Key Takeaways
1. Microsoft ended Games for Windows Live in 2013, impacting PC games that relied on the service.
2. Lost Planet 2 and other Capcom titles have dropped multiplayer support, frustrating players.
3. Capcom is working on solutions to restore online features, but many players are still waiting.
4. The discontinuation of online services raises concerns about preserving games that need online connectivity.
5. Capcom’s updates suggest a possibility of reviving multiplayer features for affected Steam titles in the future.
Publishers are still navigating the consequences of Microsoft ending Games for Windows Live. While recent Steam titles no longer depend on this online service, fans of Lost Planet 2 were taken aback by an unexpected change. The 2010 third-person shooter has officially dropped support for multiplayer. Similar updates were made for Street Fighter X Tekken and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City by Capcom.
A Brief History of Games for Windows Live
Games for Windows Live was launched by Microsoft in 2007 to bring Xbox Live-like features to PC gaming. However, in 2013, the company announced its discontinuation, transitioning to the Xbox Network and Microsoft Store. Games that relied on GFWL continued to function for several years before publishers started to remove titles from Steam. Lost Planet 2 is particularly noteworthy because its multiplayer aspect is a core part of what makes the game enjoyable.
Capcom’s Response to the Changes
Capcom had already stopped the sale of affected games, but they suggested that a resolution was in the works. Gamers hoped that the publisher would switch online features to Steamworks. Resident Evil 5 received a similar update, but players of Lost Planet 2 and Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City are still waiting. In some instances, players have lost their local save data, erasing years of progress. Furthermore, prior methods to keep online play alive are no longer available.
The Future of Online Gaming
The collapse of Games for Windows Live brings attention to the issues of preserving games that depend on online connectivity. When companies shut down or servers go offline, these games risk becoming unplayable. With the growing popularity of the live-service model, there may be more issues on the horizon. Nonetheless, Capcom seems determined to resolve the issues with several of its Steam titles. Recent updates might hint at the potential return of these games to the marketplace with functional multiplayer features.
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