Despite just about every single game of note transitioning away from Microsoft’s ill-fated Games for Windows Live service, Microsoft just doesn’t want to let the thing die. Last year, Microsoft’s Ensemble studios suggested that the service would be officially retired on 1 July this year.
“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. 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,” read a now removed post on the Age of Empires support site.
Now, just a week until that date, Microsoft has said that GFWL will continue to live as it the company reaffirms its commitment to PC gaming.
“We are continuing to support the Games for Windows Live service,” the company told Gameinformer.
“As previously announced, as part of the retirement of Microsoft Points the Xbox.com PC marketplace was closed. Although customers are unable to purchase new games from the marketplace or receive title updates, they can continue to enjoy previously purchased content by downloading them through the Games for Windows Live client as usual.
“We remain committed to investing in PC gaming in the years ahead, and look forward to sharing more in the future.”
Honestly, I think all games that still use the service should transition over to Steamworks, or just scrap the DRM entirely (Don’t support DRM, right?). Games for Windows Live was a failed attempt to give PC gaming the same sort of unified service that console gamers enjoyed with Xbox Live, and has been nearly universally loathed by just about anyone with a PC since its inception.
Last Updated: June 23, 2014
Alex Hicks
June 23, 2014 at 12:02
Partially loathed because it kept crashing and having integration issues with later OS’s (ironic considering most OS’s are Windows); and partially loathed because it has the word “Microsoft” in it.
DRM free … much better.
Admiral Chief Cyber Commando
June 23, 2014 at 12:05
That header, such skill, so amaze, WOW
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 12:17
hahahaha
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 12:05
It barely worked, I’m surprised it still exists, but it was an interesting idea though. However, let’s be honest, Valve did it a lot better in the end. Steam rules supreme!
Lord Chaos
June 23, 2014 at 12:05
I need to have GFWL open if I want to play Fallout 3 from Steam. That’s the only way it’ll launch I’ve found.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
June 23, 2014 at 12:16
Weird. My Fo3 works fine, and i don;t even have GFWL installed.
Monado
June 23, 2014 at 12:09
Bud bought Dark Souls 1 and it ran like ass with steam and GFWL running. Downloaded the cracked iso and ran like butter…GFWL sux
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 12:13
Don’t support DRM…
McBeanoO
June 23, 2014 at 12:16
True. Rather pay R800-R900 per game than having to connect to the internet for verification for 1sec.
#oldSchoolIsOld
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 12:17
Last I heard the internet wasn’t free in SA.
McBeanoO
June 23, 2014 at 18:49
R800 games aren’t free either.
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 19:51
You’re doing it wrong.
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 20:14
What? Whoever pays that amount is stupid. Trade in your old games for starters. Also Destiny is R650 on PS4.
Mark Treloar
June 23, 2014 at 13:42
What if you cant connect even for 1 second?
McBeanoO
June 23, 2014 at 18:50
Then connect for 2 seconds.
Mark Treloar
June 24, 2014 at 06:24
You clearly missed the whole Uplay down for hours thing.
Rince&exhale
June 23, 2014 at 19:54
*school. A place that isn’t free and teaches one how to spell. Say no to DRM.
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 20:14
http://d3dsacqprgcsqh.cloudfront.net/photo/aeN8A3v_460sa.gif
Ryanza
June 23, 2014 at 12:44
You took the words right out of my mouth.
FoxOneZA
June 23, 2014 at 12:14
Biggest issue was that patches used to get broken halfway during the download. The service now supports a local mode so no online required which is good and what’s also great is having your Xbox gamerscore increased whilst playing PC games.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 23, 2014 at 12:15
They’re announcing this as if it’s good news…
Kensei Seraph
June 23, 2014 at 12:21
For those who still play games that require GFWL it is good news.
Well, except for those who had found ways around it already.
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 12:16
Scrap IE next!
http://d3dsacqprgcsqh.cloudfront.net/photo/aeNn4Qb_460sa_v1.gif
Weanerdog
June 23, 2014 at 12:17
Then how would I download chrome?
FoxOneZA
June 23, 2014 at 12:19
Firefox 😉
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 12:26
In your explorer window paste the below link for every Firefox release.
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/firefox/releases/
FoxOneZA
June 23, 2014 at 12:19
Chrome is littered with privacy trackers and adware. Got tired with it like everyone did with that E36.
Kensei Seraph
June 23, 2014 at 12:20
But what will I use to download Firefox?
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 12:27
See my response to @Weanerdog:disqus 😉
Kensei Seraph
June 23, 2014 at 12:31
Weird.
Disqus isn’t display all the comments unless I refresh.
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 12:45
Yeah it does that from time to time.
*displaying
😛
Kensei Seraph
June 23, 2014 at 13:03
display*
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:14
hehe
Kensei Seraph
June 23, 2014 at 13:08
Actually you’re right.
I somehow read “isn’t” as doesn’t… I need another week-end.
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:14
I need to quit my job and go live on Mars. Do they still have tickets?
Kensei Seraph
June 23, 2014 at 13:22
I don’t think so.
Also I doubt they’d have very good internet and having your games shipped would take a LONG time.
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:27
Don’t care really, I need serious change.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 12:21
But NETSCAPE IS THE BEST!!! hehehehe!
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 12:24
hahaha
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 12:31
Netscape Navigator is the only browser you’ll ever need! Hipster Internet User!
Mark Treloar
June 23, 2014 at 13:44
This is funny because in speed tests done on all the new browsers IE performed faster and Firefox had more security issues.
Hammersteyn
June 23, 2014 at 13:51
The wheel turns for everyone it seems.
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
June 23, 2014 at 12:45
The weird thing is… that as a service, EA’s Origin decimates Games for Windows Live, but that doesn’t change the fact that Origin is a dung heap all on its own. I always saw Games for Windows as a haphazard attempt to appeal to the PC gamers. Microsoft wasn’t serious about the service, and it merely existed because well… every one was doing it.
Alien Emperor Trevor
June 23, 2014 at 12:54
Games for Windows They Live:
Praise Lord GabeN
June 23, 2014 at 13:28
Reaffirming your commitment to PC gaming means chucking GFWL in the trash, not keeping it alive like some sort of undead monstrosity. Just get some studios and make awesome PC exclusive games please (that doesn’t rely on GFWL).
Brian Murphy
June 23, 2014 at 13:58
“We remain committed to investing in PC gaming in the years ahead, and look forward to sharing more in the future.”
Meaning, no less than a few years from now, they’ll be sharing more with us.
R1ker
June 23, 2014 at 14:32
Damn – ok. Now I have arkham asylum twice – one retail which I thought would never work again and the GOTY edition i got on a steam sale. Luckily if you bought Arkham City originaly on steam they have removed the GFWL for you by replacing it with the GOTY edition – I love steam 🙂
Skyblue
June 23, 2014 at 19:16
Just had sooooo much fun with Windows Live again while installing GTA IV and Episodes from Liberty City.