Home

 › 

Articles

 › 

Microsoft Announces Xbox Live for PC

Microsoft Announces Xbox Live for PC

None

Since E3 2006, Microsoft has been promising Live Anywhere, a service that would connect mobile phones, PCs, and Xbox 360s with a universal account. It seems the company may be one closer to make the dream a reality.

Microsoft has officially announced Games for Windows – Live, the PC portion of Live Anywhere. Beginning on May 8, Windows Vista owners will be able to begin collecting achievements, creating a Gamerscore, compiling friends lists, and sending text and voice messages. If you already have an Xbox Live account, you also have a Games for Windows – Live account at no extra cost. Don’t have a Live account, but want a Games for Windows – Live account? The pricing will be the same. Silver memberships will be free and Gold memberships will be available for $49.99 for a year.

Silver memberships will allow for single-player achievements, private text and voice chat, friends lists, and PC-only multiplayer, including browsing a list of active PC games.

Gold benefits will include all silver benefits along with multiplayer matchmaking with friends, TrueSkill matchmaking, multiplayer achievements, and cross-platform gameplay.

And if this isn’t exciting enough, the first game available for Games for Windows – Live will be Halo 2, also available on May 8. Following closely behind Halo 2 will be Shadowrun, which allows Xbox 360 and Vista gamers to play with or against each other, and Uno, the Xbox Live Arcade hit.

Games for Windows – Live will look similar to Xbox Live on the Xbox 360, but no Marketplace feature will be available yet. We will keep you posted as more information becomes available.

To top