Microsoft "continues to support" Games for Windows Live

As we reported in September , Xbox Live will be a major part of Windows 8. Despite concerns that PC gamers are being pushed to the sidelines in favour of the console service, this has the potential to be a very good thing. After all, well-integrated support for games could do away with the need for Games for Windows Live, whose primary purpose seems to be to inject a strain of Kafka-esque absurdity into our hobby.

"Microsoft continues to support the Games for Windows platform" their response reads, "but we are making new investments in Metro style games. For the core PC gamer we launched 'Age of Empires Online' last year and 'Microsoft Flight' on February 29."

This comes as gamers rally to prevent the upcoming Dark Souls PC from using the service . Its unpopularity comes from its tendency to foist multiple updates on players and its occasional ability to break games entirely.

Microsoft seem keen to reassure us that they're still producing PC-exclusive games, but it's only by solving the well-documented issues with their online gaming service that they're going to win back the support of players. I recently got trapped in a cycle of broken GfWL updates while trying to play the Mortal Kombat Kollection, a curse I only broke when I tempted a passing stranger into taking my place. Sometimes, when it's very quiet, I can still hear the sound of distant yelling coming from my Steam library.

Joining in 2011, Chris made his start with PC Gamer turning beautiful trees into magazines, first as a writer and later as deputy editor. Once PCG's reluctant MMO champion , his discovery of Dota 2 in 2012 led him to much darker, stranger places. In 2015, Chris became the editor of PC Gamer Pro, overseeing our online coverage of competitive gaming and esports. He left in 2017, and can be now found making games and recording the Crate & Crowbar podcast.