EA to announce their new digital delivery service named Origin

WSJ Reports SWTOR Exclusive To New EA Download Service

In an interview with Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello, the Wall Street Journal reports (subscription required to view) Star Wars:
The Old Republic will exclusively be a part of their new digital
delivery service named Origin. EA will announce more details about
Origin tomorrow (Friday).

The article reaffirms players will be
able to purchase SWTOR in retail stores as well as from Origin, but the
EA service will be the only internet-based one to digitally distribute
the game. As we reported in our coverage of the UBS Media and
Communications conference, EA CFO Eric Brown stated the game's PC client
will be available in both a retail packaged format and digital download
format. The Origin service is described as similar to iTunes and will
let players purchase, download and keep track of multiple EA game
purchases as well as act as a social networking platform. This
functionality is available to players even if they don't purchase the
game through Origin.