Games for Windows Live Beheaded

Jason Wong • Jan 26, 2009 • Comments (0)

When the hammer falls, it falls even on the bigwigs. Chris Early, former general manager of Games for Windows (GFW) Live, was one of the 1600 employees laid off from Microsoft. There was little surprise, given the epic failure of the GFW Live service, which launched in May 2007.

Subscribers to GFW Live, signed up with a unique Gamertag that could be carried over from Xbox Live. In addition to being able to play online, subscribers could maintain unified friends lists, send and receive messages, and unlock Achievements. The service also allowed PC gamers to play against 360 gamers on cross-platform games, like Shadowrun.

If you're a savvy PC gamer, what price are you willing to pay for these features? $49.99? No, try again. Zero, that's right! Why would a PC user forego playing multiplayer games for free, like they traditionally have, only to pay Microsoft premium prices for some paltry community features? Steam offers more and better for free. GFW Live eventually became a free service in July 2008, but the damage was done. Now with its head gone, is the body far behind? RIP, GFW Live. Sorry we didn't get to know you, because you were a cold, hard mistress.