Games for Windows LIVE Closing July 2014?
Microsoft has removed the comment, but it appears that the company's PC gaming platform may shut down next summer.
In addition to shutting down the Marketplace on Xbox.com and within the PC client, it appears that Microsoft has plans to shut down the Games for Windows LIVE platform itself. Currently, the company has not commented on the reported closing, but did provide the time of death on the Age of Empires Online support page which has since been edited to remove the closure date.
The news arrives after Warner Bros. confirmed that Batman: Arkham Origins will not use Games for Windows LIVE, but Steamworks instead for achievements and multiplayer support. There was no multiplayer in the first two installments, but they did use Games for Windows LIVE to track achievements. Capcom is also supposedly dropping Games for Windows LIVE for Ultra Street Fighter IV in favor of Steamworks after using Microsoft's platform in previous PC games like Super Street Fighter IV, Dead Rising 2, Resident Evil 5 and more.
IGN points out that Microsoft has not made any significant updates to the Games for Windows LIVE platform since Barack Obama took his position in the Oval Office back in 2008. As it stands now, only a handful of recent PC games have used the platform including Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition, Iron Brigade, Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon, and Ms. Splosion Man. The list of series that have dropped Games for Windows LIVE support include BioShock, Fallout, Red Faction and more.
According to the previous Age of Empires Online support page, Games for Windows LIVE will be discontinued on July 1, 2014. "Although it is available through Steam, Age of Empires Online requires features of the Games for Windows Live service," the company previously stated. "You can continue to enjoy all the features of Age of Empires Online as the service will remain 100% operational until July 1, 2014 when the server will shut down."
With the statement now offline and Microsoft shutting down the platform's Marketplace, there seems to be no question that the company plans to take the service offline. The company even stated in a recent FAQ that it will no longer sell Games for Windows LIVE titles published by Microsoft from any marketplace. For other titles, Microsoft directs gamers to the third-party publishers. In-game purchases and other downloadable content purchase availability will vary based on the particular game.
Polygon contacted Capcom to find out what a Games for Windows LIVE closing will mean to current PC games that support the Microsoft platform. "We do not have details to share yet," the rep said.
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ShadyHamster I've always hated GFWL, i will be glad to see it go, i just hope every game that uses it gets some kind of update or something so they are still playable.Reply -
billgatez I wounder what will happen to all the games like GTA and Bioshock 2 that use Windows live for online play?Reply
Also more evidence that shows that MS no longer cares about PC gamers. -
digiex The online model is broker, bring back the LAN model. The reason why ageless games like the old Counter Strike, Generals, Red Alert 2, old Starcraft, Warcraft have a cult following is because of LAN.Reply -
back_by_demand Shutting GFWL does not mean an end to the games you own, doomsayers, prepare for a cross platform integrated game service, one where you can buy Xbox games and play on the PC tooReply -
lpedraja2002 Pfft Microsoft was full of empty promises when they announced GFWL. Cross-platform play anyone? How many games did we get with that feature? Yeah that ONE GAME who no one remembers.Reply
I just hopes Dark Souls 2 doesn't use the damn thing and what will happen to Age of Empires Online players? Way to rekill Age of Empires AGAIN! Microsoft! Yeez... its like they hate RTS games with a passion. -
JOSHSKORN So in otherwords, they're finally (sort of) acknowledging that they royally screwed up with Windows 8 and are giving up completely on the PC market, and now are focusing on XBOX ONE and that's that?Reply -
Oh yah, GFWL, now I remember...Bioshock 2...almost got an aneurism trying to install that game through Steam and then activated it through GFWL . Made only one play-through of Bioshock 2, unlike the first Bioshock, of which I made many. MS got a really polite/tempered complaint from me at that time, plus I said I would never buy another GFWL game ever again or any future Bioshock games (too bad though, Bioshock Infinite looks like fun) . I vote with my wallet not with my keyboard.Reply
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Aoyagi 11394048 said:I wounder what will happen to all the games like GTA and Bioshock 2 that use Windows live for online play?
Also more evidence that shows that MS no longer cares about PC gamers.
I'm quite sure GTA 4 doesn't actually use GFWL for multiplayer. That's what the Communist Club is for.
Then again, I really wonder what happens to the games that use GFWL as a DRM. -
bustapr though I love that the thing called GFWL is going to die soon, I fear that something worse may come after. I just hope I dont have to go through the nightmare that is creating a new account of anything after buying my games on steam like I had to do with bioshock 2 and splinter cell(ubisofts worse drm). I like logging in to steam and not having to worry about other assholes thinking I stole my steam game -_-Reply