exclusive to the Steam edition of the games. And I assume you, losing achievements and offline play on Steam Deck are not ‘minor’ to many but cause untold distress.

I didn't say the faults didn't exist, nor that the game runs fine. Read the actual words I wrote and reply to them, without making assumptions about what you think I said.

If I didn't say something, then my opinion/statement on the matter is unknown, not whatever you imagine it to be.

You said the game runs fine on your end. This is impossible. The game is broken in the matters I stated for everyone.

Originally posted by Steve (Dawn's Hubby):

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

I’m just saying that I think there should be laws to protect gamers. Imagine this happening in any other industry - you buy a car and two years later thanks to an update your radio stops working or your electric windows won’t operate.

As to your general assertion that there should be some minimal protection for game purchases, sure, I think we can all get behind that.

If you are asking my opinion (which seems to be the case) on the matter of whether I feel I am entitled to a full refund due to to the achievements temporarily not working, well I don't feel that way.

Now the matter of a game being advertised as working offline when it doesn't, given that it's not just a temporary problem, does pose a more interesting question. The reason is that it could make it so you can't use the product at all.

Could you direct me to where it's promised the game will work offline? I am not saying that the store page doesn't say that, but I am not seeing it when I look at it.

EDIT: I can't find on the store page where it says it's guaranteed to work on the Steam Deck either, could you please point that out to me as well? It does say playable, but that does not seem like it's really 100% compatible.

And maybe I am reading it wrong, but below you will see that it seems an internet connection is required. Since I don't play offline, I will defer to others on this matter.

Think about it. People that bought the game before the EA app was introduced knew it worked in offline mode. This could well have been one of the reasons they pulled the trigger and bought it. Same for the Steam achievements.

Originally posted by Steve (Dawn's Hubby):

I do see this though: INTERNET CONNECTION; EA ACCOUNT; STEAM ACCOUNT; ACCEPTANCE OF EA USER AGREEMENT (terms.ea.com); AND DOWNLOAD & INSTALLATION OF EA’S CLIENT SOFTWARE (origin.com/download) REQUIRED TO PLAY. EA’S PRIVACY & COOKIE POLICY APPLIES TO YOUR USE OF EA’S SERVICES. YOU MUST LINK YOUR EA AND STEAM ACCOUNTS TO PLAY; EA WILL SHARE YOUR ACCOUNT ID AND INDIVIDUAL GAME AND PLAY RECORDS WITH STEAM TO VALIDATE YOUR PURCHASE AND/OR REFUND REQUEST. ACCESS TO SOFTWARE CONTENT IS LIMITED TO ONE EA & ONE STEAM ACCOUNT & IS NON-TRANSFERABLE AFTER PURCHASE. YOU MAY NEED TO BE 13+ or 16+ TO REGISTER FOR AN EA ACCOUNT (AGE MAY VARY, SEE http://o.ea.com/ea/child-access FOR DETAILS). SOME CONTENT MAY REQUIRE GAMEPLAY TO UNLOCK. CONTENT UPDATES MAY BE DOWNLOADED AUTOMATICALLY, REQUIRE ADDITIONAL STORAGE, AND INCUR BANDWIDTH USAGE FEES. EA MAY PROVIDE CERTAIN FREE INCREMENTAL CONTENT &/OR UPDATES. EA MAY RETIRE ONLINE FEATURES AFTER 30 DAYS NOTICE POSTED ON ea.com/service-updates.

So they covered their asses.

Originally posted by LucaBlight1983:

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Please. Just take a look at the forums here, the forums over at EA, and the comments to the guides I made - you’ll see the game does not run fine, and the faults I listed do exist. These faults resulting in feature removal are exclusive to the Steam edition of the games. And I assume you, losing achievements and offline play on Steam Deck are not ‘minor’ to many but cause untold distress.

Who the hell is experiencing "untold distress" at some achievements not working? For the love of god, touch some grass dude.

Just look at the comments here, over at the EA forums, and in my guide. There are plenty of people losing their shiz over this. I know empathy is hard for you, but please try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes for once in your life. Imagine grinding your way through the second or third game in insanity mode for dozens of hours only for the Steam achievement not to pop.

Originally posted by Citizen Cook:

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

I didn't say the faults didn't exist, nor that the game runs fine. Read the actual words I wrote and reply to them, without making assumptions about what you think I said.

If I didn't say something, then my opinion/statement on the matter is unknown, not whatever you imagine it to be.

You said the game runs fine on your end. This is impossible. The game is broken in the matters I stated for everyone.

No, I said the achievements worked on my end. It's very possible, seeing as how not everyone has the same experience. You claim someone else doesn't have empathy, but the notion of someone having a different experience from you is so alien to you that you assert it's impossible?

Originally posted by Orion Invictus:

Do you want the truth?

Bugs with such minor features as achievements do not entitle customers to refunds, no, nor do they rise to the level of "blatantly false advertising". The achievements work fine on my end, for the record.

A quick Google search reveals that the EA app does have an offline mode now, but it doesn't work with EA Play. Whether or not it'll work with this game when purchased through Steam is something I haven't tested.

Again, read the actual words I wrote. I even quoted them here for you. Then reply to them (or keep replying to words you imagined I wrote, it's your choice).