Misplaced Pages

Games for Windows – Live

Developer	Microsoft
Type	Content delivery Digital rights management (DRM) Cross-platform play Social networking
Launch date	Games for Windows – Live: May 29, 2007 (2007-05-29) Games on Demand: December 15, 2009 (2009-12-15)
Current version	3.5.95.0
Last updated	February 20, 2014 (2014-02-20)
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows
Operating system(s)	Designed for Windows Vista and 7; still works on Windows 8, 8.1, 10 and 11
Status	Digital distribution store closed; online services still running for purchased and retail content
Website	www.gfwl.com

Games for Windows – Live or GFWL is a deprecated online gaming service used by Games for Windows–branded PC titles that enables Windows PCs 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 360 players.

The service was open to third-party developers, but they had to meet certain Technical Certification Requirements (TCRs), which included (but were not limited to): game ratings, total number of Gamerscore points, content, game profiles, and Live connectivity. Games for Windows – Live games also had to meet standard Games for Windows (games that do not have Live support) TCRs. The same developer support infrastructure as the Xbox 360 was also available. Assistance to developers was provided through the Microsoft XNA Developer Connection. The successor to Games for Windows – Live is now the Xbox network which allows players on a PC to use online functionality 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 Online and 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, 2013, 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.

Games for Windows – Live has since been practically replaced with the Microsoft Store for Windows 10 & 11 (and supported now-discontinued Windows Phone).

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 online Games for Windows – LIVE installer fails to install.

As of 2023, users are unable to login to Games for Windows – Live through the Games for Windows Marketplace client. The in-game overlay, however, still works fully on all games already owned either digitally or retail, with long login times ranging from 1-5 minutes.

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

User information

Gamertag

A Gamertag is the universal name for a player's username on Games for Windows – Live, as well as Xbox Live, Zune, and XNA Creators Club. A Gamertag used online must be unique and can be up to 15 characters in length, including numbers, letters, and spaces.

A player's Gamertag account status can be checked using a variety of online tools, which is useful especially when looking for a new Gamertag, or confirming that a Gamertag exists. Using a valid Gamertag, any player can be located and messaged from within Live. There are also several websites which allow users of Gamertags to upload photos and information about themselves.

Gamerscore

The Gamerscore (G) is an achievements system that measures the number of achievement points accumulated by a user with a Live profile. These Achievement points are awarded for the completion of game-specific challenges, such as beating a level or amassing a specified number of wins against other players in online matches.

All regular disc-based games must have 1,000 Gamerscore points in the base game; the title can ship with fewer than 1,000 points, but anything added later must be free. Game developers also have the option of adding up to 250 points via downloadable content every three months after the first year of release (for a total of 1,750 points).

On May 26, 2007, Halo 2 was the first Games for Windows – Live title to feature Achievements, which counted towards a player's Gamerscore.

Gamercard

The Gamercard is an information panel used to summarize a user's Live profile. The pieces of information on a Gamercard include: the user's Gamertag (in front a silver or gold bar), reputation, Gamerscore, Gamer Zone and recently played games.

TrueSkill

TrueSkill is a ranking and matchmaking system premiering in the Live services. Developed at Microsoft Research Cambridge (United Kingdom), the TrueSkill ranking system is now used in many titles for Games for Windows – Live. It uses a mathematical model of uncertainty to address weaknesses in existing ranking systems such as Elo. For example, a new player joining million-player leagues can be ranked correctly in fewer than 20 games. It can predict the probability of each game outcome, which enhances competitive matchmaking, making it possible to assemble skill-balanced teams from a group of players with different abilities.

When matchmaking, the system attempts to match individuals based on their estimated skill level. If two individuals are competing head-to-head and have the same estimated skill level with low estimate uncertainty, they should each have roughly a 50% chance of winning a match. In this way, the system attempts to make every match as competitive as possible.

In order to prevent abuse of the system, the majority of ranked games have relatively limited options for matchmaking. By design, players cannot easily play with their friends in ranked games. However, these countermeasures have failed due to techniques such as alternate account(s) and system flaws where each system has its own individual trueskill rating. To provide less competitive games, the system supports unranked Player Matches, which allow individuals of any skill level to be paired (often including "guests" on an account). Such matches do not contribute to the TrueSkill rating.

User interface

The user interface or "Guide" was changed from earlier versions (made to match the Xbox 360's original appearance) to a new appearance. The guide includes messaging (text and voice), friends list, recent players, private chat, and personal settings.

The current version of the in-game Live client is version 3.5.0088.0, released on May 6, 2011. It is available for Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 operating systems. Version 3.0 added extended information about progress and some bugfixes. The client also auto-updates when users are logged-on to a Live-aware game.

Marketplace

The Games for Windows Marketplace client was officially released on December 4, 2009. It initially launched with demos and trailers of games available on the Live service. Full titles were later added in the form of Games on Demand.

With version 3.0 of the Games for Windows – Live service, an in-game marketplace was included; in addition to new account management tools, such as the ability to change a Gamertag for 800 Microsoft Points. The in-game marketplace enables users to purchase DLC without exiting, as it installs the content directly from within the game.

On July 22, 2011, Microsoft announced that they would be scrapping the newly revamped Games for Windows Marketplace website and merged the content with the Xbox website. The Games for Windows client, which was another way for users to purchase games, was also reduced to simply opening up the Windows section of Xbox.com. On August 15, 2013, Microsoft announced that the marketplace would be closed on August 22 of the same year.

The Marketplace became non-functional in 2018 with purchased games no longer displaying and instead presenting an error saying "There was an error retrieving your purchase history. Please sign out and try again later" despite existing purchases being supposed to still be available to download.

The Games for Windows Marketplace client stopped logging in completely in 2022 due to TLS 1.0 and 1.1 connections being no longer permitted for Xbox Live accounts to login and therefore presents a connection error when launching the program. The marketplace however, was already non-functional since 2018.

Games on Demand

On December 15, 2009, Microsoft launched Games on Demand, a digital distribution service offering titles such as Resident Evil 5 and Battlestations: Pacific. Also available are arcade games such as a free version of Microsoft Tinker, a former exclusive to Windows Vista Ultimate, as well as World of Goo and Osmos.

Some titles bought on Games on Demand include Server Side Authentication. This is a Games for Windows – Live 3.0 feature that automatically ties the game to your Windows Live ID and the Gamertag associated to it. These games have no activation limits and can be re-installed multiple times. The majority of the other titles on the service use a SecuROM DRM that lets the user activate the game up to five times each month on any hardware.

On June 8, 2010, some games which were previously not Games for Windows titles were added for download. Microsoft had claimed that new titles would be added every week and that there would be over 100 games by the end of 2010.

On October 22, 2010, Microsoft announced a revamp of Games On Demand under the new branding Games for Windows Marketplace. However, this was met with low expectations from reviewers, considering the history of Games for Windows Live on PC. On July 22, 2011, less than a year after the revamp, Microsoft announced that it would merge the Games for Windows Marketplace into the Xbox website.

Availability

As of February 10, 2015 Games for Windows – Live is available in 42 countries/territories. Users in other countries can access Live by creating a Gamertag using an address from a supported country, although no technical support is available outside of the supported countries. Since Games for Windows – Live is based on the Xbox Live service, availability is exactly identical to the regional availability of Xbox Live. The Marketplace is not available for all of these regions.

•  Argentina
•  Australia
•  Austria
•  Belgium
•  Brazil
•  Canada
•  Chile
•  Colombia
•  Czech Republic
•  Denmark
•  Finland
•  France
•  Germany
•  Greece
•  Hong Kong
•  Hungary
•  India
•  Ireland
•  Israel
•  Italy
•  Japan
•  Mexico
•  Morocco
•  Netherlands
•  New Zealand
•  Norway
•  Philippines
•  Poland
•  Portugal
•  Russia
•  Saudi Arabia
•  Singapore
•  Slovakia
•  South Africa
•  South Korea
•  Spain
•  Sweden
•   Switzerland
•  Taiwan
•  Turkey
•  United Arab Emirates
•  United Kingdom
•  United States

Controversies

After the official announcement of Games for Windows – Live, many PC gamers were upset with Microsoft's move to charge PC gamers a fee of $49.99 to use the service. Many PC gamers felt this move was unfair, as playing online and many of the other services GFWL offered has, for the most part, always been free on the PC. Microsoft later began offering the service free of charge, after many complaints from PC gamers were made.

After the announcement that the PC release of Dark Souls would use Games for Windows – Live, fans started up a petition to have the game released without the service attached. The online petition gained over 20,000 signatures in under a week, reflecting a notable public dislike of the service among PC gamers. The game would move to Steamworks in 2014.

In January 2020, Grand Theft Auto IV was removed from sale on Steam, with Rockstar Games stating "With Microsoft no longer supporting Games for Windows – Live, it is no longer possible to generate the additional keys needed to continue selling the current version of the game." In February, Rockstar announced that on March 19, an updated version named Grand Theft Auto IV: The Complete Edition, without Games for Windows – Live, would replace the previous version. The online leaderboards and multiplayer were removed as they relied on GFWL services to function. The Rockstar Games Launcher is now required to launch the game, which acts as a replacement for the DRM and achievements features of GFWL.

See also

• Games for Windows
• Index of Windows games
• List of Games for Windows titles
• List of Games for Windows – Live titles
• Windows Games on Demand
• List of Xbox Live games on Windows 10
• Live Anywhere

References

1. Trademarked as Games for Windows – LIVE

1. ^ Sinclair, Brendan (May 24, 2007). "Halo 2 Vista delayed again". GameSpot. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
2. ^ LeBlanc, Brandon (December 18, 2009). "Games on Demand for Games for Windows – LIVE". Windows Team Blog. Archived from the original on February 22, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
3. "Microsoft Trademarks". Microsoft. December 13, 2007. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
4. ^ "Xbox Games | Xbox". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2021.
5. "Xbox.com Shadowrun – Game Detail Page". Microsoft. Archived from the original on July 24, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
6. Minkley, Johnny (August 22, 2006). "GCDC: "Cross-platform floodgates will open in 2008" – MS". Archived from the original on April 20, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
7. Chris Remo, Christian Nutt (July 22, 2008). "Microsoft To Add Games For Windows Marketplace, Drop Multiplayer Fees". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on January 31, 2009. Retrieved April 7, 2009.
8. French, Michael (July 22, 2008). "Games for Windows Live now free to developers". Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved July 28, 2008.
9. Archived January 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
10. "Xbox Game Room pricing, partners detailed | Joystiq". Archived from the original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved January 10, 2010.
11. "Dreamcast In The Works For Microsoft's Game Room | The Bitbag". Thebitbag.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2013. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
12. "Xbox Games | Xbox". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on May 22, 2010.
13. "Microsoft Heralds a New Age of Gaming With "Age of Empires Online": New franchise installment joins exciting PC lineup of LIVE-enabled titles from Microsoft Game Studios". Microsoft. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
14. Larry Hryb (September 13, 2011). "Xbox LIVE and Windows 8". Archived from the original on June 6, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
15. AOEO Trajan (March 26, 2012). "Steam Launch". Age of Empires Online Announcements Blog. Archived from the original on June 7, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
16. "Flight Arrives on Steam!". Flight News Update. April 3, 2012. Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
17. John Callaham (April 17, 2012). "Microsoft: Still no plans to ditch Games For Windows Live". NeoGamr. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
18. "Toy Soldiers Product Update". Steam News. October 10, 2012. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
19. "Tequila Works' tweet". Tequila Works' Twitter. October 23, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2012. @tequilaworks Does the PC version use Games For Windows Live? Thanks --@FunktionJCB
    @FunktionJCB Nope --@tequilaworks
20. joar (November 28, 2012). "Ace Combat Assault Horizonn Coming to PC in Q1 2013". gamersyndrome. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013.
21. John Callaham (January 31, 2013). "Microsoft has "nothing to share" on Games For Windows Live's future". Neowin. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
22. Samit Sarkar (March 7, 2013). "Age of Empires 2 HD coming to Steam on April 9 for $19.99". Polygon. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
23. Kirk Hamilton (August 9, 2013). "Xbox One Ditches One Of Xbox Live's More Annoying Limitations". Kotaku. Archived from the original on August 12, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
24. "PC Marketplace Closing FAQ". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved October 28, 2013.
25. "Microsoft: Games for Windows Live service ending July 2014". Polygon. August 19, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
26. Maiberg, Emanuel (June 21, 2014). "Microsoft Says It's Not Shutting Down Games for Windows Live". Video Games. Gamespot. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved June 22, 2014.
27. "Games for Windows Live Shutting Down in 2014". IGN. August 19, 2013. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
28. "Games for Windows Live to shut down July 2014 according to deleted support update". PC Gamer. August 20, 2013. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
29. "Capcom to remove Games for Windows Live from PC titles". Destructoid. August 18, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
30. "Batman: Arkham games drop Games for Windows Live". Destructoid. October 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
31. "BioShock 2 updated for Steam after Games for Windows Live closure". Eurogamer. October 4, 2013. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 1, 2013.
32. "Voice chat not working in Shadowrun". March 3, 2012. Archived from the original on May 10, 2015. Retrieved April 14, 2013.
33. "TrueSkill". Archived from the original on December 10, 2008.
34. "| Microsoft launches Games for Windows LIVE marketplace | bit-tech.net". Bit-tech.net. Archived from the original on April 3, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
35. "Sign in to your Microsoft account". Forumd.gamesforwindows.com. Archived from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
36. ^ LeBlanc, Brandon (July 22, 2011). "The Games for Windows Marketplace has moved to Xbox.com!". Windows Team Blog. Archived from the original on January 4, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
37. "Games for Windows status". Facebook. August 15, 2013. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
38. David Scammell (August 15, 2013). "Microsoft to retire Games For Windows LIVE Marketplace". VideoGamer.com. Archived from the original on August 26, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
39. Carlos Leiva (August 15, 2013). "Microsoft retira Games for Windows Live". Vandal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on August 17, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
40. "Microsoft Games for Windows - LIVE". PCGamingWiki PCGW Community. February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
41. Xbox Team (December 3, 2009). "Games on Demand, Meet Games for Windows – LIVE". Gamerscore Blog. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
42. ^ Peckham, Matt (December 16, 2009). "Games for Windows Live Adds 'Games on Demand' Downloads". PC World. Archived from the original on December 10, 2011. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
43. Fahey, Mike (December 3, 2009). "Games On Demand Coming To Games For Windows Live". Kotaku. Archived from the original on May 13, 2013. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
44. GFWL GHOST (May 16, 2011). "DRM Policies for Games on Demand titles". Microsoft Corporation. Archived from the original on January 2, 2014. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
45. "Xbox Games | Xbox". Xbox.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2010.
46. ^ "Microsoft Brings Games on Demand to the Web With New PC Game Store". Microsoft. October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 25, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010.
47. "Games for Windows Marketplace gets competitive, relaunching Nov. 15". Joystiq. October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 25, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2010. It's all a step in the right direction, but Microsoft is severely behind Steam, which revamped its entire marketplace and client earlier this year
48. "Microsoft unveils all-new Games for Windows Marketplace". TechRadar. October 22, 2010. Archived from the original on October 25, 2010. Retrieved November 6, 2010. That announcement was greeted with a fair amount of scorn from the PC gaming world—so it remains to be seen if the US giant is already facing an uphill battle. "After years of failing to turn Games for Windows Live into a useful service to gamers, people are going to be skeptical of anything Microsoft try to do in the same space, said PC Gamer's Graham Smith.
49. Rego, Nick (October 20, 2012). "XBOX Live Launching in UAE and KSA Oct 23rd". IGN Middle East. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
50. "E32010: Xbox Live Rolling Out To Nine New Countries". Next-gen.biz. Archived from the original on December 31, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2021.
51. "Countries/Regions with LIVE Service - Xbox.com". Xbox.com. Microsoft. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2012.
52. "Games for Windows - LIVE Gold to Cost $50". Archived from the original on January 27, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
53. Makuch, Eddie. "Gamers rallying against Dark Souls PC using Games for Windows Live". Gamespot. Archived from the original on April 20, 2012. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
54. McWhertor, Michael (October 20, 2014). "Dark Souls PC is making the jump from Games for Windows Live to Steam". Polygon. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
55. "Rockstar Explains Why Grand Theft Auto 4 Was Suddenly Delisted From Steam". USgamer.net. Archived from the original on May 6, 2020. Retrieved January 14, 2020.
56. "Important Updates To Grand Theft Auto IV and Episodes from Liberty City". February 19, 2020. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2020.

• Digital rights management systems
• Games for Windows
• Microsoft Gaming
• Multiplayer video game services
• Online video game networks
• Windows games
• Xbox network