Games for Windows was a brand owned by Microsoft and introduced in 2006 to coincide with the release of the Windows Vista operating system . The brand itself represents a standardized technical certification program and online service for Windows games , bringing a measure of regulation to the PC game market in much the same way that console manufacturers regulate their platforms. The branding program was open to both first-party and third-party publishers.
24-489: GFW or GfW may refer to: Entertainment [ edit ] Games for Windows , a defunct Microsoft brand (2006–2013) Games for Windows: The Official Magazine (2006–2008) Global Force Wrestling , an American wrestling promotion (founded 2014) Great Fairy Wars , a 2010 video game Impact Wrestling , an American wrestling promotion (branded GFW during 2017) Organisations [ edit ] GFW Schools ,
48-560: A new Xbox app in beta exclusively for Windows 10 May 2019 Update (version 1903), which has a redesigned interface, and serves as the client for Xbox Game Pass on PC. In advance of the conference, Microsoft rebranded the existing Xbox app on Windows 10 as Xbox Console Companion . The new Xbox app is pre-loaded software on Windows 11 . Microsoft will update its Xbox mobile app on Android in November 2024, allowing U.S. users to purchase and play Xbox games directly on their devices. This follows
72-686: A school district in Minnesota, US (formed 1987) Ghana Federation of Women (1953–1960) Global Forest Watch , Providing tools for global forest protection efforts (launched 2014) Global Fund for Women (founded 1987) Society for Space Research (German: Gesellschaft für Weltraumforschung (GfW) ), German Aerospace Center predecessor (1948–1972) Other uses [ edit ] Global Fishing Watch , website launched 2016 Global Forest Watch , web app launched 2014 Great Firewall , China's Internet regulations Grand Falls-Windsor , Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Topics referred to by
96-513: A shortcut of the game to the Games Explorer, and can optionally download additional information, such as game packaging and content rating information (e.g., ESRB , PEGI , ACB , CERO ) through the developer's own game definition file or from information provided by the Internet , although this feature was discontinued since 2016. Windows Experience Index information is also displayed within
120-481: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Games for Windows Games for Windows was promoted through convention kiosks and through other forums as early as 2005. The promotional push culminated in a deal with Ziff Davis Media to rename the Computer Gaming World magazine to Games for Windows: The Official Magazine . The first GFW issue
144-612: The Games for Windows – Live client software. Its successor is the Xbox app . Games certified by Microsoft feature a prominent "Games for Windows" logo border across the top of their packaging, in a manner similar to games developed for the Xbox 360 . Software must meet certain requirements mandated by Microsoft in order to display the brand on its packaging. These requirements include: Microsoft claimed that it had increased its sales of Games for Windows-branded games in stores that had been giving
168-548: The "Guide". Users can log in with their Xbox Live gamertags to gain achievements and play games and chat across platforms with games that support cross-platform compatibility. Some features, including cross-platform multiplayer gaming and multiplayer achievements, initially required a subscription to the Xbox Live Gold. However, on July 22, 2008, Microsoft announced that all Games for Windows functionality would be free for existing and future members, and that early adopters of
192-469: The Games for Windows - Live client software interface more friendly and to reduce the technical requirements for developers. The Games Explorer , included with all versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7, is a special folder that showcases the games installed on a user's computer and their related information, essentially making it a games gallery. When a compatible game is installed, the operating system adds
216-471: The Settings app on Windows 10 version 1703), and has a library display for games installed on the device, such as those obtained via Microsoft Store , Bethesda.net , Battle.net , Steam , GOG.com , Epic Games Store , Humble Bundle , Origin and Ubisoft Connect . Support for Xbox Cloud Gaming as well as Remote Play from Xbox consoles was added to the app on September 14, 2021. Xbox 360 SmartGlass
240-568: The Xbox app for Windows 10 was renamed Xbox Console Companion , and a new Xbox app was introduced in beta. This app is more specifically oriented towards PC gaming, serving as a front-end to games distributed on Microsoft Store , and as the client for PC Game Pass . Through the app, users can access their activity feed, Xbox Live friends and messages, manage their party, watch saved Game DVR clips, browse OneGuide , and view their achievements . Some games and apps can provide second screen integration via
264-411: The age or popularity of a game, with newer games having better compatibility. If a game is incompatible, a user can manually add a game by dragging and dropping it to the Games Explorer. Tray and Play is a technology developed by Microsoft for Windows Vista that allows users to insert a game disc into an optical disc drive and play the game while it installs itself in the background and streams off
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#1732852168339288-422: The app additionally serves as a launcher for PC games installed on a device (including games obtained from Microsoft Store , Bethesda.net , Battle.net , Steam , GOG.com , Epic Games Store , Humble Bundle , Origin and Ubisoft Connect ), provided access to the system's screen recording functions, and streaming of games from an Xbox One console on a local network. During E3 2019 , the existing version of
312-433: The app, displaying supplemental content. The app can also be used as a remote control for the console. The Windows 10 version of Xbox Console Companion allows users to stream games from an Xbox One console over a local network, and has the ability to view and edit Game DVR recordings from an Xbox One console. It also serves as a front-end for a PC version of Game DVR on supported hardware (Game DVR settings were moved to
336-467: The console. Windows 10 introduced a revamped version of SmartGlass referred to simply as Xbox , which notably added a library display for PC games , and the ability to stream games from an Xbox One console on a local network. On June 12, 2016, the mobile versions of the Xbox One Smartglass apps were updated for parity with the desktop version, and renamed "Xbox" as well. Xbox 360 SmartGlass
360-469: The default games included with Windows Vista, such as Minesweeper . Xbox (app) The Xbox app is an app for Windows 8 , Windows 10 , Windows 11 , Android , iOS and Tizen . It acts as a companion app for Xbox video game consoles, providing access to Xbox network community features, remote control , as well as second screen functionality (formerly branded as SmartGlass) with selected games, applications, and content . On Windows 10,
384-489: The disc with minimal or zero caching —in a manner similar to a game console . The first and only commercial game known to use this technology is the Windows version of Halo 2. Part of the Games for Windows initiative involved ensuring that Xbox 360 peripherals, such as the Xbox 360 Controller and Wireless Gaming Receiver worked across Windows platforms. Xbox 360 peripherals not only work with certified games, but also with
408-605: The games greater focus, and stated that it planned to increase marketing efforts for the brand. Certain games certified under the Games for Windows brand, including Shadowrun , and UNO featured cross-platform compatibility, allowing gamers to play against each other across Xbox 360 consoles and traditional Windows Vista or Windows 7 PCs . Starting with Halo 2 on May 31, 2007, certain Games for Windows titles have access to Microsoft's Live network for online play and other features, including voice chat , instant messaging and friends lists , accessed from an in-game menu called
432-459: The interface and Windows Search through a shell handler . The Games Explorer is fully compatible with the parental controls feature included in Windows Vista and Windows 7. Parental controls allows parents to include or preclude certain games from being played based on their content, rating, and/or title, and can also block games from being played altogether. Compatibility typically depends on
456-422: The interface. The feature was removed entirely in Windows 10 April 2018 Update. Games Explorer supports custom commands for games and also includes shortcuts to configure various operating system components which may be pertinent to gamers, such as audio devices, display devices, firewall settings, and game controllers. In Windows Vista, Games Explorer allows developers to expose game metadata and thumbnails to
480-449: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title GFW . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=GFW&oldid=1254371067 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Articles containing German-language text Short description
504-507: The technology would receive refunds for previously incurred charges. In addition, Microsoft launched a Games for Windows Live Marketplace , similar to the Xbox Live Marketplace , which allowed users to download or purchase content, such as game demos, add-ons, and gamer pics, with Microsoft Points ; the publisher of a title would determine if an item required to be purchased. At the same time, Microsoft announced its intentions to make
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#1732852168339528-752: Was not updated and was discontinued in May 2018. The mobile apps were updated alongside the Xbox One's May 2019 software update, adding cross-platform status indicators to friends. In May 2019, Microsoft also revamped the Xbox Game Bar feature of Windows 10 into a widget-based overlay, which features pop-up windows for features such as screen recording, managing audio inputs, viewing the Xbox Live friends list, and monitoring system components. On June 9, 2019, coinciding with Microsoft's E3 2019 press conference, Microsoft released
552-583: Was originally announced at E3 2012 , for Windows 8 , Android and iOS. Microsoft demonstrated use cases for the new app within both games and entertainment, including a minimap for Ascend: New Gods , a second screen experience for School of Rock with supplemental content, and Game of Thrones (with interactive maps and family tree diagrams). With the release of Xbox One in November 2013, Microsoft released an accompanying Xbox One SmartGlass app for Android, iOS, Windows 8.1 , and Windows Phone , which contained more extensive functionality for controlling
576-445: Was published for November 2006. In 2008, Ziff Davis announced that the magazine would cease to be published, though online content would still be updated and maintained. In 2013, Microsoft announced that Xbox PC Marketplace would cease operations, which would result in the discontinuation of the Games for Windows brand. In spite of this announcement, the company stated that content previously purchased could still be accessed via
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