While I agree devs should be fixing these things, there is not much precedent in the history of the industry for updates such as this. The easy examples that come to mind include modernizing software for new operating systems and hardware, backwards compatibility for consoles, not opening up open TCP/IP and direct-connect multiplayer after official servers go down, continual patching and bug-fixes, removing DRM after and CD-key necessity after they become obsolete. I'm sure I could think of more examples given the time. All of these things happen from time-to-time, but are extremely rare. From my point of view, the industry has always taken a you buy it how it is stance with anything else being at the good will of the devs (or in more cases, the publisher).

Besides the a fore mentioned MegaGames, there is more reason why I personally wouldn't make nearly as much of a stink about the end of GFWL is that I stay away from games that have despotic DRM (especially Steam/Origin/Uplay) as often as I can, and I'm actually hoping that this causes a lot of confusion and loss of trust, because gamers getting burned badly by this will further fuel our DRM-Free revolution. It will be a big win for all of us here at GOG, because it's the biggest argument we've been using in our campaign against DRM.

The problem with resorting to cracks are:

- In many cases it is quite a bit of hassle to find exactly the right crack that works with the exact version (and sometimes language version) of the game you have. If you find a crack intended for the English US version 1.0 of the game, there is no telling if it fully works with your v2.153233.3442 Hungarian-Bavarian version of the game.

- You can't be sure if the cracks come with hidden trojans or viruses. There are enough examples of malware being distributed along both with pirated software and especially cracks. After all, what is the easiest way to get people to install trojans willingly on their computers, and hiding the original malware maker? Virus scanners are not foolproof and lack behind.

- In some parts of the world circumventing the copy protection or DRM is illegal, no matter whether you have a legit copy of the product. Maybe there is very little chance of getting caught, but the idea of having to resort to illegal actions just in order to play your legit game just does not sound right. That should not be needed at all.

I'm pretty sure you'd have to ask Epic for that. EA just published the game under the "EA partners" program. I don't think EA has anything to do with that.
I have the physical version, but i was wondering if there was some sort of required online activation or anything. It does look really weird to pull a game off the store if only the multiplayer part won't work.

Thank you for letting me know that there isn't any online activation.

Bulletstorm product keys can be activated on Origin, so if GFWL is removed from that version everyone would be able to use it.

Ah, that's right. I was thinking PCF was acquired by EA, but it was Epic.

Only 35 days to go before GFWL is rumored to becoming stopped, yet there's still no official word from Microsoft about it being stopped? I wonder if it all isn't just that, rumours and on the 1st of july GFWL will still be functioning.

Google: https://www.google.nl/#q=gamers+for+windows+live+shut+down+official+report

You can see, nothing official but half-year old rumours surrounding an official report about AoE Online that has however been withdrawn soon after it's release.

Judging from the companies removing games from sale and others removing GFWL and adding Steamworks, it's certainly not a mere rumour.

But why is Microsoft completely silent about it?

I don't know, ask them. :P

Their lack of commentary says quite a bit I think.

They probably see no benefit in explaining it. The second they say anything about it, they open a dialog they may not be interested it dealing with. They have had enough to keep their PR guys hopping the last 6 months, and not flaring up a topic few people are talking about probably seems like the way to go. At least that would be my guess.

People mentioning games like Bulletstorm and Dead Rising 2... those games work fine with offline profiles, there is no real need to remove GFWL and replace it with anything. It would be nice if they did it of course, but I don't see it as required.

It only really needs to be replaced in games with strong multiplayer components, like Dark Souls.

Can they be installed without online connection? This list seems to suggest that they can't.

There are a few toward the end that required authorization after install. I think Dead Rising 2 is one of those. Still all you need to do is swap the exe to remove that, basically doing what the pirates did. My point is they don't need to replace functionality, or remove GFWL itself.

Exactly. Their image was already damaged enough last year thanks to the awful Xbox One design and always-online DRM controversy. They don't need to bring the GFWL issue up since it just shows how much Microsoft doesn't give a flying fuck about its consumers. Heck, even Sony did a much better job with their online servers. I mean, they kept SOCOM servers for the PS2 running until last year or so. GFWL is not even that old to get killed like that.

I thought that wasn't possible anymore.

I mean, I redeemed a GFWL key I got from Amazon but other people have mentioned it didn't work for them.