Game Groups > Games for Windows releases

Games for Windows (GFW) was a set of standards for Windows games regulated by Microsoft Corporation, active between 8 November 2006 and 25 August 2013.

The standards include:

• support for regular and widescreen resolutions
• setup that involves as few steps as possible
• support for both 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) processors, as well as those with multiple cores and threads
• support for parental controls
• support for Xbox 360 controller if gamepad input is available
• support for the Games Explorer application (present in Windows Vista, 7 and 8.x, deprecated in Windows 10)
• support for launching through the Windows Media Center application (present in select editions of Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8.x, deprecated in Windows 10)
• additional quality assurance testing from Microsoft

Notes

• Not to be confused with Games for Windows Live (GFWL), which refers to a package of multiplayer servers and digital rights management (DRM) solutions for certain games which already comply with GFW standards. These belong to the Games for Windows Live releases group instead.
• Some games, such as later Command & Conquer titles, comply with some or all of the Games for Windows standards but do not bear the label.
• Some games only bore the GFW label on the package in some regions (e.g. Demigod, Legendary)