Kotaku: Games For Windows

Free-to-Play Microsoft Flight Launches February 29 Towing $20 Expansion

Mike Fahey — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:30:00 EST

Microsoft Flight Launches February 29 Towing $20 Expansion" alt="Click here to read Free-to-Play Microsoft Flight Launches February 29 Towing $20 Expansion" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2012/02/small_2157b067cf2b5b644216e95291c30bca.jpg"/>

Microsoft's casual take on the PC flight simulator takes to the air on February 29, the free-to-play title supplemented with $20 of downloadable content right out of the gate. why fly just one Hawaiian island when you can fly them all? More »

Age of Empires Online Gets Persians, Handful of New High-End Quests, Windows Phone App This Month

Brian Crecente — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:20:00 EDT

Age of Empires Online Gets Persians, Handful of New High-End Quests, Windows Phone App This Month" alt="Click here to read Age of Empires Online Gets Persians, Handful of New High-End Quests, Windows Phone App This Month" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/10/small_screen1.jpg"/>

The Persians are coming to the Age of Empires Online next week, Microsoft confirmed today. More »

Why You Need to Play Age of Empires Online... And Believe My Lies

Brian Crecente — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:00:00 EDT

Age of Empires Online... And Believe My Lies" alt="Click here to read Why You Need to Play Age of Empires Online... And Believe My Lies" src="http://cache.kotaku.com/assets/images/9/2011/08/small_wonder_2.jpg"/>

Be warned: I am a strident fan of classic computer real-time strategy series Age of Empires and when finally given the opportunity to play a new take on the game I will go to great lengths to make sure it sticks around. More »

Microsoft, This Isn't Helping Win PC Gamers Over

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 01:30:00 EDT

Perhaps realising it wasn't exactly popular with gamers as a standalone marketplace, Microsoft recently decided to shift Games for Windows over to Xbox.com. That move has now taken place, and...it's gone about as well as you'd expect from Microsoft and PC gaming. More »

Microsoft Thought About Buying the Guys Who Make Crysis

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 01:00:00 EDT

Crytek are the developers behind the original Far Cry, Crysis, Crysis 2 and the Cryengine. They could also, but for the grace of God, have been bought out by Microsoft. More »

Bye Bye Games for Windows Marketplace, Hello Xbox.com

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:20:00 EDT

In what does not seem like a positive sign for Microsoft's Games For Windows efforts, the Games For Windows Marketplace is merging with Xbox.com, a move that the Xbox 360 maker says is for convenience and ease. More »

Microsoft's "Future Of PC Gaming" Video Is Terrifying

Luke Plunkett — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 04:30:00 EDT

Microsoft probably has many ideas on what constitutes the future of gaming on the PC. It's too big a company not to. But this particular one is so horrible you may not want to even see it. More »

A Quick Look At Fable III Playing on the PC

Brian Crecente — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:00:00 EST

We already knew that Fable III is coming to the computer, but Microsoft wanted to put worrying minds to rest but showing the game off in action at the Consumer Electronics Show today. More »

Can Microsoft's New Online Store Compete With Steam?

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 01:30:00 EST

As expected, Microsoft's new online shopfront for PC games has gone live. We were promised a bigger, better store. So has it delivered? More »

Games For Windows Gets a Bigger, Better Online Store Next Month

Brian Crecente — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:00:00 EDT

Next month Microsoft's Games for Windows website is getting an overhauled online store that will make purchasing computer games through the site easier, support Microsoft Points and nearly double the number of available titles. More »

Microsoft Promises More, Bigger Games For PC Owners

Luke Plunkett — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:00:00 EDT

Microsoft's two most recent PC game reveals were welcome, sure, but they were also catered towards a certain end of the market: the end that is cool with playing browser games. More »

Ex-Age Of Empires Devs Working On Microsoft Strategy Game [Update]

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 01:30:00 EDT

Microsoft's "Project S", a secret strategy game that we uncovered earlier today, isn't a Halo title. It is, however, being worked on by former Age of Empires developers. More »

Microsoft Seeks Testers For Secret 'Project S' Strategy Game [Updated]

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:30:00 EDT

The people who publish Age of Empires and Halo Wars have a secret real-time strategy title in the works for Games For Windows Live, which Microsoft Games Studios is calling "Project S." Other people are alpha testing it now. More »

Games On Demand for Windows, Now With Less Painful Waiting

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:00:00 EDT

Microsoft is getting serious about on-demand Games For Windows, convincing publishers like Capcom, Rockstar, Ubisoft and others to bring their PC wares to Games on Demand "day-and-date" with their release in stores. There's better news. More »

Hunted: The Demon's Forge Eyes-On

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 04 May 2010 15:40:00 EDT

The head of Hunted: The Demon's Forge developer, inXile Entertainment, doesn't take comparisons of his dark dungeon crawler to Gears of War unkindly—even if you're labeling it Spears of War and Gears of Warcraft. More »

A Brief New Look At Brink

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 04 May 2010 10:40:00 EDT

Why the long faces? Because these four screen shots comprise our only update on Splash Damage's first-person shooter Brink, a game that we would've had a brand new look at were it not for one attention-starved volcano. More »

Consider This Further Notice: Game Room Back On Schedule

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 03 May 2010 21:00:43 EDT

After a brief delay (and scary sounding update) in the flow of updates to Microsoft's Game Room virtual arcade for Xbox 360 and Games For Windows, things appear to be officially hunky-dory. More »

Resource File Might Hint at Future Plans for Xbox Game Room

Owen Good — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:20:00 EDT

Someone picked apart the resource file for the Microsoft Game Room - the PC version of the Xbox Game Room that launched this week - and found a curious Star Wars image that doesn't seem to fit anything. More »

BioShock 2 PC's Missing Gamepad Support Also Pissing People Off

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST

The lack of true widescreen support in the recently released BioShock 2 isn't the only shortcoming that has PC gamers steamed. The lack of gamepad support, including the Xbox 360 controller, isn't sitting well with the typically keyboard-and-mouse loving crowd. More »

No Mature Games Allowed In Xbox Game Room

Luke Plunkett — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 EST

One of the biggest potential stumbling points for the 360's (and PC's!) Game Room - having to secure an endless stream of ESRB ratings - has been solved in a fairly unique way by Microsoft. More »

More Hands-on Details From Xbox 360's Game Room

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 23:00:00 EST

Microsoft's newly announced Game Room for the Xbox 360 and Games For Windows platform was available to play on the CES show floor today, giving attendees a chance to go hands on with classics like Pitfall, Scramble and Tempest. More »

The First 30+ Games For Microsoft's New Game Room

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:30:00 EST

Microsoft confirmed last night it was bringing the Game Room virtual hang out space to Xbox 360 and Games For Windows this year, an online arcade and—ahem—virtual console for your Xbox Avatar. What games will Xbox 360 owners get? More »

Games For Windows On Demand Goes Live

Michael McWhertor — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:40:01 EST

Microsoft's catalog of Games For Windows titles have become that much more "on demand" as of today, with Games On Demand launching for interested PC gamers precisely on schedule. So, what's available? More »

Windows 7: What Happened to Gaming?

Brian Crecente — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:47:35 EDT

In 2006, then Microsoft Vice President Peter Moore apologized for what he called a dereliction of duty to the company's number one gaming platform: The PC. More »

Yes, Microsoft Will Still Publish PC Games

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:30:00 EDT

Microsoft used to publish lots of PC games. Now, though, they mostly don't. Sure, there's Gears of War, and a three years late port of Halo 2, but aside from that? Not much. More »

Empire: Total War Review: A Whiff Of Grapeshot

Luke Plunkett — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:30:00 EDT

Hrm. An Empire: Total War review. Where to start, where to start... It's tough! Tough like trying to sum up War & Peace in Haiku. More »

Epic Explains Gears Meltdown

Owen Good — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:00:00 EST

A digital certificate that expired on Wednesday borked the original Gears of War for PC players; Epic is working up a fix. Meantime, VP Mark Rein has given an explanation and an apology. More »

Is Your Copy Of Gears Of War PC Busted? Here's Why

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:20:02 EST

Owners of the "Games For Windows" release of Gears Of War have found themselves unable to play the game they own today. The reason? An expired Windows digital certificate, which went digitally sour yesterday. More »

800 Point XBL Cards Might Be At A Retailer Near You

Luke Plunkett — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:30:00 EST

They've been on the boil for a while, but it seems Microsoft are only now giving consumers the option of buying a smaller, cheaper allocation of Microsoft Points from a retail store. More »

The Last Remnant Gets Windowsed In Spring

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:20:04 EST

Square Enix's "strategically sound, technically flawed" role-playing game The Last Remnant is coming to Games for Windows in the Spring, the company announced today. Expect "features previously not available" on the Xbox 360 version. More »

DirectX 11 Won't Repeat The Windows-Exclusive Sins Of It's Father

Luke Plunkett — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 01:00:00 EST

When Windows Vista shipped, it shipped alongside DirectX 10. DirectX 10 would only run with Vista. It wouldn't run with the faster, more stable, more popular Windows XP. This made those running games on XP unhappy. Well, fast forward a few years, and the next release of a Windows OS - Windows 7 - won't be repeating the same mistake. Microsoft's Product Marketing Manager Windows, Ben Basaric, has gone on record saying that while Windows 7 will be shipping with DX11 support (which will add features like allowing a graphics processor to process more than just graphics), it will also run on Windows Vista. So no need to go upgrading. Well...unless you're one of millions still using XP... More »

Microsoft Plans To Compete With Steam Via Live Marketplace

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:00:50 EST

Games for Windows Live general manager Chris Early tells Shacknews in a soon-to-be published interview that Microsoft has designs on digitally distributing full PC games via Live Marketplace, saying selling games a la Steam is "on our road map." A forthcoming update to Games For Windows Live will bring about the capability to download demos, media, and microtransaction caliber content. More »

GTA IV PC Delayed, Final System Requirements Revealed

Michael McWhertor — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:00:00 EDT

Rockstar Games has officially pushed back the release of Grand Theft Auto IV for the PC, settling on a two-week delay and a new December 2nd release date. The date confirms what was reflected at retailer listings updated earlier this week. According to IGN, the official minimum and recommended PC system requirements have also been revealed. The recommended requirements closely match what was posted on the official Games For Windows site — then pulled — last month. The full specs are after this. More »

Retailers Say Grand Theft Auto IV PC Delayed To Dec. 2

Michael McWhertor — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 16:40:00 EDT

According to various retail listings, Rockstar Games' PC port of Grand Theft Auto IV may not make its announced Nov. 18 release date. Both Amazon and GameStop are currently listing the Games For Windows release as Dec. 2, meaning a two week delay may be in order. More »

Why No Gears Of War 2 For PC? Well, Piracy For One

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:30:38 EDT

Epic Games won't be bringing Gears of War 2 to the PC. That's their story and they're stickin' to it. It's "definitely" not happening, swears designer Cliff Bleszinski, pointing to a worsening PC gaming environment. "The person who is savvy enough to want to have a good PC to upgrade their video card, is a person who is savvy enough to know [BitTorrent] to know all the elements so they can pirate software," says Bleszinski. "Therefore, high-end videogames are suffering very much on the PC." Hmph! Thanks a lot, assholes. Oh, not you, Cliff. We were talking to the dude stealing your game. Gears Of War 2 - Cliff Bleszinski Q&A [TVG] More »

How Grand Theft Auto IV Might Just Save Games for Windows

Owen Good — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EDT

After two underwhelming years spent trying to be just as essential to PC gaming as Xbox Live is to console, Grand Theft Auto IV might just take Games for Windows and kiss away all its tears of frustration. Or, if Microsoft drops the ball, it could be another nail in the coffin of PC gaming, writes Wired. That might piss off PC gamers who are just fine with Steam and are tired of hearing more talk about how their way of life is going extinct. But Microsoft's exclusive control of GTA:IV for the PC does have implications for PC gaming at large. More »

Here Are GTA IV PC's Recommended System Requirements

Michael McWhertor — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 21:00:38 EDT

If you plan on building (or upgrading) a PC around the upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto IV, the official Games For Windows web site has a helpful rough estimate for what kind of hardware you're gonna need. To make it look as pretty as the version we saw, which ran just shy of 2560 x 1600, expect to bring some serious computing power to the table. While the minimum system requirements for the Windows version of GTA IV are still a mystery, the recommended requirements are yours for the studying. Recommended operating system? Windows XP SP2, natch. For the hard stuff, make the jump. Processor: Dual core processor (Intel Pentium D or better) RAM: 2GB Hard Drive: 18GB free hard disk space Video Card: 512MB Direct3D 10 compatible video card or Direct3D 9 card compatible with Shader Drive: DVD-ROM dual-layer drive 18 gigabytes, eh? In the age of the terabyte home storage solution, Grand Theft Auto IV spreading out across that much platter isn't shocking, just a tad hard to absorb. (Ask me about my 80GB drive some time!) We're checking in with Rockstar to make sure these figures are on the up and up, but until someone says otherwise, we'd think it's safe to start trolling NewEgg for whatever your needs may be. Thanks to Mikko for the pointer. GTA IV [Games for Windows] More »

Halo 3 Coming To Windows... Confirmed?

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:00:04 EDT

Reader Simon wrote in to us this weekend to let us know that he'd received an e-mail, one targeted at "subscribers to the MS download email service", that listed Halo 3 as one of the downloadable demos that take advantage of DirectX. Does that mean that Halo 3 is confirmed for a Games For Windows release? Not so fast, pal. Sure, it's entirely possible, given that Halo and Halo 2 both made the Xbox 360 to PC jump about two years after their respective console releases. And, sure, games like Gears of War have been inadvertently "announced" for the Windows platform in marketing materials, but you're really jumping to conclusions here. You think Microsoft is going to let something like this leak? After all, only about 98.44% of Microsoft-based rumors are true. We're following up with the company to get our sweet taste of carefully worded denial right now. More »

Free Xbox Live Silver Online Play Confirmed, Explained, Limited

Michael McWhertor — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 21:30:33 EDT

Over the weekend we posted a rumor about Xbox Live's second class citizens having access to online play on select titles. It's not a rumor anymore, as Microsoft has confirmed that Silver level Live members can indeed have online visitation rights with their Xbox 360 buddies and not just on the weekends. It's all part of an unannounced promotion, we learned. More »

How Long Til We Get XBLA Games On PC?

Luke Plunkett — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:30:00 EDT

As can be witnessed by their decision to, after only a year, cut their losses and start offering the service for free, Microsoft's Games for Windows Live initiative hasn't exactly set the world on fire. But just because it hasn't, doesn't mean that it can't. What could help spice things up a little? How about, oh, the ability to play XBLA games on both your 360 and PC? Would that help? It's something Microsoft are obviously thinking about, because after being asked about the subject by 1UP's Shawn Elliot, Microsoft's Kevin Unangst replies: More »