Games for Windows Live was a hated online gaming service used by Games for Windows–branded PC titles that enabled Windows PCs to connect to Microsoft’s Live service.

GFWLThe service was launched simultaneously on Windows Vista and Xbox 360 on May 29, 2007. The first title to feature the online servicer was Shadowrun. The service was discontinued on July 1, 2014. The initial announcement for its closure was made on August 2013. Some game publishers announced that they would be removing GFWL from their games, but in most cases this has not happened yet. A few developers have worked patches into their games that changed their online functionality to other services like Steamworks. Read more about Steamworks.

Even with the service being shut down, it does not spell all doom for the games that feature the service, as through a post on GameInformer Microsoft have said. “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.” This means that the service that allows us to play many of these games will stay in place, for now. Surprisingly the very first game to use GFWL, Shadowrun, still has a functional multiplayer.

There is a community made software that can help you migrate your save game from GFWL to Steamworks. Available here.


SteamworksHere is a list (thanks to PCgamingWiki) of games that have been freed from the burden of GFWL, the unpopular DRM they had it in retail form or on digital storefronts in the past.

 

Ace Combat: Assault Horizon – Enhanced Edition

Now uses Steamworks

Batman: Arkham Asylum GOTY

Non-GOTY owners get GOTY upgrade for free. Retail/GFWL keys added to Steam DB for activation.

Batman: Arkham City GOTY

Non-GOTY owners get GOTY upgrade for free. Retail/GFWL keys added to Steam DB for activation.

Battle vs Chess

GFWL on retail (EU only). US edition of the game – Check vs Mate – does not have GFWL.

BioShock 2

Now uses Steamworks

BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger

Available digitally on Steam, Games for Windows – LIVE on retail

Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition

Uses Steamworks for the Steam version. A post made by a Namco representative says that it is possible to activate the retail version on Steam

Dark Void

GFWL version no longer available to purchase, Can be bought on Steam

Dead Rising 2

Now uses Steamworks

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record

Uses Steamworks for the Steam version

DiRT 3 Complete Edition

Owners have received DiRT 3 Complete Edition for free which has no GFWL. The original DiRT 3 remains in players’ accounts and still uses GFWL, Read more

Gotham City Impostors Free to Play

Now uses Steamworks

Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

Now uses Steamworks

Iron Brigade

Now uses Steamworks

Ms. Splosion Man

Now uses Steamworks, LIVE version is still available through the Betas tab

Osmos

GFWL version no longer available to purchase, Can be bought on Steam

Red Faction: Guerrilla

Now uses Steamworks

Resident Evil 5

Now uses Steamworks

Toy Soldiers

Can choose between GFWL and Steamworks, GFWL version is still included but can be completely ignored

Ultra Street Fighter IV

[Originally titled “Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition”] Now uses Steamworks

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II

Now uses Steamworks

Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising

Now uses Steamworks

World of Goo

GFWL version no longer available to purchase, Can be bought on Steam


Check out the other side of the report in our article: Imprisoned to Game for Windows Live.

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About me: A collector, I hunt for stuff that was missed. I’m the guy who goes into a music store and asks the staff if they have some secret music cd in the backroom storage closet. My life ticks away while I watch anime, reading fictional novels or stalk Wikipedia for information completely useless to me.

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