Is there a way to play It Takes Two without Origin?

Is there a way to play It Takes Two without Origin?

It’s not uncommon for gamers to question the necessity of playing games through specific platforms like Origin, especially when faced with concerns about online multiplayer capabilities, account management, and overall gaming experience. One such game that raised this question is It Takes Two, a newly released cooperative action-adventure game developed by Hazelight Studios and published by Electronic Arts (EA). While EA is known for requiring its games to be installed through the Origin platform, this raises the question of whether it’s possible to play It Takes Two without Origin.

Yes, you can play It Takes Two without Origin, but with some exceptions

In a surprising revelation, the game’s system requirements explicitly state that an internet connection is required, which might lead one to assume that Origin is, indeed, necessary. However, this is not entirely true. If you have a Steam copy of the game, you can play It Takes Two without Origin through Steam’s built-in streaming feature.

How to play It Takes Two with Steam

To play the game through Steam, simply launch the Steam client on your PC, navigate to the It Takes Two game page, click the "Play" button, and select the play mode you prefer (LAN or online). Steam’s streaming feature will allow you to play the game from your Steam library without any need for Origin.

Couch Co-op or LAN

It Takes Two also supports a Couch Co-op mode, which, as the name suggests, allows two players to play the game together on the same PC, without needing to be online. While this mode doesn’t explicitly require Origin, it will still need to be initialized through the game’s Origin menu. However, once you’ve set it up, you can simply disconnect from the internet, and the game will work just fine in offline LAN mode.

Other ways to play It Takes Two with minimal Origin involvement

Aside from the Steam and couch co-op options, players can also use origin-less methods to access It Takes Two, albeit with some limitations.

• Origin Offline – As mentioned earlier, players can set up offline play through the game’s Origin menu. This is done by clicking on the settings icon in the top-left corner of the Origin screen, selecting "Origin Preferences," and then toggling off the "Require sign-in" option. Although this method allows for single-player gameplay, it limits multiplayer capabilities.

• Local LAN – The game supports local LAN networking, which enables players to play together on the same network without the need for online multiplayer. This setup does require a router configured to support LAN gaming. Please note that this setting only works when both players are connected to the same local network.

Benefits and drawbacks of playing without Origin

While playing without Origin may seem appealing due to concerns about online connectivity, account management, and limited storage space, there are both benefits and drawbacks to consider.

Benefits:

• Offline playing: Without Origin, you won’t need to worry about staying connected to the internet or managing your account credentials.

• Storage optimization: Playing without Origin won’t take up additional disk space on your PC or cloud storage.

Drawbacks:

• Multiplayer limitations: No Origin means no online co-op or competitive multiplayer possibilities.

• Account maintenance: Without Origin, EA will not be able to monitor your account activity or maintain game updates.

In conclusion, while It Takes Two does rely on Origin for some gameplay modes, there are legitimate ways to play the game without it. Whether playing through Steam, using a couch co-op setup, or setting up local LAN gaming, players can minimize their reliance on Origin or bypass it altogether. Nevertheless, keep in mind that doing so may limit their online multiplayer capabilities and gameplay options.

Table 1: It Takes Two playing options without Origin

Conclusion