Games For Windows Gets Settlers

At Leipzig's Games Convention, Microsoft has announced that its Games for Windows initiative has expanded with the addition of Ubisoft to its roster, who will kick off the campaign by delivering The Settlers: Rise of an Empire under the Games for Windows brand. Ubisoft is the latest publisher to support the brand, joining 2K Games, Activision, Atari, EA Partners, LucasArts, Microsoft Game Studios, Midway, and SEGA. Microsoft says the brand "ensures a high level of quality, compatibility and support for key safety features for gaming on Windows." At the same time, Microsoft also announced that its own Game Studios' Train Simulator 2 will also carry the Games for Windows mark. The game is described as "the most realistic train simulation experience ever from Microsoft, allowing train enthusiasts to explore the world’s rail network or build their own in a detailed and immersive world." On a related note, Microsoft also announced the return of its SideWinder brand of gaming peripherals, starting with a new Microsoft SideWinder Mouse, which it says is "built from the ground up for gamers," and "developed to meet gamers’ individual needs, providing custom tuning tools and a design for performance handling." Said Games for Windows global director Kevin Unangst, “Today we and our partners announced several products that dramatically improve the experience — and fun — for Windows gamers. The addition of Ubisoft to the Games for Windows program and the continued innovation in PC gaming hardware is a huge win for gamers around the world who are experiencing the revival of the PC as a world-class gaming platform.”