THQ Says Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Will Use Steamworks, Not Games For Windows Live

August 13, 2010 1:00 PM

Following our report last night that Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine would "likely" use Games For Windows Live, THQ has finally commented on the burning question regarding PC platform confirming that GFWL is not the direction Relic is going in, after all.

When Space Marine was first announced for the PC, Shacknews attempted to confirm whether Relic would continue to use the Games for Windows Live platform rather than switch to the Steamworks version. Unfortunately, THQ refused to comment.

During a preview event at the Relic office, THQ confirmed the version being shown was the PC version. Today, THQ tells Shacknews that the version shown at Relic was actually an Xbox 360 version emulated on the PC -- which could explain why the game was previewed with an Xbox 360 controller, rather than a mouse and keyboard -- and that the GFWL prompt was a result of emulation. (Note: The notification prompts seen were from GFWL and not Xbox 360.)

Following the demo we asked producer Andy Lang whether Space Marine would use GFWL or Steamworks, prompting a response of, "We're not talking about that." However, Lang would confirm that we did spot the GFWL user interface during the demo. When asked whether Relic had already decided on a particular platform for its PC version, Lang said the decision was already made.

Although we were not able to confirm the decided PC platform at the time of publishing, it appeared likely that Relic would continue to use Games for Windows Live. THQ finally fessed up earlier today and confirmed to Shacknews that Relic will use the Steamworks platform for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine.

A full interview with producer Andy Lang will be available later today.

Xav de Matos

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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ajvitaly

 reply
August 13, 2010 1:05 PM

I hope the people at Microsoft's GFWL division are getting their resume's ready. The momentum steamworks has now is unstoppable for the near future.
- Walterbennet
  
   reply
  August 13, 2010 1:06 PM
  
  GFWL has been a joke since it launched. The best thing to come out of the branding was Jeff Green's magazine and podcast.
  - pzoned
    
     reply
    August 13, 2010 1:16 PM
    
    But that didn't came out of it at all, it was just rebranded CGW, except with shitty fake-editorials.
    
    I wonder if the GFW-branding extended or diminished the life of the magazine, though being at Ziff meant an inevitable demise regardless.
    - Walterbennet
      
       reply
      August 13, 2010 2:29 PM
      
      I guess what I'm trying to say is that the only good thing the brand name ever contributed was in rebranding and thus extending the life of CGW's staff.
      
      As for your last question, Green actually commented on that at the Brodeo reunion at PAX last year. He said the magazine was basically already sunk when the rebranding occurred, and that the GFW brand basically allowed them some extra time.
      
      Here's part 3 of the PAX panel: http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/26293 It's somewhere in there.
      - Walterbennet
        
         reply
        August 13, 2010 9:19 PM
        
        Found it:
        
        "The truth is, GFW actually extended our life by those 17 issues. They would have just shut us down (otherwise)." - Jeff Green http://gamevideos.1up.com/video/id/26294
  - p34nk
    
     reply
    August 13, 2010 2:31 PM
    
    Be careful, you might incur a wrath from some Shackers here who loves GFWL to no end.. :)
    Steamworks, feel free to take the lead. Hope this will make Microsoft care a little bit more about the PC platform.
    - Walterbennet
      
       reply
      August 13, 2010 2:45 PM
      
      Not trying to incite anyone's wrath, but seriously I don't know anyone that supports the GFWL brand.
      - crimsonfate1983
        
         reply
        August 13, 2010 2:53 PM
        
        You should check the previous news piece on the subject: http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=65107
      - friedram
        
         reply
        August 13, 2010 9:31 PM
        
        I know I'm not the only one - the haters are just a hell of a lot louder. Oh well, guess I'll get it on the 360 and play it on my 62 inch set.
        
        HisDivineOrder
        
         reply
        August 14, 2010 12:35 AM
        
        I'll get my copy on PC to help balance you out. Don't worry. ;) THQ was always behind Steam. They just wanted achievements. Steamworks offers this now, so why add another program just for that?
        
        Common sense. Use it.