CNET's Rich Brown writes:
We had a chance to talk to Kevin Unangst, Microsoft's Senior Director of Global Gaming, and he provided some more details.
What was the deciding factor that lead Microsoft to drop the Gold-level membership fee for Games for Windows Live?
Since we introduced Games for Windows Live we've listened to developers and to PC gamers and they said look, there's a baseline expectation that multiplayer is a service that is just free on Windows; that is just how it works. Looking at it from a competitive angle, it makes sense for us to deliver on that expectation and to go above and beyond. We're confident we have the best matchmaking service on the planet with TruSkill matchmaking and we want to make sure that's available to the largest group of Windows gamers. Making this decision really was a natural part of focusing on what gamers want and what game developers told us what they wanted.
The XDefiant preload launch times have been revealed along with the road to launch! Matchnaking factors explained in detail.
"The Leamington Spa-based (the UK) indie games publisher Kwalee and Simon Fredholm (A Swedish indie games developer), today announced with great joy and excitement that their rhythm shooter “Robobeat, is now available for PC via Steam and EGS." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
"The Madrid-based (Spain) indie games developer Póntica are today very happy and excited to announce that their upcoming comic-style Metroidvania "Plus Ultra: Legado", is coming to Kickstarter on May 16th, 2024 (the game is currently in development for PC and the Nintendo Switch)." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
