Xbox Games on Windows is the new way to play games. Download, play and share, all from the Windows 8 Games app. Xbox Live is Microsoft's Internet-connected gaming ecosystem. As you'll probably know, it s usually associated with the Xbox 360 games console, but now it's arrived on your Windows 8 device with Xbox Games on Windows.
Essentially, this adds extra Internet-connected capabilities to Windows 8 gaming. Many of the games made specially foi Windows 8 have Xbox Live incorporated, including popular titles such as Angry Birds and Buck Hunter Pro. This means your playing history is shared with Xbox Live, along with other information such as your avatar and high scores. It also means you can download new games immediately.
If you already enjoy PC gaming, you're probably used to downloading games over systems like Steam. Xbox Games for Windows isn't meant to replace that, but it does provide a way to download titles that will often work across a selection of Windows devices, whatever they may be — a desktop PC, touchscreen all-in-one, non-touch laptop or touchscreen Windows RT tablet. Titles that support Xbox Games for Windows can often (not always) be played on multiple devices.
Xbox Live brings together gaming on your PC, Xbox 360 and Windows Phone. If you already have an Xbox Live Gamertag, you won't need to create a new account to use with Windows 8, but you can make one anyway if you prefer. Simply sign into your Microsoft account when you start Windows 8, and you'll be automatically logged into any Xbox Live app that you open in Windows 8, as well as other features like the Windows Store.
It's worth pointing out that Xbox Games on Windows doesn't mean Xbox 360 games; they're separate, ci but there are advantages to signing into both using the same account.
You can download Windows 8 games from Windows Store or go to the Xbox Games Marketplace within the Games app to choose from Xbox Live titles.
When you want to play a game on Windows 8, the Games app is the place to go. All your downloaded titles will be there ready for you, and you can also buy and download new games in the Windows Game Store. When you buy a game, you're moved across to the Windows Store to complete your purchase and download it. This is the place where all Windows 8 apps are purchased, downloaded and updated.
When you first open the Games app, you'll see the Spotlight section. This shows you an assortment of games, including a selection of the hottest and best titles around at the moment.
The Games app might take a little getting used to at first, but the idea is to bring together the gaming experiences of your Windows 8 device and Xbox 360 in a single, convenient place. Games aren't interchangeable between Windows 8 and Xbox 360, so if you have a downloadable game on your Xbox 360 console, you won't automatically own the equivalent version of that game on the PC. However, you can buy down loadable Xbox 360 games from the Xbox 360 Game Store within the Games app - these will then be available to download to your Xbox 360 next time you turn your console on.
The app also lets you access your Xbox Live Gamertag persona and avatar — very much like the Xbox Games app on Windows Phone, if you've used that. You can view full game activity in My Games, which lists all of your Xbox Live titles including Windows 8 and Windows RT, Games for Windows Live, Xbox 360 and Windows Phone games. You get everything in one place!
You can also use the Games app to take advantage of features you're used to on Xbox, like leaderboards, multiplayer modes and the ability to play alongside friends. There are now over 40 games for Xbox Live on Windows 8. All of these are downloadable games rather than ones sold by third party retailers, so you won't need to venture into the cold or wait for a delivery to get playing!
As well as games from Microsoft's own game developer Microsoft Studios, Xbox Games for Windows is also supported by titles from developers including Rovio, Gameloft, ZeptoLab, Glu Mobile and Halfbnck Studios.
It's worth pointing out that not all downloadable games on Windows 8 are Xbox games for Windows - it's just a select bunch that Microsoft is fully integrating into the service.
Your Gaming, your way
You can also view and edit your Gamertag profile information and avatar from the Games app, and see your friends also on Xbox Live. As well as fully customising your avatar, you can also explore your in-game achievements and manage friend requests - it really is the best way to edit and manage all of your Xbox-related information.
It's also worth saying that Xbox isn't just about gaming on Windows 8 — it also powers othei apps such as the Music and Video apps; you can download music from the Xbox Music store, for example.
Xbox Music is a music service you can use on any device you want, whether that's your Windows 8 device, Xbox console or Windows Phone handset. Playlists (but not the actual tracks) are automatically shared across all these machines. On Windows 8, you can stream any of over 30 million tracks for free (ad supported). If you have an active Xbox Music Pass, music you download can be played on Windows 8, Xbox 360 and Windows Phone.
SmartGlass
The Xbox experience on Windows 8 also features the pioneering new SmartGlass app. We've looked at it in more detail above, but it enables you to use Xbox Live to access content such as videos and music and play them on your TV via your Xbox console.
This is a revolution in the way we use our devices together, and takes full advantage of the power of Xbox Live and your Microsoft account. It's one of the ways in which Windows 8 is leading the evolution of the computer.
http://www.xbox.com/en-US/windows/games
