Games for Windows Marketplace to merge with Xbox.com on July 11

by David Hinkle on Jul 2nd 2011 1:00AM

It's about time. Microsoft is finally consolidating the Games for Windows Marketplace and Xbox.com into one big ultra mega site. Makes sense, right?

The transition will take place on July 11, Eurogamer confirmed, when all of the Games For Windows content will find a new home at Xbox.com. Back in November, the GFW site received quite the overhaul in an attempt to bring a more accessible experience to its web hub.

Currently, there's a thread on the Xbox.com forums discussing the move, if you feel like being part of the conversation. You know, if you want. No pressure!

Via: Eurogamer
Source: Games For Windows

Tags: games-for-windows, games-for-windows-live, microsoft, pc, xbox

Reader Comments (39)

@Aguiluz
I bought Viva Pinata and Age of Empires III there when they had them for a buck or something.

It wasn't awful but it was just too clunky for me and the prices were never right when considering said clunkiness.

Whereas Steam right now is threatening to murder my wallet while my credit cards watch. Thankfully, I'm too busy earning shiny tickets and playing cheaply priced games to care.

Microsoft really needs to hire people that have a clue. They really have no idea how to sell or market PC games.

@Dirtyboy
Perhaps the real strategy is to show PC-only gamers what they are missing on the X-Box.

@Dirtyboy
I think this is more of a sign that Microsoft doesn't want to market PC games like they used to.

They closed down most of their studios, their most popular franchises are on Xbox, and Steam along with other distributors has taken over most of the PC market.

Games for Windows is probly done for the foreseeable future.

@Polymorphic Ninja I'm pretty sure people who are able enough to put together a computer to play videogames on know what they're "missing" on xbox.

@Polymorphic Ninja
Aside from Gears and Halo? Not much.

@Polymorphic Ninja I'm pretty sure PC gamers aren't missing on anything from xbox except Alan Wake.

@ChainSmoker Gears of War 2 and 3?

@ChainSmoker @darkbunny157 @Martyrdom

I guess my point was, if you are a PC gamer, you obviously like games. If you are an X-Box gamer, you obviously like games.

Microsoft is trying to get them all under the same roof to cross-pollinate a bit. Maybe they'll get a PC gamer to buy an X-Box. Or an X-Box gamer to buy a PC game since both have titles exclusive to their platforms.

The breed of gamer that only plays games on one particular platform is a rare one these days. Especially if you count mobile gaming.

@Polymorphic Ninja I have an Xbox and it's never used because all the games I care about on Xbox are on PC too. The only consoles I use are my PS3 and my 3DS as they actually have games that appeal to me that I can't get on my PC.

@Aguiluz

I got steam for my PC games, only game I own from games for windows live is AoE3 Gold edition for 10 cents. I needed the last AoE3 expansion, figured why the eff not.

@Aguiluz

I have, and it is not all that terrible, or at least not as bad as it was when it first came out. I only use the service when I'm playing the game it uses. After the game closes, GFWL stops, which is how I have it set up

Not trying to sound elitist, but GFWL attempts to give a console experience on PC. It hinders the experience because it makes a lot of simple tasks a chore, like logging in properly and opening ports to make games play better online. It's also kind of a shame because you can't cross game chat with your Xbox buddies, even though you can send the messages and see what they are playing.

It's not that bad of a hassle. I don't complain that much about it or nitpick it, but it does need some remodeling, especially when there are other services that do it right.

So now I have to go to a website of a platform that doesn't relate in no way to my reason of going there, in order to see and perhaps buy a PC game?

Haha nice job Microsoft, you sure know how to market for PC Gamers... /s

If developers used OpenGL more and developed for Linux, my attachment for Microsoft would so be gone.... all they have to do is hinder Directx3D.

@xiLeShadow True dude. The only reason I have a computer with windows on it is for games other than that it is useless to me.

@xiLeShadow I agree. With all the crapping MS does on PC gaming, I'd love to see their OS lose its domination over it, teach these guys a lesson. They've gone completely to their precious Xbox, so let them lose Windows as the only source of PC gaming.

"Makes sense, right?" It would if it they were both being moved to some "microsoft games center" type thing... But nope, they're just going to throw GFWL somewhere in the xbox site.

Every time. They tell us they're going to work harder for us PC gamers, and every time we get shit on... Why do we never learn?

@liquidsoap89

According to you. It's been suspected for a while that MS was going to move their various entertainment divisions to all be entirely under the Xbox brand. See: various rumors on the demise of "Zune."

People are overreacting because they don't currently think of Xbox like that.

Microsoft would love to kill off PC gaming for good and move all the PC gamers to their Xbox consoles. Here, they can kill off mods and only leave paid-DLC as options to expand game replayability. No more free online, have to pay extra for proprietary accessories like hard drives.

And stupid MS wonders why Steam is so popular. Its sad when MS doesn't give two licks about PC gaming on their platform. Maybe they'd start to care if all PC games moved to Mac or Linux and most PC gamers moved to those operating systems.

@nerdydesi1
Actually, I just thought....

One way to start countering Steam would be using this merger to provide PC/Xbox cross platform installations. One purchase, two platforms.

Its weird if I'd be forwarded to the Xbox.com site. Also when I log into Steam now, the log-on page shows information for PSN users (Portal 2 integration). Just weird to see consoles always having an effect on the PC but not the other way around. Well, majority rules. : (

@nerdydesi1

Actually I think the PC has huge affects on the consoles. Devs tend to up the ante when it comes to physics and graphics in general on the pc which then in turn slowly makes its way onto consoles. We beta test new technologies before they are implemented into next gen consoles.

We just don't see obvious ramifications of this. You can't develop a game on the xbox, at least not yet. PC's are always going to have better hardware and the fact that everything is so open for editing is both a blessing and curse.

I love consoles and I understand the appeal, but as a tech geek, I prefer my pc.

@DV8ing1
Actually, you can develop a game on X-Box, and have been able to for a long time.

Distribution freedom isn't anywhere like it is on the PC though. They have an app store model for monetizing (similar to Apples, though I believe MS did it first for the X-Box)

@Polymorphic Ninja

You can develop a game for the 360, but you can't actually do it on the 360.

XNA is all done on a PC.

I hope they take this opportunity to fix up xbox.com so it doesn't take a year to load.

@Acosta02
I can't even do anything on the site. In Chrome I can get the main page open and in IE it can't even find xbox.com. I don;t get it.

@Faenix

I did the exact same thing. The only games I have on Games for Windows are the games that were insanely cheap; Like I was at the nickel and dime candy store.

I think I purchased S.T.A.L.K.E.R on it for like 99 cents

Why is it that I always feel like Microsoft tries too hard to be something its not? I know they make quality things, but everything they make feels mediocre and second best. There's too many faults and they just don't wow me.

Please don't misunderstand, Im not just fanning over competitors... I have used Microsoft products way longer than ive played video games. Using them always left me with this strange feeling.

@The Only Girl

Like...a tingly feeling?

@Admiral White
FYI - Actually you can cross chat with xbox buddies now. I was just doing it the other night and was surprised to see it worked! Private chat for a few hours.

Now I'd use gfwl all the time if you could add the service to any game like steam can do with its overlay. But alas tis not true and that makes it a bit useless as a service IMO.

There is a free game on Games for Windows Marketplace called Tinker and it's a pretty sweet game that I play alot to pass the time when I'm bored of surfing the net. I mainly do all my gaming on my Xbox 360, but I still play Diablo II from time to time and will be living n my DV7 alot when Diablo III comes out.

consoleports . com

It's official (after 5 years shoving garbage in pcs).

I might care when 99% of their library has a proper mouse + keyboard support.And wide screen support. And patches. And no constant crashing....

@Admiral White

You can cross chat with people on a 360.

It all depends on the game you are playing, some of the older games such as shadowrun wont let you, but a lot of the newer games do.

@kgoo867

It wont have any impact on games at all. Its just changing where you can browse/buy games from the marketplace via a web browser.

@kgoo867
Dunno what's wrong with your games (or PC) but all the GFWL titles I've bought over Steam work just fine, I hope it's support continues...

I'd like to see some more cross platform games between xbox and GWFL.

The only Digital Distributers I use are Steam and GOG. If its not on those two then I just don't buy it. Also, when companies like microsoft and EA try to put their DRM crap on top of steam games, I usually just wait till a big sale before I even consider buying it.

@Aguiluz

I bought GTA4 on it, and recently for GTA3/VC/SA and Bully on it. I don't think GTA3/VC/SA use the ingame GFWL client. I don't really see what is wrong with the client and service itself, it just seems like a ton of people hopping on the hate train./

The only problem I have is Microsoft making the newer GFWL updated coming out more girly and 'gay' (casual). MOFO! We are hardcore, cut-throat, take no prisoners, death metal listen, Anarchist, we don't want avatars, girly elevator music and cute avatar pets.

STEAM4LIFE.

@DV8ing1

I didn't know they updated it. Before, it would tell me that I can only CGC on an Xbox 360. Thanks for telling me.

What they need to do is have a single unified web storefront for Xbox, Zune, and GFW but also merge Xbox/GFW features into the Zune desktop client. They're so close to having all of their services integrated but they're just not quite there yet.

Games for Windows Marketplace to merge with Xbox.com on July 11

Reader Comments (39)

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:08AM Mmmmz said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:10AM Dirtyboy said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:19AM Polymorphic Ninja said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:27AM Lerkero said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:30AM darkbunny157 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:36AM Martyrdom said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:38AM ChainSmoker said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 2:35AM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 5:00AM Polymorphic Ninja said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:25PM bitcrusherrr said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:15AM Faenix said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:39AM Admiral White said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:43AM xiLeShadow said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 2:00AM mwvdragon said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 2:46AM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 1:45AM liquidsoap89 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 12:30PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 2:37AM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 3:33AM Peffse said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 2:45AM nerdydesi1 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 4:47AM DV8ing1 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 5:10AM Polymorphic Ninja said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 7:52AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 3:03AM Acosta02 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 12:56PM SuperWoody64 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 3:30AM Stevetrop Man of Mystery said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 3:37AM The Only Girl said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 2:44PM Vcize said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 4:40AM DV8ing1 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 5:03AM pradius said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 6:31AM CrabBattle said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 7:47AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 7:53AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 8:55AM Halwende said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 10:20AM Jenks said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 11:51AM Ender7 said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 2:27PM ComedyInK said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 10:00PM Admiral White said

Posted: Jul 2nd 2011 10:23PM KeegdnaB said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW