We have been hearing rumours about a possible shutdown of the Games for Windows Live service for over a year now. These rumours started with an inadvertent blog on the Microsoft support page that denoted July 1, 2014 as the last date for Games for Windows Live. Microsoft, realizing the mistake, soon removed this blog post.
How all this rumours started in the first place?
Back in August 2013, Age of Empires Online game made an announcement regarding the end of their service on the Game for Windows Live platform and the subsequent move to Steam, the rival and more popular online gaming service. But, in their blog post, it was mentioned along with this statement that this would coincide with the end of Games for Windows Live service.
The very enthusiastic online gaming community was paying attention to all these blogs and announcements on Microsoft support page. Therefore, though Microsoft quickly removed this untrue post, many of the gaming enthusiasts had already read it, and the news quickly spread to the online tech magazines and other gaming forums.
In addition, these rumours led many game developer teams migrate from the Games for Windows Live to rival platforms before this unofficial deadline. Interestingly, one of these game developer teams that made this migration is actually owned by Microsoft.
Games for Windows Live service still online
However, on July 1, the Games for Windows Live service did not go offline as expected. Yes, the Age of Empires Online game title officially ended their service on the platform as announced, but the Games for Windows Live service is still available.
It is now clear that the information mentioned in the initial blog post was not true. However, you cannot blame the online gamers and game developers for assuming that Microsoft was indeed going to shutdown their online gaming service. Microsoft has been neglecting their online gaming service for long, focusing more on Xbox gaming consoles and the Xbox Live gaming service, both of which are more popular than the Games for Windows Live service.
Nevertheless, this is all set to change. Microsoft recently released a statement reaffirming their support to online PC gaming. Therefore, PC gamers do not have to worry at all about the end of Games for Windows Live. If Microsoft indeed shuts down this online PC gaming service, it will only be to replace it with a new revamped one.
How all this rumours started in the first place?
Back in August 2013, Age of Empires Online game made an announcement regarding the end of their service on the Game for Windows Live platform and the subsequent move to Steam, the rival and more popular online gaming service. But, in their blog post, it was mentioned along with this statement that this would coincide with the end of Games for Windows Live service.
The very enthusiastic online gaming community was paying attention to all these blogs and announcements on Microsoft support page. Therefore, though Microsoft quickly removed this untrue post, many of the gaming enthusiasts had already read it, and the news quickly spread to the online tech magazines and other gaming forums.
In addition, these rumours led many game developer teams migrate from the Games for Windows Live to rival platforms before this unofficial deadline. Interestingly, one of these game developer teams that made this migration is actually owned by Microsoft.
Games for Windows Live service still online
However, on July 1, the Games for Windows Live service did not go offline as expected. Yes, the Age of Empires Online game title officially ended their service on the platform as announced, but the Games for Windows Live service is still available.
It is now clear that the information mentioned in the initial blog post was not true. However, you cannot blame the online gamers and game developers for assuming that Microsoft was indeed going to shutdown their online gaming service. Microsoft has been neglecting their online gaming service for long, focusing more on Xbox gaming consoles and the Xbox Live gaming service, both of which are more popular than the Games for Windows Live service.
Nevertheless, this is all set to change. Microsoft recently released a statement reaffirming their support to online PC gaming. Therefore, PC gamers do not have to worry at all about the end of Games for Windows Live. If Microsoft indeed shuts down this online PC gaming service, it will only be to replace it with a new revamped one.
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