Games for Windows Live to be killed off

Microsoft’s justifiably maligned and generally terrible Games for Windows Lives (GFWL) ~~malware~~ DRM and PC gaming social platform, will be shut down on 1 July 2014.

The news comes via RPS, who spotted the announcement (since removed) on the Age of Empires Online support page:

“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.”

This raises the question of what will happen to games infused with the dastardly DRM that requires a call home every time a gamer attempts to play. Will Microsoft patch out GFWL, or will we be left with unplayable games? RPS tried to get comment from Microsoft, but no info was forthcoming.

Also, this seems to indicate that Age of Empires Online will be shutting down in July 2014.

In related news, Microsoft previously revealed they are closing the Games for Windows Live marketplace, citing a push to restructure its marketplace strategy, which also saw the transition away from Microsoft Points to real regional currency.

Microsoft has said that no purchases may be made after 22 August; however, previously purchased games and items may still be downloaded after that date.

This news comes in the wake of a former Valve employee joining Microsoft; Jason Holtman was instrumental in the success of Valve’s Steam digital distribution platform, and in brokering deals with publishers.

With a new console on the horizon and a strong push into the digital marketplace, Holtman may well prove vital to Microsoft’s digital distribution success. Could he already be making changes?