Unangst: GFW Live Has Full Game Download Plans 'On The Roadmap'

Author: by Christian Nutt, Staff

Talking to Gamasutra during GameFest in Seattle, Microsoft's Kevin Unangst has been discussing the Games For Windows Live marketplace service for DLC later this year, revealing that full game downloads - potentially making the PC-based service into a Steam competitor - are also "definitely on the roadmap". Gamasutra discussed the new GameFest announcement with Unangst, that Microsoft is removing all subscription fees from Games for Windows Live multiplayer services, and that the related Marketplace application will debut for the service this Fall. We specifically asked whether the Marketplace service on PC would be similar to Xbox Live Marketplace. The executive explained: "Although [the two services are] going to be connected... there's this common underpinning. Same friends list, same Gamertag, same currency. On the Xbox they're going to continue to do things that make sense for the console... on the PC side, what we're looking at that specifically delivers value to Windows games or Windows gamers. It may... In fact, I'm not even going to say "may". It definitely is not always the same things that we're going to do. So those services are all in different directions, you'll have different types of content that we offer. It will offer DLC [downloadable content], PDLC [paid downloadable content], it will offer demos and trailers and the things you'd expect from a marketplace." Moving on, Gamasutra asked Unangst whether Microsoft has discussed or is anticipating full game downloads through Games For Windows Live - as other Windows-based services such as Valve's Steam do - and Unangst commented: "It's certainly on the roadmap. Not a focus for us with this Fall release. This Fall release is focused around how you add on game content or how you provide content that surrounds the game - trailers, demos, other things that you could do. Certainly you will see full game downloads at some point. Nothing we're talking about for this fall.... All of the infrastructure certainly is there. Marketplace is a great first step. Once you've got that in place, there's no reason that we couldn't add that functionality at some point. What we're not talking about is any specific plans or timing for that. But the fact that I can get a demo or trailer or add-on content or new levels, the plumbing's clearly in place." Gamasutra will debut the full interview with Unangst on the website in the near future.