Games for Windows – Live
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| Developer | Microsoft Corporation |
|---|---|
| Type | |
| Launch date |
Games for Windows – Live: May 29, 2007 Games on Demand: December 15, 2009 |
| Current version | 3.5.95.0 |
| Last updated | February 20, 2014 |
| Platform | PC |
| Operating system | Designed for Windows XP and Windows 7; Still works on Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 |
| Status | Discontinued |
Games for Windows – Live or GFWL (trademarked as Games for Windows – LIVE) is an 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 much more. Some games allow for cross-platform play, such as Shadowrun, putting Windows players against Xbox 360 players.
The service is open to third-party developers, but they must be able to meet certain Technical Certification Requirements (TCRs), which include (but are not limited to): game ratings, total number of Gamerscore points, content, game profiles, and Live connectivity. Games for Windows – Live games must also meet standard Games for Windows (games that do not have Live support) TCRs. The same developer support infrastructure is available as with the Xbox 360. Assistance to developers is provided through the Microsoft XNA Developer Connection.
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.
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