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.
The 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.
Here 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.
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Ace Combat: Assault Horizon – Enhanced Edition |
Now uses Steamworks |
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Batman: Arkham Asylum GOTY |
Non-GOTY owners get GOTY upgrade for free. Retail/GFWL keys added to Steam DB for activation. |
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Batman: Arkham City GOTY |
Non-GOTY owners get GOTY upgrade for free. Retail/GFWL keys added to Steam DB for activation. |
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Battle vs Chess |
GFWL on retail (EU only). US edition of the game – Check vs Mate – does not have GFWL. |
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BioShock 2 |
Now uses Steamworks |
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BlazBlue: Calamity Trigger |
Available digitally on Steam, Games for Windows – LIVE on retail |
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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 |
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Dark Void |
GFWL version no longer available to purchase, Can be bought on Steam |
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Dead Rising 2 |
Now uses Steamworks |
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Dead Rising 2: Off the Record |
Uses Steamworks for the Steam version |
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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 |
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Gotham City Impostors Free to Play |
Now uses Steamworks |
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Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet |
Now uses Steamworks |
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Iron Brigade |
Now uses Steamworks |
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Ms. Splosion Man |
Now uses Steamworks, LIVE version is still available through the Betas tab |
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Osmos |
GFWL version no longer available to purchase, Can be bought on Steam |
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Red Faction: Guerrilla |
Now uses Steamworks |
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Resident Evil 5 |
Now uses Steamworks |
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Toy Soldiers |
Can choose between GFWL and Steamworks, GFWL version is still included but can be completely ignored |
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Ultra Street Fighter IV |
[Originally titled “Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition”] Now uses Steamworks |
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Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II |
Now uses Steamworks |
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Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising |
Now uses Steamworks |
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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.
