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.[11][12]
Offline play
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 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.[13] 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 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.[13] At the same time, Microsoft announced its intentions to make the Games for Windows - Live client software interface more friendly and to reduce the technical requirements for developers.[14][15]
Games Explorer
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 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, USK, ACB, CERO) through the developer's own game definition file or from information provided by the Internet, although this feature was discontinued since 2016.[16] Windows Experience Index information is also displayed within the interface.[17] The feature was removed entirely in Windows 10 April 2018 Update.
Games Explorer supports custom commands for games[17] 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.[1]
Tray and Play
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 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.[8]
Xbox 360 peripheral compatibility
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.[1][20][21] Xbox 360 peripherals not only work with certified games, but also with the default games included with Windows Vista, such as Minesweeper.[22][23]
