Microsoft To Take on Steam

13 Nov 2008 at 17:40:34 by Andy Alderson

Microsoft has confirmed it plans to launch a digital distribution service through Games for Windows Live.

Valve's Steam currently leads the DD pack but Games for Windows Live general manager Chris Early has confirmed Microsoft aims to release full games through its GFW Live Marketplace.

"Clearly it's on our road map," Early told Shacknews when asked whether the company had considered digital distribution.

Microsoft yesterday released an update for GFW Live which improves the interface and another is due in the next few weeks adding videos, demos and DLC to the Marketplace. Early explained the DLC functionality was added first due to a niche in the market (no-other PC service currently offers priced DLC) and that full game downloads will follow later.

"Right. And if I were to make that choice again today, would I go the same way? I absolutely would," he said. 

"Because this is something that you can't do today on a PC, right? You can buy digitally through a bunch of places."

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