Third party adoption is almost nil at this point so I'm not worried, Microsoft can keep putting out press releases, it's about all they're good for on the PC these days.

Well, that's disappointing if true. If MS doesn't shut down GFWL, they sure as hell won't improve it either. It will continue to linger like a tumor. Thankfully, it looks like almost every publisher and developer has already abandoned it so at the very least, we won't have to bother with it in future titles.

The erroneousness GFWL shutdown post and correction by Microsoft.

Eurogamer.net article

"Games for Windows Live will be discontinued on July 1, 2014. Although it is available through Steam, Age of Empires Online requires features of the Games for Windows Live service. You can continue to enjoy all the features of Age of Empires Online as the service will remain 100 per cent operational until July 1, 2014 when the server will shut down."

UPDATE: Microsoft has responded to our inquiry about Games for Windows Live's impending closure with a cryptic message about believing in PC gaming and having a long-term plan to grow.

The company's official statement is as follows:

"Yesterday, an Age of Empires support web page communicated that the free to play Age of Empires Online will be discontinued on July 1, 2014. We believe in Windows/PC gaming and have long-term plans to grow our support. We expect there to be transitions as we build out new investments, but we remain committed to bringing first party gaming services and games to Windows for years to come. We will share more details in the future."

AOEO (a GFWL MMORTS) will shutdown on July 1st. Fact!

Age of Empires Online blog

Age of Empires Online will close on July 1, 2014. On that day, the service will cease to function, and no further games can be played. The servers will be taken offline, and no features of the game or the game service will work without the servers. Until that date, the game will continue to fully function just as it does now. You can quest, raid, chat and trade as much as you like until then.

Wikipedia.org AEOE

Wiki article referring to AOEO July 1 shutdown blog post.

It's not GFWL that will shutdown, it's AOEO.

jimnms wrote on Jan 19, 2014, 05:28:
So Steam should die too? If you enable cloud saves on Steamworks games, your save files are placed in Steam's userdata directory. When you disable cloud saving the game stores the saves in the typical places (either your documents directory, the game's directory).

I never had GFWL "eat" save files for either Fallout 3 or GTA IV. GFWL was set to offline and the save files for those games were stored in the My Documents directory, not GFWL's directory. Steam has been known to "eat" save files too, which is why I disabled Steam cloud completely. When I tried to start a new game of DXHR, after quitting it would delete my new game's saves and re-download my old game saves from the cloud every time.

It's not the same as it functions differently. I can disable steam cloud and continue my save game with no issues. In GFWL if you start a game with an online profile you have to hack it if you want to play offline since it takes the douche step of encrypting the file. eSteamworks is there for convenience, GFWL is there to protect a useless gamerscore on an entirely different platform. There simply is no comparison between the two, GFWL earned it's hate. The service being shut down is a boon to the PC.

Steam prompts you to choose between local and cloud saves if there's a discrepancy.

You never had GFWL eat save games, huge amounts of people have.

This comment was edited on Jan 19, 2014, 16:17.

Jerykk wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 19:46:
Unfortunately, you can't use DLC with offline accounts. Also, I think some games require online accounts.

At least with Fallout 3 you can. Even if you bought the DLC through GFWL, the DLC files had no DRM on them and could be moved into the Fallout3\Data directory and activated with the launcher.

NegaDeath wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 22:53:
Here's the thing though, that's a stupid fucking feature. A platform that has different save files between online and offline modes deserves to die.

And it doesn't solve the issue of GFWL eating save files between play sessions.

So Steam should die too? If you enable cloud saves on Steamworks games, your save files are placed in Steam's userdata directory. When you disable cloud saving the game stores the saves in the typical places (either your documents directory, the game's directory).

I never had GFWL "eat" save files for either Fallout 3 or GTA IV. GFWL was set to offline and the save files for those games were stored in the My Documents directory, not GFWL's directory. Steam has been known to "eat" save files too, which is why I disabled Steam cloud completely. When I tried to start a new game of DXHR, after quitting it would delete my new game's saves and re-download my old game saves from the cloud every time.

jimnms wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 18:47:
You probably used an online GFWL account. You do realize you can create an offline account and NEVER have to connect to GFWL. The save files are then stored in the game's directory instead of in the GFWL cloud save and buried somewhere in the appdata GFWL directory structure.

Here's the thing though, that's a stupid fucking feature. A platform that has different save files between online and offline modes deserves to die.

And it doesn't solve the issue of GFWL eating save files between play sessions.

jimnms wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 18:47:

Panickd wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 19:17:
Fallout 3 was already recently patched to drop GFWL. I cant imagine Rockstar not eventually rolling something out for GTA IV to rid themselves of it.

The Steam version was rumored to have removed GFWL, but I have yet to see anything official on this. The latest patch for the disk version is still v1.7 from 2009.

Ryan Lange wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 21:22:
You've obviously never reinstalled Windows and then attempted to continue with a save from before the reinstall.

I've only played two games that made use of GFWL (Batman: Arkham Asylum and Grand Theft Auto IV) and lost all progress in both of them thanks to GFWL. I haven't played either game since that happened.

Fuck GFWL.

You probably used an online GFWL account. You do realize you can create an offline account and NEVER have to connect to GFWL. The save files are then stored in the game's directory instead of in the GFWL cloud save and buried somewhere in the appdata GFWL directory structure.

And yes, I have used saves from previous installs made on different machines for both Fallout 3 and GTA IV. I like to backup my save files after finishing games. Before I played through Fallout 3 GOTY with a new character, I loaded a save made from my first game of Fallout 3 into the GOTY so I could play through the DLC.

I kept my 100% complete saves from GTA IV, TLAD and TBOGT which worked fine when I loaded them on GTA IV after building a new computer.

Unfortunately, you can't use DLC with offline accounts. Also, I think some games require online accounts.

Panickd wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 19:17:
Fallout 3 was already recently patched to drop GFWL. I cant imagine Rockstar not eventually rolling something out for GTA IV to rid themselves of it.

The Steam version was rumored to have removed GFWL, but I have yet to see anything official on this. The latest patch for the disk version is still v1.7 from 2009.

Ryan Lange wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 21:22:
You've obviously never reinstalled Windows and then attempted to continue with a save from before the reinstall.

I've only played two games that made use of GFWL (Batman: Arkham Asylum and Grand Theft Auto IV) and lost all progress in both of them thanks to GFWL. I haven't played either game since that happened.

Fuck GFWL.

You probably used an online GFWL account. You do realize you can create an offline account and NEVER have to connect to GFWL. The save files are then stored in the game's directory instead of in the GFWL cloud save and buried somewhere in the appdata GFWL directory structure.

And yes, I have used saves from previous installs made on different machines for both Fallout 3 and GTA IV. I like to backup my save files after finishing games. Before I played through Fallout 3 GOTY with a new character, I loaded a save made from my first game of Fallout 3 into the GOTY so I could play through the DLC.

I kept my 100% complete saves from GTA IV, TLAD and TBOGT which worked fine when I loaded them on GTA IV after building a new computer.

Jivaro wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 11:40:

TheWeaponeer wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 07:24:
(snip)

You mad bro?


(sorry, I couldn't help it.....)

Seriously, what is it with people having shit tantrums around here lately?

He ends with:

Now, I put on my flame retardent cloak and await the usual comments. Because this is the Internet, and that is how it works. So flame away

Yeah, cause it has nothing to do with his tone/attitude... "I'm not sure why I get flamed after I throw all this poop around!!!"

TheWeaponeer wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 07:24:
(snip)

You mad bro?


(sorry, I couldn't help it.....)

Kanrad wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 10:15:
However, I bought it and at the time forgot my normal GFWL login, was drunk, so I created a new one for this title. Shortly after only playing the first 30mins or so I had a HD crash. To this day I can not for the life of me figure out what i used for the login and none of my standard e-mails work for recovery.

LOL! Great story.

Try
Login: totallypissed@wtf.com
Password: beer

TheWeaponeer wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 07:24:
The missing titles are:

You missed Bulletstorm. Yeah I know a throw away title. However, I bought it and at the time forgot my normal GFWL login, was drunk, so I created a new one for this title. Shortly after only playing the first 30mins or so I had a HD crash. To this day I can not for the life of me figure out what i used for the login and none of my standard e-mails work for recovery. I suspect and error of Microsoft's end involving the CD-key since I can't seem to find what e-mails it linked to.

I'd like to give the game a try just for the hell of it but can't due to it's crap ass DRM.

TheWeaponeer wrote on Jan 18, 2014, 07:24:
Feel free to pass this on to Joystiq's staff - at least then they can save some face with a proper update to a half assed article.

It may perhaps be more likely if you pass it on yourself, they will notice.

Changes aren't permanent but change is. Suck it up buttercup.

I get an email telling me to check this article out. And you know what I can not stand about this "article"?

It is not the site that produced it - no, Joystiq has been a bastion of D-Level "journalism" for a while now, and that shows no sign of ever changing. It is why I gave up on their site long ago. I mean, who else would write an article like this without actually doing some research like Steven Wong obviously did?

A simple check against XBoxachievements.com's GFWL title list (besides the fact I own them all) would immediately tell you that this is not the complete gaming list for GFWL titles. Not even close. The article is missing many GFWL titles!

The missing titles are:

AFL Live
Age of Empires Online (How did you miss this one guys?)
Battle Vs. Chess (European release)
Battlestations Pacific (Square Enix now owns Eidos, yes?)
BioShock 2 Russian (This one still installs from a retail disc with GFWL included and has a different Achievement List)
CarneyVale: Showtime
Crash Time 4: The Syndicate
Hour of Victory
Juiced 2
Legend of the Galactic Heroes (Namco-Bandai, Japan only title)
Mahjong Wisdom
Osmos
Rugby League Live
Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends
Vancouver 2010 (Sega title)
Where's Waldo?
World of Goo

Batman Arkham Asylum is also not mentioned, but that one I can see why (it apparently falls under the GOTY changeover also).

The article also includes "Operation Flashpoint: Dragon Rising" which is NOT a GFWL title.

ACTUAL RESEARCH - COLLEGE DEGREED PEOPLE CAN NOT DO IT, WHY SHOULD YOU?

World of Goo, Osmos, and Dark Void are all GFWL specific versions and have their non-GFWL versions available on Steam already. Why would Capcom need to be concerned with their title but the other two companies do not? Because "journalism" is a lost art at Joystiq. You can tell Steven took a gander at his Steam library, shot off a couple of emails to some folks, and cranked out this tripe. A simple five minute lookup online would have done wonders here. The article is uneven, unresearched, and completely unprofessional - all hallmarks of Joystiq's staff and their inability to actually follow up on what they produce.

No, what I can not stand about this article is that this is an alarmist piece, nothing more. It should have a loop of Hulk Hogan screaming "Whatcha Gonna Do Brother?" at the end of it because that
is all this article is doing. It screams "SWITCH TO STEAMWORKS NNNNNNOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWW OR ELSE DDDDOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!!!!!" and not much else. The lack of research, the inability to take five minutes of time to check a website for confirmation of what is written in the article, and some obvious game omissions is all the proof you need to see this clearly. The service is on the way out, but some people just have ZERO patience for these kinds of things so the babies have to have their bottle RIGHT NOW.

It's Joystiq - I am not surprised. If you are going to preach this crap, come correct with it or not even try. It does the GFWL players absolutely no good at this juncture.

I own every single GFWL enabled title (mostly retail discs) and I can tell you that I will suffer more than you guys ever will with this issue. I already have. All I can do is play the games until
the service ends. And if you look at my gamertag, other than Gears of War games on the 360, that is exactly what I have been doing when school allows me too since mid-December.

And believe me, I have inquired about any kind of "check in" patch that at least allows the Zero Day Protection date check to be bypassed or to allow a simple Live sign in to update gamerscore. I have asked for some way to take my PC gamertag information, put it on a USB stick, and bring it over to the 360 for reasons just like this shutdown or loss of online so I could continue to play offline after the server goes away and still have it count towards my overall gamerscore. GFWL is part of the Live service the 360 uses RIGHT NOW, so this should be possible. But no, there is nothing out there now and it appears nothing is coming at all. That is fustrating to no end because Microsoft is not saying much at all.

As for the saves, a handful of the service's titles had save game issues. A HANDFUL. Most of the games under GFWL do not have that problem - but no one ever mentions that. I know this for a fact because I use the service way more than most of you ever did and I have moved multiple saves over multiple machines with no issues - even my own BioShock 2 saves, so that one is a shocker to me.

Feel free to pass this on to Joystiq's staff - at least then they can save some face with a proper update to a half assed article. Now, I put on my flame retardent cloak and await the usual comments. Because this is the Internet, and that is how it works. So flame away - you would surprise me more by actually not doing that but who am I to think people can be above such things?

I play Dark Souls on PC. GFWL was a pain in the ass to get working, since it needs to be running to play it.

This comment was edited on Jan 18, 2014, 04:58.

NegaDeath wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 22:27:

jacobvandy wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 21:44:
Since when does you failing to back up save files qualify something as DRM? That happens with games from GOG, too... Too bad they weren't using Steam Cloud. :p

He's probably referring to GFWL's notorious ability to eat save files. Happened to me as well on Arkham Asylum and Bioshock 2.

That's exactly the problem.

NegaDeath wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 22:27:

jacobvandy wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 21:44:
Since when does you failing to back up save files qualify something as DRM? That happens with games from GOG, too... Too bad they weren't using Steam Cloud. :p

He's probably referring to GFWL's notorious ability to eat save files. Happened to me as well on Arkham Asylum and Bioshock 2.

Yep, that right there is why I hated GFWL. I remember having the issue on Gears of War and being told by Epic it was because I was playing a pirated copy.. (I wasn't.) Then they had the nerve to wonder why PC gamers hated GoW.

It's too bad Bethesda decided to go the cheap route for Fallout 3. They didn't move anything over to Steam. So the achievements are just gone.

jacobvandy wrote on Jan 17, 2014, 21:44:
Since when does you failing to back up save files qualify something as DRM? That happens with games from GOG, too... Too bad they weren't using Steam Cloud. :p

He's probably referring to GFWL's notorious ability to eat save files. Happened to me as well on Arkham Asylum and Bioshock 2.