Games for Windows Live redesigned - screenshots, details

by Christopher Grant { Nov 12th 2008 at 8:06PM }

click for more Games for Windows Live screenshots

With little (no?) fanfare, Microsoft has rolled out an update to its also-ran Games for Windows Live service, ready to shed some of that bad name just in time for this holiday's GFW-branded lineup (think Fallout 3 and GTA IV). So what's in store for you, PC gamers? Mostly, a much needed UI refresh. Gone is the ill-advised, console-inspired Blades interface – in its stead is a much slicker (much quicker!) menu that pops down from the top of the display. All the features you'd expect to be there are there: gamertag, friends list, messaging, achievements. As announced earlier this year, they've also done away with the tiered subscription service for PC gamers. No more "Gold" service – all of this is free, including TrueSkill matchmaking.

Gallery: Games for Windows Live

Indeed, there isn't much new in the way of functionality with one notable exception: the Marketplace. Though it's not available just yet (we'll let you know when "in the next few weeks"), the standalone Marketplace app will be akin to its 360 counterpart, offering publishers and developers a place to host trailers, demos, and DLC – all integrated into the game. Available now: the ability for a game to alert you to patches, and then download them and seamlessly patch them into your game. Boot it up again and – voila! – you're running the latest release. No messy files to download or delete.

We'll have our writeup of the latest installment in the GFW Live saga tomorrow; however, for now, flip through some of these screenshots from yesteryear to see what's changed. If you've taken it for a spin, let us know what you think. Oh, hell with it: you'll let us know what you think regardless! (Full presser after the break).

Gallery: Games for Windows Live (old)

Games for Windows - LIVE Levels Up PC Gamers With New In-Game Display, Marketplace and Upcoming Premium Downloadable Content

"Fallout 3," "Grand Theft Auto IV" and "James Bond 007: Quantum of Solace" coming to Games for Windows - LIVE this holiday season.

REDMOND, Wash. - Nov. 13, 2008 - Microsoft Corp. today unveiled significant updates to the Games for Windows - LIVE online gaming service, enhancing the service to provide an unmatched Windows multiplayer experience and excite the growing online gaming community. These compelling changes build on the foundation of Games for Windows - LIVE, which allows gamers to connect and play with their friends for free, and includes unique features such as Achievements, TrueSkill matchmaking, voice and text chat, and a single identity (Gamertag) that works across both Windows and Xbox 360.

Redesigned for PC Gamers. Available for immediate download, the revitalized in-game display provides quick and easy access to the full set of Games for Windows - LIVE features, optimized for use with a keyboard and mouse, and built from the ground up with PC gamers in mind.
Games for Windows - LIVE Marketplace. In early December, users will be able to easily download exciting game trailers, demos and add-on game content such as extended chapters and new characters, as well as give publishers a straightforward way to extend the experience of their Games for Windows - LIVE titles for consumers around the world.

"The online space is and will remain the driving force behind Windows gaming, and we're taking steps to ensure that Games for Windows - LIVE provides a unique online home for PC gamers," said John Schappert, corporate vice president of LIVE, Software and Studios at Microsoft. "This new release was designed specifically with our community of PC gamers and game developers in mind. It's a natural next step in delivering a world-class online service for Windows gamers."

The free Games for Windows - LIVE service is an integral part of some of the most popular and highly anticipated games on any platform:

"Fallout 3" (Bethesda Softworks LLC)
"Grand Theft Auto IV" (Rockstar Games)
"James Bond 007: Quantum of Solace" (Activision Publishing Inc.)
"Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II" (THQ Inc.)
"Red Faction: Guerrilla" (THQ)
"Battlestations: Pacific" (Eidos Interactive Ltd.)

Bethesda Softworks' revolutionary hit "Fallout 3" will be the first to distribute premium downloadable content directly to gamers via the Games for Windows - LIVE Marketplace. "Fallout 3" is already a leading candidate for game of the year, and the complete "Fallout" story, including new quests, foes and weapons, will be available exclusively on Games for Windows - LIVE and Xbox LIVE for Xbox 360.

"Games for Windows - LIVE helps us expand the 'Fallout 3' universe and bring the full experience directly to gamers," said Pete Hines, vice president of public relations and marketing for Bethesda Softworks. "Through the Marketplace we now have a no-nonsense way to deliver updates and great downloadable content. It's really a complete package, and a great fit for 'Fallout 3.'"

Tags: BreakingNews, Games-for-Windows, Games-for-Windows-Live, GFW

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

randomshagz @ Nov 12th 2008 8:12PM

Very nice... I have seen that before but just know where where...

Negativecool @ Nov 12th 2008 10:41PM

Totally. Looks fresh, and best of all, it looks free.

Zertoss @ Nov 12th 2008 8:16PM

Saw it sometime early this afternoon when I fired up Fallout 3 on Steam. It's definitely a big improvement.

Vcize @ Nov 12th 2008 8:20PM

So Fallout 3 is still Games for Windows Live enabled (with achievements, being logged into XBL, etc) even if you download it on steam?

Einhanderkiller @ Nov 12th 2008 8:25PM

Yes, pretty much.

capt_carl @ Nov 12th 2008 9:08PM

I almost bought Fallout 3 on Steam, but I didn't because I wasn't sure if it was going to be Live enabled or not. I ended up buying the Collector's Edition. Is it both Live enabled AND Steam client enabled?

MowDownJoe @ Nov 12th 2008 9:40PM

Do, you can unlock two sets of achievements? DOUBLE E-PEEN BONUS!

Einhanderkiller @ Nov 12th 2008 10:05PM

It's GFW - Live enabled through code in the game.

The Steam client stuff runs separate from the game and is an overlay when you use it while playing the game. You can use the Steam overlay with pretty much any game.

Zertoss @ Nov 12th 2008 10:31PM

I don't think there are any Steam achievements for the game. Those seem to be reserved for Valve's games, unless I'm mistaken.

Haggard @ Nov 13th 2008 2:55AM

They're not reserved for Valve games, it's just nobody else bothers to put them in. The Steamworks software to do so is completely free.

dubbz3030 @ Nov 12th 2008 8:16PM

Games For Windows is useless without cross-platform games... How are we supposed to pwn pc noobs if we cant even play the same game?

GenBanks @ Nov 12th 2008 8:21PM

them be fightin' words

See you in TF2, don't even want to imagine playing as a demoman with dual analogue sticks instead of m/kb ;)

Cody @ Nov 12th 2008 9:35PM

Dude, there ARE cross platform games...correct me if I'm wrong somebody but wasn't Shadowrun the first to offer cross platform play?

Einhanderkiller @ Nov 12th 2008 10:06PM

Universe at War is also cross-platform enabled.

They seem to pick the worst games to enable cross-platform play on...

Haggard @ Nov 13th 2008 2:57AM

UT3 had cross-play between PC and PS3 if i remember right.

Anyway, short version is that mouse and keyboard user > pad user

#28 @ Nov 13th 2008 3:44AM

Yeah, but Universe at War is fuckin' terrible.

JoeArc @ Nov 13th 2008 6:45AM

If UAW was terrible then RA3 is excrement with a capital S.

Zyphron @ Nov 13th 2008 9:21AM

There were several cross platform games (such as shadowrun) but they have stopped supporting it on most games due to problems balancing PC vs console.

(I will give you a hint...the PC people were winning)

FSK405K @ Nov 12th 2008 8:17PM

And with all of that effort and staffing necessary to make the updates and keep the system operating, Microsoft is to soon announce that they are considering 'monitizing' Games for Windows Live.

Matt Frank @ Nov 12th 2008 8:18PM

"The free Games for Windows - LIVE service is an integral part of some of the most popular and highly anticipated games on any platform"

I resent the fact that I need to download the games for windows components to get these games to work on my computer. Might be more amenable to the idea if it weren't forced upon me.

FSK405K @ Nov 12th 2008 8:21PM

You don't play any Valve games?

Matt Frank @ Nov 12th 2008 8:38PM

I do, just not on the computer I installed Fallout 3 on.

Ruben @ Nov 12th 2008 11:02PM

I hear you.

I always get pissed off when games include Physx installers. I should have the choice whether my game has physics calculations or not. /Sarcasm

Dude, its an integral part of the game. Its required, just like Physx and DirectX is. Stop bitching.

FSK405K @ Nov 12th 2008 8:21PM

1. Does anyone else see the irony that they've had to redesign a PC gaming service to be more PC-friendly and less limited by console controls?

2. With all the emphasis on Fallout 3 in the announcement, will this make using fan-made mods more difficult?

NeoK-182 @ Nov 12th 2008 8:24PM

This does not hurt the fan made mods at all. Over 200 mods are out for Fallout 3 already and none of them effect the game. They work the same as oblivion. Live is just there.

GTA IV will be affected by mods but only in the multiplayer part.

NeoK-182 @ Nov 12th 2008 8:23PM

@dubbz: i look forward to kicking your console n00b ass one day.

@Matt Frank: It's built into the game when you install it. there is no extra component to download.

However, personally i want a stand alone client that works like Steam. lets me view my friends lists, achivements and everything else as well as list my GFW games and has the marketplace.

If MS does that i'll be happy. New design is great though much nicer.

Otimus @ Nov 12th 2008 8:25PM

Do you still have to have a GFW Live enabled PC game to access the service on a PC?

Zertoss @ Nov 12th 2008 8:36PM

Yeah.

Tiptup300 @ Nov 12th 2008 9:19PM

Yeah, I still really don't like that. I'd rather have a dedicated marketplace application geared sorta like the Zune Marketplace app.

wickedpheonix @ Nov 12th 2008 8:29PM

GFW is still epic fail. When my internet works fine AND GFW will connect so that I can download my gamercard for the copy of Gears of War PC that I rightfully purchased, then we'll see.

NeoK-182 @ Nov 12th 2008 8:53PM

Gears of War for the PC was made like shit. other games like halo 2 and fallout don't require you to even connect to LIVE just be signed in to load your save. additionally you can disable LIVE in fallout completely.

KarlW @ Nov 12th 2008 10:45PM

If Microsoft is bringing the marketplace to the PC, it's only a matter of time before full games become available.

It's Microsoft's way of taking over Steam.

12344 @ Nov 12th 2008 8:52PM

Ok, where exactly is the download link for this? I looked all over the website and could not find a link to download?

NeoK-182 @ Nov 12th 2008 8:53PM

Right now the update is only through a GFW Live game. Fallout 3, Gears of War, Halo 2, Quantum of Solace. and a few others.

Zak Canard @ Nov 13th 2008 2:32AM

Direct link for the GFW Live v2.0 redistributable can be found here if you don't want to download from within a GFW enabled game:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4a7f4478-7a4e-4f89-a88c-319972839793&DisplayLang=en

MBO @ Nov 12th 2008 8:56PM

time to upgrade my pc agen...

MBO @ Nov 12th 2008 8:57PM

man! it is gna be expensive

Dragod @ Nov 12th 2008 9:40PM

Why, exactly, do you need to upgrade your PC?

Tiptup300 @ Nov 12th 2008 10:03PM

Expensive? You're doing it wrong.

Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 13th 2008 1:43AM

Trnslatd for MBO:

Dragod - Nov 12th 2008 - 9:40PM

Y xactly do u need 2 upgrade yur PC?

Tiptup300 - Nov 12th 2008 - 10:03PM

xpensive? Yur doing it wrng.

hop tat hlpz!

MOT @ Nov 12th 2008 9:14PM

I'm trying to download this thing but I can't find it anywhere. Typical Microsoft, making things harder than it should be.

iofthestorm @ Nov 12th 2008 9:20PM

Apparently you can only use it if you've got a GFW game, which sort of makes sense but means you can't just download it to look at it.

Dragod @ Nov 12th 2008 9:28PM

I play a lot of Halo 2 Vista, and after seeing this I logged in and just took a look around. It's definitely an improvement, and it looks great and very unique. My hope is that NXE is just as speedy.

nickels @ Nov 12th 2008 9:36PM

i want left 4 dead on gfw

FSK405K @ Nov 12th 2008 10:00PM

Why? For XBL achievements, like Fallout does? Or something else? You're the first person I've ever seen who prefers GFWL over Steam, so I'd like to know why.

Tiptup300 @ Nov 12th 2008 10:04PM

I really do love steam, but if they took all of what Xbox Live has and move all of it over to PC. I would definitely prefer GFW. And why doesn't GFW have a system like steam where it works on nearly all games?

nickels @ Nov 13th 2008 8:12AM

because i want to play my friends who have 360s

ogvor @ Nov 12th 2008 11:12PM

GFW just reminds me of GFW Radio, which will never be the same. Ah well, this still won't make a dent in Steam, and with World of Warcraft (and soon Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3) making Battle.net hugely important, their just isn't room. Stardock's Impulse isn't that bad either and is DRM free and available NOW.