Last week, it was revealed that Xbox.com's PC marketplace will be closed on August 22. Despite no longer being able to purchase games through the system, Microsoft confirmed you'd still be able to enjoy previously purchased content through the Games for Windows Live client software. But for how much longer?
If the Age of Empires Online support page is to be believed, Microsoft will be shutting down the actual Games for Windows Live service on July 1, 2014, possibly rendering certain games unplayable. Here's the exact overview:
Games for Windows Live will be discontinued on July 1, 2014. Although it is available through Steam, Age of Empires Online requires features of the Games for Windows Live service. You can continue to enjoy all the features of Age of Empires Online as the service will remain 100% operational until July 1, 2014 when the server will shut down. Please visit the Age of Empires Online forums for additional details.
If this is the case, what happens with other games that run with the Games for Windows Live software, like Dark Souls or the Batman: Arkham games? Will they be unplayable come July 1, 2014? We've reached out to Microsoft for clarification on the issue and will update when more is known.
I suppose we should've expected this. Just today, it was confirmed that the PC version Batman: Arkham Origins will use Steam for its Achievement system and multiplayer.
[NeoGaf]
