trivard676
The end is nigh for Games for Windows Live (GFWL). The system, which handled the DRM, achievements and multiplayer for a long list of PC games closed its marketplace features in August and a support article for Age of Empires indicated that the service itself would shut down on July 1 of this year.
Back in October, Capcom stated that the GFWL client would be removed from all of its PC titles, however they were unsure as to how they were actually going to do that. Regardless, they assured that the games would still be playable after the service shut down, which was comforting to say the least. Especially for people who…you know, actually owned them. Unfortunately, it would appear as if the folks over at Capcom have changed their minds on the subject. According to Joystiq, Capcom has no official plans to remove GFWL from the following games.
- Dark Void
- Dead Rising 2
- Dead Rising 2: Off the Record
- Lost Planet 2
- Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition
- Resident Evil 5
- Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City
- Street Fighter x Tekken
Yikes.
Out of all of the publishers asked, both Capcom and Microsoft had no plans for so many of their games. As a matter of fact, the only game Capcom actually still plans to remove GFWL from and implement Steamworks with was Super Street Fighter IV/Arcade Edition.
What does this actually mean for people who own the games after the service shuts down? Some games will lose multiplayer elements (which would kill both Resident Evil titles entirely) or lose access to any purchased DLC. Others may not be able to be reinstalled onto your machine or be played at all.
To be fair (even though I kind of don’t want to be), these games are pretty old. Removing the client would be expending resources that more and more people are telling me that Capcom doesn’t have for games that probably aren’t going to make them any money. In that respect, I can understand that.
But what I don’t understand is why the following games are still available through Steam:
- Resident Evil 5 ($19.99)
- Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City and all DLC ($29.99 + DLC prices)
- Lost Planet 2 ($19.99)
- Lost Planet: Extreme Condition Colonies Edition ($19.99)
- Dark Void ($9.99)
- Dead Rising 2 ($19.99)
- Dead Rising 2: Off the Record ($29.99)
- Dead Rising 2 Complete Pack ($39.99)
- Street Fighter x Tekken and DLC ($29.99 + DLC prices)
I…what? Why the hell would you still consciously sell a game that may not even be playable in a few months? This isn’t entirely like the bargain bin at Walmart, either where you’d at least still have the physical copy and might be able to play it offline, or…return it to the cashier and say that it doesn’t fucking work. In some instances, GFWL won’t even let you get past the title screen or play the game at all unless you sign up for the service. These games are still regularly offered up in Steam sales too, meaning that they are still making Capcom money, also unlike the bargain bin at Walmart games.
Again – to be fair – Microsoft could release a patch itself to disable the GFWL requirement for these games, but they haven’t exactly stepped up to the plate to say that they’re going to. And with the Xbox One having its own host of issues that need fixing, Windows 8 getting on the last nerve of PC users and trying to shove Doritos and Mountain Dew ads in your face all day long, do you think that they’re going to?
[Source]
