EA's refund window and how to request one

EA allows refunds on most games purchased through their Origin platform (now called EA App) within 24 hours of purchase, as long as you have not downloaded or played the game. If you bought the game through Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox, or Nintendo eShop instead, you will need to follow that platform's refund process, not EA's — each one has different rules and timelines.

To request a refund directly from EA, go to help.ea.com, sign into your account, and select "Request a Refund" under the game's purchase. You will see whether the game is still within the refund window. If it is, you can submit the request immediately. EA will review it and either approve or deny it within a few business days.

The 24-hour clock starts when you complete the purchase, not when you receive a confirmation email. If you are close to the deadline, submit your request as soon as possible rather than waiting for a response to an email.

Key Takeaways

  • EA refunds games purchased through EA App within 24 hours of purchase, but only if you have not downloaded or played them.
  • Games bought on Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, or Nintendo have their own refund rules — EA cannot process those refunds for you.
  • Request your refund at help.ea.com by signing in and selecting "Request a Refund" for the specific game.
  • EA reviews refund requests within a few business days and will notify you by email whether it was approved.

What counts as "played" and why it matters

EA's refund policy treats "played" strictly. Even launching the game for a few seconds, loading into a menu, or starting a tutorial counts as playing it. Once you have done any of those things, the game is no longer refundable through EA, regardless of how little time you spent in it.

Downloaded but not launched is different — you can download a game and still get a refund as long as you have not opened it. The refund window is about purchase time, not download time, so a game you downloaded three weeks ago is still refundable if you bought it within the last 24 hours and never started it.

If you are unsure whether you launched the game, check your EA App play history. Open the app, go to your profile, and look at recent activity. If the game shows zero playtime, you are still within the refund window.

Refunds through third-party stores (Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo)

If you bought an EA game on Steam, you have 14 days from purchase and up to 2 hours of playtime to request a refund through Steam's system, not EA's. Go to your Steam library, right-click the game, select "Manage," then "Refund Options." Steam approves most refund requests within a few days.

PlayStation Store refunds are handled by Sony. You have 14 days from purchase to request one, but you must not have downloaded or played the game. Go to your purchase history, find the game, and select "Request a Refund." Sony reviews these manually and may deny refunds for games you have already started.

Xbox allows refunds within 14 days of purchase if you have not played the game or downloaded it. Request one through your Xbox account at account.microsoft.com under "Purchase History." Nintendo eShop refunds are the most restrictive — they typically only issue refunds for games with technical problems, not for change-of-mind requests. Contact Nintendo Support directly if you believe your game is defective.

What happens after you submit a refund request

After you submit your request to EA, you will receive a confirmation email. This does not mean your refund is approved — it means EA received your request and will review it. The review usually takes 3 to 5 business days, though it can take longer during high-volume periods.

EA will send you a second email with the decision. If approved, the refund will go back to your original payment method — the same card, PayPal account, or wallet you used to buy the game. Refunds typically appear within 5 to 10 business days after approval, depending on your bank or payment provider.

If your refund is denied, the email will explain why. The most common reason is that you have already played the game. If you believe the denial was a mistake, you can reply to the email and ask EA to review it again, but reversals are rare.

When EA will not refund a game

EA will deny your refund if you have downloaded and played the game, even for a few minutes. They will also deny refunds for games purchased more than 24 hours ago, regardless of whether you have opened them. Refunds for in-game purchases (cosmetics, battle passes, currency) are almost never issued — those are treated as final sales.

If you bought a game as a gift and the recipient has already redeemed it, you cannot refund it. The person who redeemed the gift code would need to request the refund themselves, and only if they meet the 24-hour, no-play requirement.

Games purchased during sales or with promotional discounts are refundable under the same rules as full-price games. The discount does not change the refund policy.

Refunds for pre-orders and early access games

Pre-orders follow the same 24-hour rule, but the clock starts when the game is released, not when you place the order. If you pre-order a game and it releases on a Tuesday, you have until Wednesday to download and play it without losing refund may be able to access.

Early access games are treated as full releases by EA, so the 24-hour window applies from the moment you purchase access. If you buy early access to a game and play it for an hour, you cannot refund it even though the game is not finished yet.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I refund a game if I played it for less than an hour?

No. EA's policy does not have a playtime threshold — any amount of play disqualifies you from a refund. Even launching the game and closing it immediately counts as playing it. If you are within 24 hours of purchase and have not opened the game at all, you can still refund it.

What if I bought the game on sale and it went on sale again the next day?

You cannot refund it to buy it again at a lower price. Once you have purchased a game, you have 24 hours to refund it for any reason, but the refund goes back to your original payment method, not as store credit. If you want the lower price, you would need to refund within 24 hours and repurchase immediately.

Do I lose my game license if my refund is approved?

Yes. Once a refund is processed, your license to play that game is removed from your account. You will no longer see it in your library, and you cannot play it even if you have downloaded it. If you want to play it again, you would need to purchase it again.

Can I refund a game if I bought it with a gift card?

Yes. The refund will go back to the payment method you used, which in this case is the gift card account or the card linked to it. The refunded amount will be available to spend on other EA games or products.

What if EA denies my refund and I think they made a mistake?

Reply to the denial email and explain your situation. EA will review your case again, but reversals are uncommon. If they deny it a second time, you can contact EA Support through help.ea.com, though the outcome is unlikely to change if you have played the game at all.