Microsoft: GFW Live is now fully free, new GFW Marketplace coming this Fall.

[warcrow]

At the Gamefest 2008 event on Tuesday, Microsoft announced that all Games for Windows Live multiplayer features are now free. These features -- including multiplayer achievements, matchmaking, cross-platform play with the Xbox 360, GFW voice chat, and more -- previously required a GFW Live Gold account. The change is effective immediately and across all GFW titles, both past and future.

In addition to making Games for Windows Live free, Microsoft will also be creating a brand new GFW marketplace this fall to rival the marketplace found on the Xbox 360. As with the Xbox Live Marketplace, GFW's will offer demos, videos, downloadable content, and more. The GFW interface will also receive some tech-friendly changes, lowering requirements for developers looking to make their games GFW compatible.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3168931

Oh SNAP! MS is working has at taking some of the wind out of PSN's sails--but we also can thank Sony for this me thinks.

 

[mugs]

I really don't think this has anything to do with Sony or taking the wind out of PSN's sails, I think this is more about PC gamers not being willing to pay for stuff.

 

[Modeps]

Wow, its about damn time they did something with GFW that wasnt super lame. I'll probably be picking up DoW2... yay achivers!

Originally posted by: mugs
I really don't think this has anything to do with Sony or taking the wind out of PSN's sails, I think this is more about PC gamers not being willing to pay for stuff.

Yeah, I agree with Mugs... GFW Live, in its current state, is a failure, and they're just trying to get it back up and running.

 

[gorcorps]

Why is this in the console section? Isn't this like 100% PC news?

 

[MmmSkyscraper]

LOL, no-one gives a shit. GFW is bollocks.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Yeah, the real question is... why wasn't GFW Live free in the first place? Like every other non-MMORPG game on PC ever?

 

[RallyMaster]

I refuse to pay to get downloadable content.

Wait, I retract my statement because I spent 10 bucks on downloadable content for Test Drive Unlimited and then never played it more than three times afterwards before getting a 360 (no Xbox Live).

 

[SunnyD]

I don't understand why people are raising such a big stink about it. All of what - 2 games for Live support cross-platform play? Big deal. Once more games support cross-platform then people should start complaining that XBL still has a fee.

 

[lupi]

Damn, and I never used those free 1 month coupons.


Hey, anyone want to buy some 1 month free GFW coupons.

 

[abaez]

Which games are up for cross-platform? I really hope its halo 3 - I need to school my trash talking cousins in Halo 3 and there is no way I can do it with a controller.

 

[shingletingle]

Originally posted by: abaez
Which games are up for cross-platform? I really hope its halo 3 - I need to school my trash talking cousins in Halo 3 and there is no way I can do it with a controller.

Yeah, you go ahead get right on that. I'm sure you'll find a way to compete with 360 Halo 3 players despite the fact that Halo 3 isn't available on the PC.

 

[PingSpike]

Microsoft is offering a free turd?

 

[abaez]

Originally posted by: shingletingle

Originally posted by: abaez
Which games are up for cross-platform? I really hope its halo 3 - I need to school my trash talking cousins in Halo 3 and there is no way I can do it with a controller.

Yeah, you go ahead get right on that. I'm sure you'll find a way to compete with 360 Halo 3 players despite the fact that Halo 3 isn't available on the PC.

Wishful thinking that it might eventually show up.

 

[Piuc2020]

I think it's really great that Microsoft is pushing PC Gaming, I mean, with the GFW designation that demands 360 Controller compatibility we don't even need to buy consoles now for games like Mass Effect and Devil May Cry 4 or GRID, GTA IV is likely to come to the PC as well and that will obviously support the 360 controller.

Heck, I see no reason to buy a console now other than MGS4.

 

[tigersty1e]

They're not trying to help us PC gamers.

Nobody was buying those lame accounts... they had to make it free.

 

[Canai]

Alas the time of paying for maps and content has come!

 

[Piuc2020]

Originally posted by: tigersty1e
They're not trying to help us PC gamers.

Nobody was buying those lame accounts... they had to make it free.

I thought listening to complaints and addressing them was a good thing :roll:

 

[Inspector Jihad]

Originally posted by: Canai
Alas the time of paying for maps and content has come!

:laugh:

 

[zagood]

Originally posted by: PingSpike
Microsoft is offering a free turd?

oooooooooh...shiny.

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: Piuc2020
I think it's really great that Microsoft is pushing PC Gaming, I mean, with the GFW designation that demands 360 Controller compatibility we don't even need to buy consoles now for games like Mass Effect and Devil May Cry 4 or GRID, GTA IV is likely to come to the PC as well and that will obviously support the 360 controller.

Heck, I see no reason to buy a console now other than MGS4.

And maybe Madden Football for all the EA/NFL exclusive deal supporting lemmings.

I think in the PC segment, MS realized a paid Live Gold membership offers nothing over what Steam offers, and obviously Steam is free. Publishing houses are flocking to Steam in the PC arena already, so MS needed to make GFWL Gold free to even have a chance at competing.

My main argument for not buying a 360 is most of the games I want to play on 360 are available on the PC with 360 controller support, and my graphics look better than the console graphics.

 

[BladeVenom]

Another story I read said that MS was going to be giving refunds to those who purchased GFW Gold accounts.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Another story I read said that MS was going to be giving refunds to those who purchased GFW Gold accounts.

In order to do this, Microsoft said they would have to take a charge against their earnings for the quarter in the amount of US$76.00.

 

[lupi]

Originally posted by: PingSpike

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
Another story I read said that MS was going to be giving refunds to those who purchased GFW Gold accounts.

In order to do this, Microsoft said they would have to take a charge against their earnings for the quarter in the amount of US$76.00.

:laugh:

 

[Aikouka]

I hope this isn't going to be another application... I prefer not cluttering my system up with random applications that I'll rarely ever use. Steam is enough at this point.