Games for Windows Live now free

Interesting that this didn't get announced at E3, but Games for Windows Live is now free for all. Yep, totally free, cross-platform multiplayer with the 360 included -- which obviously raises the question of whether Live will ever be free on Xbox. We think that's a pretty safe no -- unlike Games For Windows, Xbox Live actually makes money, which is pretty hard to turn down, and without a ton of competitive pressure from, say, Playstation Home, it's hard to see why Microsoft would turn that funtime cash fountain off. Still, there's always hoping, right?

[Fred @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:35PM]

If I'm paying for it, they gotta support it!

[Kurian @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:41AM]

I'm at a loss for words here. Charging for online play on a PC, a freaking PC, is COMPLETELY *#&$*%& outrageous. WTF. Who the #*$& do they think they are??? I already paid thousands of Rupees for a #*$&(% #*$&*(% original game and now they expect me to &*#&*$( CONTINUE paying them on a yearly basis to play something I ALREADY PAID FOR!!!

In the PC community almost every game server is hosted by private parties like clans etc. All they have to do is run a *#&$(*% master server which maintains a server list and ranking if applicable. Hell I'll *#$&*%( host the master server at home for free if they allow me.

[MrFairladyz @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:37PM]

That includes Halo 2 PC right??? Giggity!!!

[deyanimay @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:39PM]

the picture says so

[ByronGman @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:50AM]

Yeah, but do you trust the picture?

I mean it shows someone playing SHADOWRUN......

You're not going to tell that that wasn't photoshopped... :-P

[Clasifyd @ Jul 23rd 2008 8:52AM]

Despite reviews, Shadowrun was actually a very fun game, IMHO. It's like if Counter Strike and Dungeons and Dragons had an illegitimate bastard child. What's not fun about that? I will admit that the lack of variety in the maps did lend itself to monotony after a bit, but all-in-all the game play was great.

[TheGeektoriousBIG @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:40PM]

Awesome! Wait...so what does that really mean?

[El Capitaine @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:47PM]

Well, as you likely know, the main difference between Xbox LIVE Gold and Silver is the ability to play online. Apart from that and getting marketplace content a bit earlier...I'm don't think there's a difference.

Because of this particular problem in that most PC games are free online, Microsoft decided to allow Silver users access to unranked online play, and single player achievements. However, online achievements, ranked play, matchmaking, and voice chat all required a Gold subscription.

This update makes it so on Games For Windows LIVE, the Silver members can play as if they had gold, so voicechat, ranked play, matchmaking, and ALL achievements are open to Silver players.

[caramelzappa @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:43PM]

Now maybe gears or halo 2 pc would be worth it if there were other people to play with.

[John @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:32PM]

Obnoxious Black woman from My Brother and Me:

"DON HOLJO BREFF!!"

[GenBanks @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:38PM]

More importantly for me, maybe I'll actually be able to quickly and easily organize playing the coop gears of war campaign without a load of hassle.

[ariez84 @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:53PM]

Wait so Windows players will be playing with gamers on an XBOX?

[Seanross @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:03PM]

Only if the game supports it, but yes it is possible.

[Cody @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:50AM]

Yeah, a game I can think of right now like that is Shadowrun.

[Ruben @ Jul 22nd 2008 8:54PM]

The Games For Windows initiative got a lot of support from PC game makers (except many EA titles, save for Crysis). The main thing many of them didn't jump on was the "Live" designation. This should take care of that problem, so now more PC game makers can use the Live service, and i can finally get achievements for the PC games I play.

The 360 is great and all, but nothing compares to playing a game at true 1920x1080 (i can only imagine what 2560x1600 is like). PC versions of 360 games are still the best choice for that very reason, considering the rest ends up being identical (including the controller support). And my PC is quiet, so that alleviates the spinning noise.

This is good news.

[Kougeru @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:24AM]

Also, the PC versions are 10 dollars cheaper....and the controls can be either better, or the same....and the graphics are better or the same...or wores if u want to run better.

[neofolklore @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:50AM]

oh yeh, you can't pirate games on the PC if you want to play online, just in case anyone was forgetting.


so FREE PIRATED GAMES + Xbox Live Gold subscription = $50
BOUGHT GAMES + free Windows Live = PROFIT.

its a tradeoff

[Eric M. @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:18PM]

Hey, I prefer my PS3 overall over my 360, but there's no denying that Live provides the best online experience, PERIOD!

$50 a year? Completely justifiable.

[Negativecool @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:23AM]

Tell that to the PC gamers that said "no thanks" to MS's Games for Windows BS, forcing them to can it.

Stop saying $50 is worth it, and it shall be free.

[Andir3.0 @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:42AM]

Precisely. If PC gaming has been free for YEARS, why should that be any different now?

[Paul @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:35PM]

cross platform play will always be flawed, so there's no point
in online FPS play, either the consolites will get auto aim and then aim better than PC people, or there will be no change in aiming and the PC people will easily murder the consolites

[icepop4who @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:53PM]

I always thought Live on PC was a terrible idea. Paying a subscription fee to multiplay on small servers? It's not like WoW where blizzard offer the online portal and the server. Other games are played on private servers that other gamers created, so why I have to pay microsoft that much?

[Matt @ Jul 22nd 2008 9:57PM]

Does this go for XNA titles as well?

[JohnTitor @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:06PM]

it was bound to happen, unlike on the console, PC gamers have alternate games they can play without having to pay for online-play

[ethana2 @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:49PM]

Part of why I avoid non-ps3 game consoles like the plague.

[LC @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:06PM]

Now if only they'd stop charging for Xbox Live. Lets face it, Xbox Live isn't all it's cracked up to be, and the fact it's P2P doesn't help.

Still, I find it funny that soon PC gamers like myself will be able to play against people with the 360 (And beat them almost everytime thanks to the mouse.) on the same game, except PC gamers won't pay a dime for the same online they get.

[ethana2 @ Jul 22nd 2008 10:47PM]

That's not cross platform.

Microsoft has never known the meaning of cross platform.
Maybe once they're no longer a majority platform, they'll learn.

My friends are switching to mac and ubuntu left and right. I'm starting to know very few windows users.

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 22nd 2008 11:40PM]

You're cool.

[Lana @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:30AM]

Yes, I know let's start supporting a company that makes you by their hardware to even use their software. And while we're on it why not help them try to exclude all other software developers to. Help them continue to work on their dream about a wonderful future where there’s not only one too big software vendor but actually literally only one software developer controlled by the only hardware developer, Themselves! Please don't use the good name of Ubuntu in the same sentence as that company.

Maybe it's just me but I think it actually would be nice if not only hardcore gamers with a steady income could play online. Maybe a family with a few children could try out online play from time to time or if I wanted to play a game with my friend in Uklembekel once a month. That would be great.
Live gold is way too expensive I don't care if it's the best or not, still way too expensive for the average user. It's good that they now have made it free for pc. I think they should make the silver accounts on Xbox like the old silver accounts for pc, limited online play. Then they could charge you a smaller amount to play with the full live features.

[ethana2 @ Jul 23rd 2008 3:36AM]

Lana, I will try to honor that request. I'm glad you see what's up.

[puhsitch @ Jul 23rd 2008 9:13AM]

Oh Lana, don't be such a drama queen. Apart from Apple requiring their OS to run on their hardware, none of that is remotely true about Mac software development.

[sporkinum @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:35AM]

Yeah.. I know I am excited... Not really.
According to their web site, Games For Windows Live currently supports only 2 games. Neither of which I have or plan on purchasing. And their website only works with Internet Exploder.

"
Playing Games on LIVE




Get in the game! Enter the world of LIVE to get your own unique profile, and get access to your friends list, messaging, multiplayer, and more.

The following games are your ticket to Games for Windows – LIVE online play:

* Halo® 2 for Windows Vista™
* Shadowrun

In any of these games, press the LIVE Guide button on your Xbox 360 Controller for Windows or the Home key on your keyboard to access the LIVE Guide. The LIVE Guide is your portal to your profile and Games for Windows – LIVE features.

Check back later for more great games from Games for Windows – LIVE."

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:00AM]

Yeah well I think you're full of bullshit. I just went on the Website using Firefox2 and I found that all these games will work on Live.

• Battlestations™: Pacific

• The Club™

• Fallout® 3

• Gears of War® for Windows

• Halo® 2 for Windows Vista

• Kane & Lynch: Dead Men

• Lost Planet™ Extreme Condition - Colonies Edition

• Shadowrun™

• Universe at War™: Earth Assault

• Viva Piñata™ for Windows

• Warhammer® 40,000™:

P.S. I know Fallout 3 isn't out yet.

[deyanimay @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:13AM]

What, no firefox 3?

[Abuzar Baloach @ Jul 23rd 2008 9:41AM]

No, because Firefox 3 doesn't play well with Windows Live Hotmail.

[Dingis Fargle @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:47AM]

Why couldn't Gears of War on PC Be cross platform =/

I own both, 360 and PC versions, and I would love to see how a keyboard and mouse go up against the game pad.

[computer.dude.28 @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:02AM]

That's easy: they own.

[dubbbya @ Jul 23rd 2008 5:58AM]

Wait wait wait. Microsoft made (or used to make) you PAY to play pc games online?

So if you buy a game that says For windows on it, you need to pay to play it multiplayer?

Sounds like a huge leap backwards ffrom the FREE client Steam.

[Limp Man @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:40AM]

yeah awesome....i'm playing my lostplanet colonies online wid xbox user from yesterday.coz my one month gold trial finish last month.son of gun microsoft.....

[Limp Man @ Jul 23rd 2008 6:40AM]

guys don't misunderstood games for windows and games for windows live.
only you can play the title games for windows live wid xbox live.

[Dan Parmelee @ Jul 23rd 2008 7:21AM]

PC users have already shelled out hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to play games. Several hundred of that likely went to Microsoft for an OS...so yeah, I'd say the gaming aspect should be free.

[ds @ Jul 23rd 2008 10:02AM]

This page is full of pathetic cry babies.

[Derbeste @ Jul 23rd 2008 12:07PM]

This, ladies and gentleman, is a wonderful example of a self fulfilling prophecy.

[ds @ Jul 23rd 2008 1:08PM]

@Derbeste

You are an example of a person who uses phrases to sound intelligent, but really have no grasp of the meaning.

If my statement was a self fulfilling prophecy, then it would cause people to come here and become pathetic cry babies.

I think you meant my statement was generally ironic which is true.

Try to use words that you understand the meaning of.

[joe @ Jul 23rd 2008 2:15PM]

Cross platform PC gamer vs XBox360 in the same server????......Talk about a slaughter house. The server might have to balance the teams. Like 1 pcgamer vs 20 Xbox 360 players. Thats the only way it'll be fair. Those gaming pad, controler or whatever you call it has nothing on the mouse/keyboard.