http://forums.duke4.net/topic/6118-duke-nukem-3d-atomic-edition-and-shadow-warrior-complete-listed-in-steam-database/page__p__148585#entry148585

Interesting... this was one of the games that were on the steam database

Also, Halo 2's multiplayer service was extended, whilst they investigate further support options... so I wonder if that could mean anything.

https://twitter.com/DavidEllis/status/301374494252101632

The Halo 2 update is certainly an interesting development. With Microsoft apparently phasing out Games for Windows Live in favour of Steamworks (for desktop games) and Xbox Games for Windows (for WinRT games) this would make a lot of sense. These games are old enough to encourage interest in Halo 4 and the like without competing with them.

The ideal outcome would be for Microsoft to go back to porting Halo games to the PC on a delayed basis (so we get Halo 4 near the time Halo 5 launches, etc.); hopefully this is what is actually going to happen.

The Steam official groups for Halo 3 and the rest are still active. :D

Dear Flying Spaghetti Monster, please please please make Games for Windows Live die! Microsoft seems to be finally looking for GFWL retirement.

What does that mean in practise for existing GFWL games which require you to authenticate the game (at least once) on GFWL?

That's the smartest thing Microsoft has done in awhile. If its true

Stopping the addition of new titles doesn't mean the activation servers will go offline. Various popular GfWL games are still being actively sold, so the servers will probably be accessible for the foreseeable future.

There are also many older GfWL games that don't need to be activated--I think Dead Rising 2 was the first to make it the default, with everything before that working without activation unless the publisher specified that feature and/or included their own DRM. For games that don't have the activation requirement a local profile can access all of the game's offline functionality without asking for a product key or talking to any server.

Publishers can also choose to patch out GfWL in favour of Steamworks, of course; this has been done for Toy Soldiers, Gotham City Impostors and probably a few other games. Migrating a game to Steamworks means free publicity and a resurgence of interest, possibly justifying the cost of the transition.

Yes but even being able to use an offline profile doesn't mean we'll be able to play our games... Many players have had problems with GFWL in the past and new versions of Windows probably won't make it easier.

That's why I hate that system even though I bought a few titles that require it (but only on promo).

I wonder how deeply GFWL is implemented on the games. It might be easy to patch the games so, that the GFWL part wouldn't be needed anymore.

That would be great as I don't care to have achievements or community features in solo games like Batman.

Whoa, I didn't realise that the second one even made it to PC until just now! I knew we had the 1st one but I thought that was it...
Have the freeware version of the Marathon games on my backlog list before I think about Halo though...

Dear Flying Spaghetti Monster, please please please make Steamworks die!


There's ZERO difference between the two.

WTF is Duke+ and why should I give a shit about it?

I'd say Steamworks is a lot more... flexible and user friendly, but it's still the same demon with a different skin.

It sounds like it's Duke 3d with Steamworks added in it so it may have a newer engine.