Windows Live launching May 18

Windows Live (or 'Games for Windows - Live') is set to launch in the UK on May 18, Microsoft has confirmed.

The launch will coincide with the release of Halo 2 Vista.

Games for Windows - Live brings Xbox Live features to Windows and connects "Windows gamers to over six million gamers already in the Xbox Live community".

As expected, Windows Live, like Xbox Live, is broken down into two levels of service - Silver, which is free to users, and Gold, which costs £39.99 a year in the UK (in North America it costs $49.95 per year, Windows Live launching there on May 8), identical to the cost of Xbox Live Gold.

Here's the features connected to both levels of service:

Silver Membership Features

Single gamertag across platforms

Common gamer profile

Common gamerscore

Single player achievements

Private chat via text and voice

Common friends list across platforms

Presence cross-platform

Ability to create PC game sessions

Ability to browse listed games

Ability to play multiplayer PC vs. PC


Games for Windows - LIVE Gold Membership Features:

All Silver membership features

Multiplayer matchmaking cross-platform

TrueSkill matchmaking

Multiplayer achievements

Game invites including cross-platform

Gameplay on reserved Gold servers


The first cross-platform game to release will be Shadowrun, a first-person shooter set in a world of technology and magic. It's due to release in June. Card game UNO, releasing later in the year for Windows, will also support cross-platform play.

Microsoft has said that Games for Windows - Live will be available in every country and region supported today by Xbox Live. "Members of Xbox Live automatically receive the functionality of Games for Windows - LIVE, using the same gamertag and friends list at no additional cost", the company has added.

"Current Xbox Live Gold members will automatically have access to Gold features on Games for Windows - Live titles... In addition, Games for Windows - Live introduces the best of Xbox LIVE functionality to please PC gamers, such as in-game voice chat, integrated achievements and dedicated servers."

via cvg