Games for Windows – Live or GFWL (trademarked as Games for Windows – LIVE) was an online gaming service used by Games for Windows–branded PC titles that enables WindowsPCs to connect to Microsoft’s Live service. Users, each with a unique Gamertag (the Microsoft username service for gaming that began on Xbox Live), are able to play online, keep track of their friends’ status, send and receive messages, gain and keep track of Achievements and associated Gamerscore, voice chat across platforms (removed in 2010), and more. Some games allow for cross-platform play, such as Shadowrun, putting Windows players against Xbox 360players.
The service is open to third-party developers, but they must be able to meet certain Technical Certification Requirements (TCRs), which include (but are not limited to): game ratings, total number of Gamerscore points, content, game profiles, and Live connectivity. Games for Windows – Live games must also meet standard Games for Windows (games that do not have Live support) TCRs. The same developer support infrastructure is available as with the Xbox 360. Assistance to developers is provided through the Microsoft XNA Developer Connection. The successor to Games for Windows is now Microsoft Store for PC which allows players on the computer to use Xbox Live functions and play various Xbox games without having a console.
History[]
The first Games for Windows – Live-enabled title was Shadowrun, which launched simultaneously on Windows Vista and Xbox 360 on May 29, 2007, and was also the first LIVE title to offer cross-platform play between Windows Vista and Xbox 360 on the Live service.
Another game that was released is Halo 2 for Windows Vista, which was launched to the public on May 31, 2007. The game supports all the standard Live features (such as achievements, voice chat, messages, etc.), but does not offer cross-platform play with Xbox players.
Sega, Eidos, and THQ have signed on to include Games for Windows – Live in their upcoming games. Epic Games also included this service in their game engine Unreal Engine 3. Universe at War: Earth Assault from Sega and Lost Planet: Colonies Edition from Capcom include cross-platform play between Xbox 360 and Windows over Live.
On July 22, 2008, Microsoft’s Chris Satchell, CTO of the company’s Entertainment devices division, announced that Games For Windows – Live would be free to developers. Previously, select publishers and developers used the system and had to pay for it. Also, all Games For Windows – Live features were now free for gamers, such as matchmaking and cross-platform play. Satchell added that the move was a «way to improve Windows gaming».
As well as free multiplayer, Microsoft reduced the technical requirements for those developers looking to utilize Live such as removing playlist servers, and allowing studios to use the Microsoft matchmaking servers instead. The new Marketplace was made available for Games for Windows – Live on December 5, 2008. Microsoft also released the newly designed User Interface, on November 12, 2008.
On January 7, 2010, it was announced at CES that the upcoming Xbox Game Room would be made available on both the Xbox Live and Games for Windows Live services. However, games purchased with 240 Microsoft Points will only be playable on one of the platforms; either Xbox 360 or PC. A dual-platform license will cost 400 Microsoft Points. As the Game Room will be available to Gold and Silver Xbox members, the service will be free to use on Games for Windows Live. Arcade games will feature achievements and online leaderboards.
Microsoft revealed on May 21, 2010 that Fable III would be released on Windows as well as the Xbox 360, and would feature Games for Windows – Live. The downloadable version will be a Games on Demand exclusive.
On August 17, 2010, Microsoft unveiled two new games at Gamescom 2010 that will use Games for Windows – LIVE, Age of Empires Onlineand Microsoft Flight. Age of Empires will be free-to-play through LIVE. On September 24, 2010, Microsoft Game Studios‘ general manager Dave Luehmann said in an interview the studio’s renewed focus will start with three big titles—Fable III, Age of Empires Online and Microsoft Flight—which will use Games for Windows – LIVE. Luehmann reassured PC gamers that more big titles were on the way, however the studio plans to test new ideas.
On September 13, 2011, Major Nelson confirmed what Microsoft is bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8, being called Xbox Live on Windows.
On March 26, 2012, Microsoft Studios announced the arrival of Age of Empires Online on Steam. Age of Empires Online was released on Steam on March 27, 2012. On April 3, 2012, Microsoft Flight was released on Steam. Microsoft Studios release Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet on April 17, 2012 and Toy Soldiers on April 27, 2012 in Games for Windows – LIVE. On April 17, 2012, Microsoft said that they continued to support the Games for Windows platform, to the rumors of the discontinuation of Games for Windows – LIVE in favor of Xbox Live on Windows. On April 13, 2012, Microsoft Studios release Iron Brigade, and is the first Microsoft Studios title available only on Steam.
On August 31, 2012, Gotham City Impostors became free-to-play and dropped Games for Windows – LIVE in favor of Steamworks. On October 10, 2012, the Steam version of Toy Soldiers was updated to fully use Steamworks, although it still gives the option to use the original service. On October 16, 2012, Mark of the Ninja was the first title of Microsoft Studios to use Steamworks exclusively, instead of GfWL. On October 25, 2012, Deadlight became the second title of Microsoft Studios to use Steamworks exclusively. On November 28, 2012, Ace Combat: Assault Horizon became the first (and only) retail Games for Windows – LIVE title announced for 2013.
On January 31, 2013, Microsoft Studios said that they «have nothing to share on the future of Games for Windows Live». On March 7, 2013, Microsoft Studios announced Age of Empires II: HD Edition + The Conquerors would be released exclusively on Steam. On April 3, 2013, Ms. Splosion Man was released by Microsoft Studios on both platforms. On August 9, 2013, Microsoft announced the removal of one of the most criticized limitations for the LIVE platform, the inability of simultaneously logging in on both the Xbox One and Games for Windows LIVE.
On August 16, 2013, Microsoft announced that the Xbox.com PC Marketplace was going to be closed on August 22 alongside the Xbox 360 update that retired Microsoft Points in favour of local currency purchases. The service would otherwise continue to operate normally.
In August 2013, a since-deleted support article for Age of Empires Online announced that the Games for Windows – Live service would be discontinued on July 1, 2014. Microsoft issued a statement in June 2014 denying they were closing Games for Windows Live, stating «We remain committed to investing in PC gaming in the years ahead, and look forward to sharing more in the future». After the initial August 2013 support article, some game publishers announced that they would be removing GFWL from their games, but in most cases this did not happen until several years later or at all. Microsoft closed Games for Windows LIVE on 15 August 2013: «As part of the upcoming Xbox 360 system update, Microsoft Points will be retired, and the Xbox.com PC marketplace will be closed as of August 22, 2013. We encourage you to spend your Microsoft Points balance prior to this change». The download of the client software is still available, and the servers are still online.
Games for Windows Live has since been practically replaced with the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 & 11 (and supported now-discontinued Windows Phone).
The marketplace was rendered dysfunctional in 2018 despite existing purchases being supposed to still be available to download.
In 2020, Microsoft removed the Games for Windows Live download page and the Windows Live Sign-in Assistant was removed from their servers and therefore the vanilla Games for Windows – LIVE installer fails to install.
Features[]
- Achievements earned during gameplay.
- Gamerscores amounting the total of a user’s achievement points.
- Reputation voted by other users preferring or avoiding the user. Rep defaults to five stars over time after the user has been preferred by at least one other user.
- Friends list displaying the user’s chosen friends of up to 100.
- Recent players list displaying the last 50 players the user has met.
- Complaint system allowing users to file reports of other users that have broken Live Terms of Use.
- Games for Windows Marketplace offered Games on Demand, downloadable content, music and movies until its closure in 2013.
- Public and private chat via Voice and text. The voice feature worked between Xbox 360 and Windows until 2010, when Microsoft updated the voice codec for Xbox Live. Games, such as Shadowrun, now only support the text portion of this feature.
- Multiplayer gameplay via Games for Windows – Live.
- Matchmaking depending on the user’s cumulative gamerscore, rep, location, language and gamer zone.
- Family settings controlling younger users’ exposure to other users.
- Game Room virtual arcade space offering a library of classic retro games.
- Cross-platform gameplay with Xbox 360
Материал из РУВИКИ — свободной энциклопедии
| Games for Windows LIVE | |
|---|---|
| Тип | Онлайн-сервис, цифровая дистрибуция, DRM, социальная сеть |
| Разработчик | Microsoft |
| Операционные системы | Windows XP / Windows Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 / Windows 10 |
| Языки интерфейса | Русский, Английский |
| Первый выпуск |
29 мая 2007[1] 15 ноября 2010 (Обновление) |
| Аппаратная платформа | Microsoft Windows |
| Последняя версия | 3.5.95.0 (20 февраля 2014) |
| Лицензия | Freeware |
| Сайт | gamesforwindows.com |
Games for Windows — LIVE — бесплатный игровой онлайн-сервис для Windows, как и Xbox Live, ориентированный на сетевую игру. Он позволял пользователям ПК соединяться со всеми устройствами, поддерживающими Windows Live, в том числе Windows Mobile и Zune. Пользователь при регистрации получал уникальный тег игрока Gamertag, который совместим с Xbox Live, и дает возможность играть онлайн, следить за статусами друзей, принимать и отправлять сообщения, коллекционировать достижения. Кроме того, существует кросс-платформенный голосовой чат. В некоторых играх (например, Shadowrun) игроки на ПК могли играть совместно с игроками на Xbox 360.
В 2018 году магазин перестал функционировать, несмотря на то, что существующие покупки должны были оставаться доступными для загрузки.
Преемником Games for Windows теперь является Microsoft Store, который позволяет игрокам на компьютере использовать функции сети Xbox и играть в различные игры Xbox без наличия консоли.
- Кроссплатформенная игра между пользователями Xbox 360 и Windows в некоторых играх[3]
- Автоматическое обновление игр
- Единая идентификация
- Система профилей игроков
- Система достижений (Achievements) и связанная с ней система Gamerscore
- Магазин игр и дополнений Games on Demand
Games on Demand
[править | править код]
15 декабря 2009 года Microsoft запустила Games on Demand, сервис цифровой дистрибуции игр, таких как Resident Evil 5 и Battlestations: Pacific. Также доступны аркадные игры, например, бесплатная игра Microsoft Tinker, а также хорошо известные World of Goo и Osmos[2][4][5][6].
24 марта 2010 состоялся запуск Game Room, бесплатного приложения, позволяющего играть в старые игры, которые вышли в 1980-х годах на игровых автоматах и консолях Atari 2600 и Intellivision.
Games for Windows — LIVE заработала неоднозначную репутацию у игроков. Среди пользователей GFWL часто встречались жалобы в плане удобства, скорости и надежности работы сервиса. Так, например, 13 апреля 2012 года фанаты Dark Souls организовали сбор подписей для отмены выше названного сервиса в PC-версии игры[7]. Своё предложение они аргументировали тем, что GFWL — «непопулярен, сложный в использовании, неудобный и с ужасной поддержкой сетевой игры».
19 августа 2013 года было анонсировано прекращение функционирования сервис Games for Windows — LIVE с 1 июля 2014 года[8][9]. Многих игроков стал волновать тот факт, что после закрытия GFWL, они не смогут воспользоваться онлайн составляющей игр, которые поддерживают данный сервис. Позже Microsoft заявила, что продолжит поддержку Games for Windows — LIVE[10]. Несмотря на то, что Marketplace был закрыт, а возможность приобретения там игр была отключена, пользователи и дальше смогут скачивать уже купленные игры, правда, без всех вышедших обновлений[11].
- Age of Empires Online (Распространяется бесплатно)
- Australian Rules Football
- Battlestations: Pacific
- Battle vs Chess
- Blacklight: Tango Down (только через Games on Demand)
- BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger
- Bulletstorm
- Colin McRae: DiRT 2
- Crash Time 4: The Syndicate (Игра вышла только в Германии)
- Dark Void (только через Games on Demand)
- Dead Rising 2
- Dead Rising 2: Off The Record
- Fable 3
- Fallout 3[12]
- FlatOut: Ultimate Carnage
- Flowerz
- F1 2010
- F1 2011
- Fuel
- Game Room (Распространяется бесплатно, только через Games on Demand)
- CarneyVale: Showtime (только через Games on Demand)
- Gears of War
- Gotham City Impostors
- Halo 2
- Hour of Victory
- Juiced 2
- Kane & Lynch: Смертники[13]
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes (игра вышла только в Японии)
- Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition
- Lost Planet 2
- Mahjong Wisdom (только через Games on Demand)
- Microsoft Flight (распространяется бесплатно, только через Games on Demand)
- Mortal Kombat Arcade Kollection
- Osmos (только через Games on Demand)
- Operation Flashpoint: Red River
- 007: Квант милосердия
- Red Faction: Guerrilla
- Section 8
- Section 8: Prejudice
- Shadowrun
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars – Republic Heroes
- Stormrise
- Street Fighter IV
- Street Fighter X Tekken
- Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition
- The Club
- Tinker (только через Games on Demand)
- Toy Soldiers
- Трон: Эволюция
- Universe at War: Earth Assault
- Vancouver 2010
- Viva Piñata (В России игра не выпускалась)
- Virtua Tennis 4
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II
- Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – Chaos Rising
- Where’s Waldo? (только через Games on Demand)
- World of Goo (только через Games on Demand)
- Xbox Live
- Games for Windows
- ↑ Sinclair, Brendan Halo 2 Vista delayed again (недоступная ссылка — история). GameSpot (24 мая 2007). Дата обращения: 24 декабря 2009. Архивировано 23 марта 2012 года.
- ↑ 1 2 LeBlanc, Brandon Games on Demand for Games for Windows – LIVE (недоступная ссылка — история). Windows Team Blog (18 декабря 2009). Дата обращения: 24 декабря 2009. Архивировано 23 марта 2012 года.
- ↑ Cross Platform Play (недоступная ссылка — история). Дата обращения: 4 октября 2009. Архивировано 23 марта 2012 года.
- ↑ Games on Demand, Meet Games for Windows – LIVE. Gamerscore Blog (3 декабря 2009). Дата обращения: 24 декабря 2009. Архивировано 7 декабря 2009 года.
- ↑ Peckham, Matt Games for Windows Live Adds ‘Games on Demand’ Downloads (недоступная ссылка — история). PC World (16 декабря 2009). Дата обращения: 24 декабря 2009. Архивировано 23 марта 2012 года.
- ↑ Fahey, Mike Games On Demand Coming To Games For Windows Live (недоступная ссылка — история). Kotaku (3 декабря 2009). Дата обращения: 24 декабря 2009. Архивировано 23 марта 2012 года.
- ↑ Народ против Games for Windows Live (рус.). Архивировано 20 февраля 2017 года. Дата обращения: 19 февраля 2017.
- ↑ Michael McWhertor. Microsoft: Games for Windows Live service ending July 2014. Polygon (19 августа 2013). Дата обращения: 19 февраля 2017. Архивировано 29 октября 2013 года.
- ↑ Microsoft навсегда закроет сервис Games for Windows Live (рус.), 3DNews — Daily Digital Digest. Архивировано 20 февраля 2017 года. Дата обращения: 19 февраля 2017.
- ↑ The Games For Windows Live Exodus Continues (англ.). Game Informer. Дата обращения: 19 февраля 2017. Архивировано 20 февраля 2017 года.
- ↑ Microsoft не планирует закрывать сервис Games for Windows — Live. Архивировано 4 июля 2014 года. Дата обращения: 19 февраля 2017.
- ↑ В России Live заблокирован, но есть возможность его разблокировать путём земены лаунчера на лаунчер от англоязычной версии, пропатченной до того же уровня, что и русская версия
- ↑ в версии с русским патчем нет регистрационного кода, но можно ввести код от любой другой игры с поддержкой GfWL
- Официальный сайт Games for Windows — Live (рус.) (недоступная ссылка с 2-12-2016 [3085 дней])
- Статья Внутриигровая регистрация в системе Games for Windows — Live на сайте компании 1С (рус.) (недоступная ссылка с 2-12-2016 [3085 дней])
- Неофициальное сообщество любителей Games for Windows — Live (рус.)
Описание:
Games For Windows — Live — бесплатный игровой онлайн сервис для Windows, позволяющий получить
больше возможностей при сетевой игре, так же как и Xbox Live. С его помощью у пользователей ПК
появилась возможность соединяться со всеми устройствами, поддерживающими сервисы Live, в том
числе Windows Mobile и Zune. Пользователь при регистрации получает уникальный тег игрока
Gamertag, который совместим с Xbox Live, и дает возможность играть онлайн, следить за статусами
друзей, принимать и отправлять сообщения, коллекционировать достижения (Achievements).
Кроме того, существует кросс-платформенный голосовой чат.
Инсталляция:
Распакуйте и запустите «setup.exe». Далее следуйте инструкциям.
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- Game for Windows Live | Here’s Everything You Need to Know
By Ariel | Follow |
Last Updated
A great many people are confused about the Games for Windows Live. If you are also trying to figure it out, then you come to the right place. This post of MiniTool will introduce its definition and some other useful tips to you.
About Games for Windows Live
Games for Windows Live is also known as GFWL that works as an online gaming service. It enables Windows computers to connect to the Microsoft Live service. All users who have the Microsoft username service for GFWL can play online, receive and send messages, voice chat, gain achievements, and so forth.
This service is available to third-party developers, but they need to meet certain Technical Certification Requirements (TCRs) that include game ratings, game profiles, Live connectivity, and the total number of Gamerscore points. In addition, the GWFL games must meet the standard Games for Windows TCRs. That is to say, users first have to create a free GWFL account to get started. How to do that? Let’s keep reading the following part.
How to Create a Live Account for GFWL
To play the GFWL games, you need to create a free Live account firstly. There are several main types of Windows Live email addresses you can use:
- Hotmail.com
- Live.com
- MSN.com
- Zune.net
- Passport.net
- Outlook.com
If you don’t have this account, you can visit the accounts.live.com web page and follow the on-screen instructions to create a free Live Windows ID account. Once created, you can use this account when signing up for any Microsoft online services. If you already have an account, you can directly sign in by using an email account like Outlook.com.
How to Make the GFWL Games Playable on Windows 10
Another important thing for many users is how to make these GFWL games playable on a modern version of Windows computers. If you have bought a physical retail copy, digital download, or even a copy from the Microsoft Windows marketplace, you can convert many old GWFL games like Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bioshock 2, and DiRT to a modern computer.
For example, you can redeem the game on Steam if you have a code for one of these GWFL games. Here’s a quick guide:
Step 1. Launch the Steam client on your PC and go to the Games tab from the top toolbar and select Activate a Product on Steam.
Step 2. In the pop-up dialog box, enter the game code/product key to redeem it on Steam.
Note: You need to use the latest version of Steam without GFWL.
If you don’t have the product key of these GWFL games, then you need to utilize some third-party tools that can crack the Windows Live Games. These tools aim to remove the hassle of GWFL, but they are not available for every game instead of some particularly popular games such as Fallout 3, Grand Theft Auto IV, Halo 2, and Red Faction.
Sometimes, you may be stuck playing a game that requires Games for Windows Live Windows 10 installers and you don’t have an alternative to crack. In this case, you can try updating the GFWL Windows 10 to the latest version. Another effective way is to avoid online connectivity and syncing problems by creating a local profile. To do so, you can refer to the steps below:
Step 1. In the main interface of Microsoft Games for Windows Live, press the Home button on your keyboard that supports any GFWL-enabled games, and then select Create New Profile.
Note: You will lose any saved files if you do this operation while playing a game. So, we recommend you create a local profile when setting up GFWL for the first time.
Step 2. Scroll down the list of Create Game Profile screens and click on Create a Local Profile.
Step 3. Enter the details that you want to use in the box and save the profile.
About The Author
Position: Columnist
Ariel has been working as a highly professional computer-relevant technology editor at MiniTool for many years. She has a strong passion for researching all knowledge related to the computer’s disk, partition, and Windows OS. Up till now, she has finished thousands of articles covering a broad range of topics and helped lots of users fix various problems. She focuses on the fields of disk management, OS backup, and PDF editing and provides her readers with insightful and informative content.
Microsoft Games for Windows Live, also known as GFWL, is an online gaming service that is compatible with PCs. By connecting your PC to the Live service, you can play games online, receive messages, send voice chat, and earn achievements. The service has been available for a long time, but recently some games have been removed from the service. This article answers some common questions about the Games for Windows Live service.
GFWL was originally released for Windows Vista, and it was plagued with bugs and poor optimization when it first launched. Later, it was cracked to run on Windows XP. Even so, it was still difficult to use. GFWL users would often get locked out of their accounts if they accidentally turned their Xbox 360 on or off. In addition, some games would not play properly, or would have connection errors.
Microsoft Games For Windows Live was originally a service that was only compatible with PCs running Windows Vista and Windows 7. It featured Xbox-oriented achievements and social features. However, it has since been discontinued. Microsoft is not planning on reintroducing it. Instead, they have made the site unavailable for download. This makes it difficult to use if you want to download games. The Games for Windows Live marketplace has been deactivated since October 2018, and the download page has been removed as well. Despite its popularity, it is difficult to find reliable games for Windows Live.
Can I Delete Microsoft Games For Windows Live?
Can I delete Microsoft Games For Windows Live? is a common question, especially for new PC users. If you want to remove the software, there are two ways to remove it from your computer. The first way involves using the command prompt to remove the program. Alternatively, you can use CMD or Mac OS X to uninstall Microsoft games for windows live. Both methods will remove the software from your system. To uninstall Microsoft games for windows live, you must have the latest version of GCC or libgcc1.
If you want to remove Microsoft Games for Windows – LIVE Redistributable, you must first uninstall the software from your PC. It is not possible to uninstall it manually using the Windows Add/ Remove Programs, and you might run into problems. The software can also leave invalid files on your PC’s hard disk or registry, which will negatively affect the performance of your PC. To avoid this problem, use a trusted third-party uninstaller. Such a tool will scan your system for the programs it installed, and will uninstall them entirely from your system.
Why is Games For Windows Live Hated?
Games for Windows Live was Microsoft’s online gaming service for PCs. It had many shortcomings, including a horrible content delivery system and an incredibly intrusive client that forced users to sign up for an Xbox gold account. Some people even disliked it so much that they resorted to deleting their Xbox gold accounts. However, it didn’t just make PC gaming more difficult – it also made players feel like they were playing on a console.
While Microsoft dropped Games for Windows Live, many of its games remained compatible with it even after it was discontinued, causing a huge mess for PC gamers after the launch of Windows 10. Some games rely on this service, and it was a nightmare for PC gamers when the company shifted to a new platform – Windows 10. Thankfully, the developers of the Game of the Year Edition of Fallout 3 were able to patch the game to remove its Games for Window Live component, and now it’s possible to play the game on a modern gaming PC.
Should I Uninstall Windows Live?
Should I uninstall Microsoft Games For Windows Live to free up space on my PC? There are several methods to uninstall Microsoft Games For Windows Live. First, try resetting your system. Windows’ undo feature can help you regain access to deleted files. If that does not fix the problem, try reinstalling the game. If all else fails, you can try using third-party uninstallers.
Open the Settings application. Click the action icon in the top-right corner of the screen. Select the game you want to uninstall. You can also access the context menu by right-clicking the game tile. Click the action icon next to the game tile to open the uninstall dialog box. Click “Uninstall” to remove the game and leave behind its files and registry keys. When the process is complete, you can reinstall the game.
If your computer has a GPU capable of running GFWL, it’s likely that it’s the problem. GFWL requires a capable GPU to run, and it must be installed properly. If it isn’t compatible with your system, you may need to uninstall it. If the game doesn’t run correctly, it’s probably because the software was corrupted and the communication between the software and hardware was improper.
How Do I Uninstall Microsoft Games on My PC?
If you have installed Microsoft Games for Windows Live on your PC, you may wonder how to remove it. You can do so by running certain command line commands. These are not very technical, so you can perform them even if you’re not computer-savvy. However, you should keep in mind that you will lose all your game data and progress. To avoid this, be sure to sign in to your Microsoft Account before uninstalling the game. To sign in, press Windows key and press R. Swipe your mouse down until you see the Run window.
To uninstall Microsoft Games for Windows Live, go to Control Panel > Add/ Remove Programs. If you don’t see Add/ Remove Programs, you can find it under the Start menu. There, you can find the Uninstall button. Alternatively, you can use the uninstall wizard in the Control Panel to uninstall Microsoft Games for Windows Live. Another option is to follow the instructions of the uninstall wizard that comes with the game.
What Happened to Windows Live Games?
In case you missed it, the Games For Windows Live (GFWL) marketplace will be shut down on August 22. This service will continue to be available, however, and purchased games will remain available. Games purchased on GFWL can still be played on the GFWL client. Microsoft has decided to focus on its Xbox Game Pass and Steam services in the meantime. Here’s what you can expect in the future. Read on to learn more.
During its life, Games For Windows Live (GWL) was the PC gaming network that ran alongside Xbox 360. However, since the Windows 10 update, the Games For Windows Live marketplace is no longer compatible with that version of Windows. The new Windows Store, however, supports all games, including those for Xbox 360 and the latest versions of Windows Phone. The Games For Windows Live marketplace still exists, but it’s almost completely useless. Microsoft also removed the download page and Windows Live Sign-in assistant, making the Games For Windows Live installer useless.
Another big problem with Games for Windows Live was the lack of games for Windows. Until now, it seemed like a great idea – it brought Xbox Live features to the PC. However, it never caught on. While Steamworks was a fantastic solution to this problem, Games for Windows Live’s platform wasn’t, in fact, a complete failure. Not only was it buggy and flimsy, it felt like Microsoft was trying to sell Xbox consoles to a PC audience.
What Happened to Games For Windows?
If you’re wondering what happened to Microsoft Games For Windows Live, you’re not alone. Microsoft has halted support for this popular service in February 2014, but online services will continue to run. But the marketplace will no longer allow you to purchase games or redeem them through the cloud. The following are some of the things you need to know about the service’s demise and how you can continue to play.
One of the most controversial changes is the elimination of Games For Windows Live. Previously, gamers, publishers, and developers had to pay to access Games For Windows Live. This service, which was based on Steam, included achievements and cross-platform play. The only problem with the service is that it only supported five games. While Steamworks does support cross-platform play, Games For Windows Live will no longer be available.
Another major change is that Games For Windows Live is no longer functional. The Marketplace has been deactivated and the download page removed in 2020. The Windows Live Sign-in Assistant was also removed from the servers. The vanilla Games For Windows – Live installer is also unusable. There’s a chance the company will introduce new features soon, so you can continue playing. Otherwise, there’s no reason to waste time.
Does Games For Windows Live Still Work 2021?
While Steam is the most popular online gaming platform today, Games for Windows Live is a long-gone concept. The Windows-based service was discontinued by Microsoft in 2013. It was an attempt to bring Xbox Live-like features to the PC, including achievements and cross-platform play between Xbox 360 and PC gamers. Unfortunately, there are only five games that support Games for Windows Live, and the service is likely to go away in a few years.
Although the service itself is no longer available, the games for Windows Live are still available on the Microsoft Store. The update to Fallout 3 removed the service, but users who wish to keep the service can still activate the service and install the games. However, it is important to note that Games for Windows Live will not work on a modern Windows system without a network connection. To fix the issue, you can download the Nexus mod. While the Nexus mod is available, it requires a lengthy guide to install and run.
The Games for Windows Live service was launched in 2007. The platform was a great way to play online games on PC. It connected Xbox 360 and PC users through Microsoft’s Live service, which allowed users to communicate with friends and other gamers across the globe. Users also had unique Gamertags to keep track of their friends and send them messages. Sadly, voice chat is no longer supported on Games for Windows, but other services can do the same job.
Learn More Here:
1.) Windows Help Center
2.) Windows – Wikipedia
3.) Windows Blog
4.) Windows Central