Games For Windows Live

Games For Windows Live - an online gaming service from Microsoft, launched in 2007 and no longer developed, which once served to organize network games on your PC and link them with the Xbox 360 console. In some projects where the gameplay was not too dependent on the input devices used (for example, Shadowrun), even cross-platform multiplayer was supported. However, players had a lot of complaints about this service because of the poorly organized interface and problems with the stability of the connection in the network game. At one time, even petitions were made demanding the removal of GFWL from individual games (those where it worked particularly poorly).

Because of its unpopularity, Microsoft closed the Games for Windows Marketplace in August 2013, and new games stopped using GFWL. Many publishers later removed GFWL from their games or replaced it with Steamworks. The service itself was never fully switched off: players can still install previously purchased games with Games For Windows Live, but signing in is slow, sign-in through the Marketplace client no longer works, and the online features in some games may not be available.

In general, GFWL was a very controversial service that was often criticized. Nevertheless, there were some positive moments in it. In addition to the abovementioned cross-platform multiplayer, the service also supported automatic updating of games, had a single Gamertag account shared with Xbox LIVE, offered users a well-designed system of achievements and even its own digital content store - Games on Demand (now also closed).

One main benefit of using Games For Windows Live was its support for cross-platform multiplayer gaming on PC and Xbox 360.