Have we just witnessed the death of Games for Windows Live?
Microsoft announced today that its next operating system, Windows 8, would come integrated with Xbox Live right out of the box.
"Bringing Xbox Live to Windows 8 is part of our vision to bring you all the entertainment you want, shared with the people you care about, made easy," said Microsoft's Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb on his blog.
Tested's Will Smith has been attending the Windows 8 unveiling festivities and reporting live, so if you're looking for the nitty gritty details about what to expect, make sure to check out his writeups.
One of the major initiatives behind this operating system is synchronization across multiple platforms. Even though Xbox doesn't mean "PC gaming," what sense does it make for Microsoft to brand two gaming services that do basically the same thing? Especially when one has been far more successful than the other--people know what to expect from Xbox Live.
Perhaps the prominence of Xbox Live on Windows 8 will encourage more developers to integrate native Xbox Live support, as more and more companies move towards Steamworks.
I can't yet confirm this news means Games for Windows Live is over, but I've asked Microsoft.