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[coughlanio]

My biggest issue with the store is the 99.9% shovelwear. They should have just had a separate 'Xbox' store that at least has the 'real' games. I feel that, because of the nature of the Microsoft Store, is that it was designed for mobile apps and games and was never properly tested with these 50GB+ games. Also, I'll refuse to buy a game from the store, just based on how they treated GFWL.

 

[many places]

Tried to navigate through it the other day to look up Gears, but just gave up. It was such shitty interface, felt like navigating a ship through a canal full of jello.

 

[Calibos]

I defended it a bit yesterday in curiosity because I hadn't had any issue with buying, downloading and playing across X1 and PC.

I am baffled how some people have every issue and and others, like myself have hardly any issues.(other than a slow patch DL for Gears).


Looking at it again today I would say that there are some major issues with it.

-the overall infrastructure needs an overhaul (biggest issue)
-downloading of games needs to be faster
-the patching system needs an overhaul
-it needs some immediate separation between gaming platforms (mobile, console, pc)

The only pros for me right now are that the Cross-Buy and Cross play for the play anywhere titles has been amazingly seamless.

Do we start a continuous bombardment of tweets for MS to get their act together on this? I think the bones are there for something great, but it definitely needs a ton of work.

 

[paolo11]

No offline play, issues downloading games, and now requiring patches to play a game at all, even in single player? Meanwhile, the store is so crap it won't even enable downloading of a single 6 MB patch. What the actual fuck.

Edit: I go to the store page for GOW4, it prompts me for an update, and then it requests that I find a drive with 80GB free. LOL no.

Hold on. No offline play meaning all games from that store is always online?

 

[bede-x]

Do we start a continuous bombardment of tweets for MS to get their act together on this?

No. They've already showed their intention with several games having full online DRM, including Gears 4. That means we can look forward to our games disappearing when they turn off the servers. This in addition to all the other issues.

No, at this point the best plan moving forward is to not support the store at all and hope the games appear on Steam or that it improves massively (and removes their hostile DRM solution) on its own.

 

[Relix]

Any eta regarding the free space fix?

 

[Blam]

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't have any problems with the store.

Any eta regarding the free space fix?

I usually just close the store and try clicking update again and it works fine.

 

[LaunchpadMcQ]

I guess I'm the only one that doesn't have any problems with the store.

I haven't had any problems with the store, either, but it's obvious there are a lot of people who are having problems and this is leaving some lasting damage on the PC audience for Microsoft games. They really need to get their shit together or this Play Anywhere initiative is going to end up being a waste of time for everyone.

And it's damn shameful when GoW4 is a perfect version of the game, and Forza Horizon 3 is really close (once they fix the stuttering). The games are good and people want to buy them; they just need to let them access them more easily.

 

[Woo-Fu]

Microsoft is more interested in what they want than what the consumer wants. It usually takes them awhile to swing the balance back towards the consumer. They usually don't manage it quick enough and whatever new initiative it is fails to gain traction and then gets killed off 2-3 years later.

One of these days they'll figure out that if PC users were interested in being herded into a walled garden they'd already be xbox customers.

 

[novabolt]

i send a twitter every day to phil spencer calling him out on this shit...of course i never even get a reply but i will keep doing it lmao

This wasn't Phil and his team's choice. I think if it was up to Phil, XBOX games wouldn't be on W10 at all. Satya is the one you need take your beef to.

 

[Trago]

Microsoft is more interested in what they want than what the consumer wants. It usually takes them awhile to swing the balance back towards the consumer. They usually don't manage it quick enough and whatever new initiative it is fails to gain traction and then gets killed off 2-3 years later.

I once thought that this wouldn't be the case, but I can see them leaving this to die if the problems and lack of adoption keep it up.

The PC gaming audience has pretty much made it clear that this walled garden shit won't fly. Win32 or gtfo.

 

[VincentMatts]

This wasn't Phil and his team's choice. I think if it was up to Phil, XBOX games wouldn't be on W10 at all. Satya is the one you need take your beef to.

Well, i wouldnt say that Phil has no accountability here. He is the one in charge of "games" but that being said, xbox didnt design the god damn windows store so maybe youre right.

The windows store applies to everything on xbox and windows, not just xbox.

 

[Blam]

It's not Steam, that's what's wrong.

You act like steam is also a good alternative. Steams client has one thing over this. It downloads games properly.

My biggest issue with the store is the 99.9% shovelwear. They should have just had a separate 'Xbox' store that at least has the 'real' games. I feel that, because of the nature of the Microsoft Store, is that it was designed for mobile apps and games and was never properly tested with these 50GB+ games. Also, I'll refuse to buy a game from the store, just based on how they treated GFWL.

Yeah the reason the update system doesnt work is because it's delta patching. So it is searching though the download for the file that needs to be patched usually it's already been given the location but I guess the process that's in place is failing over and over again.

Hold on. No offline play meaning all games from that store is always online?

I can play my games offline last time I checked.

 

[bede-x]

I can play my games offline last time I checked.

Gears 4 - the only one I've tried - does not work offline. According to other Gaffers neither does Recore or Forza Horizon 3:

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1292477

This is full on online DRM.

 

[| Praxis |]

I haven't had any problems with the store, either, but it's obvious there are a lot of people who are having problems and this is leaving some lasting damage on the PC audience for Microsoft games. They really need to get their shit together or this Play Anywhere initiative is going to end up being a waste of time for everyone.

And it's damn shameful when GoW4 is a perfect version of the game, and Forza Horizon 3 is really close (once they fix the stuttering). The games are good and people want to buy them; they just need to let them access them more easily.

Horizon 3 is not close. It's not just the stuttering, some people are experiencing ctd's constantly as well making it unplayable, myself included. They haven't even acknowledged those issues.

I don't think it will ever be fixed completely.

You act like steam is also a good alternative. Steams client has one thing over this. It downloads games properly.

What rubbish.

Steam allows you to play games offline, have multiple libraries of games spread over a number of hard drives, mods, it doesn't encrypt game files, it has much better prices... The list goes on.

 

[VincentMatts]

What rubbish.

Steam allows you to play games offline, have multiple libraries of games spread over a number of hard drives, mods, it doesn't encrypt game files, it has much better prices... The list goes on.

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new, has movies, apps, games etc.. and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows before.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

 

[| Praxis |]

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

No, I was just pointing out how saying the only thing steam has over the windows store is being able to download games without issue is dumb. Read the post I quoted for context.

 

[VincentMatts]

No, I was just pointing out how saying the only thing steam has over the windows store is being able to download games without issue is dumb. Read the post I quoted for context.

Well then its to everyone else in here who thinks thats even remotely realistic.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new, has movies, apps, games etc.. and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows before.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

Steam does software and movies, too. They don't have a huge library, but they are there unless you've set your preferences to not promote them on your store page.

 

[nkarafo]

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new, has movies, apps, games etc.. and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows before.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

Even if all maturity problems are addressed, the "policy" problems will still exist. You will still have to deal with encrypted games that don't allow mods and don't work with various utilities (like RTSS) that can improve or fix games (especially frame pacing issues). This alone is terrible.

Also, what's this i'm hearing about people not being able to play games offline?

 

[Felix Lighter]

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new, has movies, apps, games etc.. and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows before.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

I guess we all should be comparing new digital distribution store fronts released in 2016 to 2003 Steam just to be fair. Things as fundamental as app downloads and patching being broken is just growing pains we should expect.

 

[CrankyKong]

If the Gears 4 download thing is indicative of how the Windows Store is going to be from now on, I'm pretty much done with it already.

On my third attempt to download

 

[Nzyme32]

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new, has movies, apps, games etc.. and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows before.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

You are comparing something that was made by a company far smaller than MS, who had to start their infrastructure from scratch, at a time with no previous digital distribution platforms for gaming to understand all the issues that would come with it. This kind of comparison compared to what MS do today is pointless

 

[tombo85]

The game gets stuck on title screen for me. Appears to be an issue with the version of windows but can't seem to get the update despite being in the fast ring as a windows insider

 

[LordBaztion]

I asume the store is not made to distribute huge games, it is still a mobile centric but I think they could have figure those problems years ago.

No games: fixed
Poor performing games: fixed
Crap store: pending

 

[Bluth54]

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new, has movies, apps, games etc.. and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows before.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

I can't believe people keep making this shitty argument.

The Windows store is competing against Steam from 2016 not Steam from 2003. You better believe it had better be up to Steam's current standard if it wants to compete.

 

[VlaudTheImpaler]

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

Exactly.

Thing is though, this is what MS are facing if they want to compete so they need to be all hands on deck with ironing out all of the kinks and adding features.

I would also like to draw attention to what I think is the worst problem of all and something that would benefit MS and us greatly if they fixed.

A proper refund system like steam. I know I and others have had no problems receiving refunds for FH3 while others have been denied. Thing is that I was told over the phone many times that this was my once a year refund credit. I only get one every year. That is insane with the state of their storefront and even some of their win 10 games like FH3 and Quantum break at launch.

MS, with a refund system like this you are just encouraging people to stay away from your store and not take any chances that they could just be throwing their money out the window. People need to know that they can get a refund if something goes wrong. Especially with the sorry state of the storefront.

This would be the best thing you could do to get people to stick with the win store in the long run while you get your storefront in line. It would definitely help to quell tempers a bit since we really have no idea how long it will take for you to fix all of this or if it even ever will be fixed.

 

[SmokedMeat]

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new, has movies, apps, games etc.. and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows before.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

Yeah, Microsoft is totally new at this. They should be given a chance since this is their first foray into PC gaming. Plus they've never been considered a software company. It's all new to them.

 

[Blam]

Plus they've never been considered a software company. It's all new to them.

wat

 

[Bravoexo]

Patch tuesday.

 

[CybernatonEvolution]

I just bought Gears of War 4 and I get the stupid 0x80073CF9 error. Resetting and reinstalling the store used to solve that error code, but now it doesn't because of the new patch.


Fuck Microsoft. Fuck their stupid store. I would have refunded the game instantly. or actually never touch the store in the first place if it wasn't for GoW; I wanted to play a GoW for some time now. I might skip on Forza3: pop in if that is the case with every stupid major release.

 

[xeroborn55]

i am interested in gears 4. but i just dont have the patience anymore to deal with not being able to download a game i paid money for so i guess i wont buy it.

there is no excuse for this to be an issue in 2016.

 

[RadialBlur]

I feel bad for the gamedevs for this shit. Finally MS has some good games to get PC gamers excited about, and they go ahead and shoot themselves in the foot by selling it through this crappy store.

And really, being a "newer" store is not an excuse. The templates are out there. Steam and Origin provide good services. Just look what they do and emulate it. Instead, the store has the most basic, barebones features with absolutely NO QoL enhancements... which sucks, but we could live with IF the damn thing actually worked! The restarting downloads and ridiculous patching system needs to be revamped immediately or the whole initiative will fail once again.

 

[LordRaptor]

I mean... there have been numerous topics about why UWA is a bad idea for everyone except MS, why the W10 store is no good for anyone except MS, why the W10 Store is unsuitable for desktop performance software, why the Xbox division should not be overseeing PC gaming due to the colossal conflicts of interest involved, why "Play Anywhere" is a bonus for Xbox One owners not a PC gaming intiiative...

At some point if you're still putting your faith in MS and ignoring the criticisms as "haters gonna hate" you sort of deserve the experience MS are trying to cram into you.

 

[darkwing-buck]

Yeah the windows store is a piece of shit, that's why I can't muster the excitement for their games on pc until they come to steam or another store.

 

[novabolt]

Well, i wouldnt say that Phil has no accountability here. He is the one in charge of "games" but that being said, xbox didnt design the god damn windows store so maybe youre right.

The windows store applies to everything on xbox and windows, not just xbox.

The Windows Store does indeed applies to XBOX but I doubt Phil was the one deciding to add a new platform to the XBOX brand. Satya and his team pull the strings. They mess up the transition and lost that window.

Phil's job is to make sure the XB1 and XBOX PC versions are up to date, the Windows Store team are the people who are the ones that have to make sure the store works.

 

[Dartastic]

Welp, I deleted the entire game and I'm now going to let it try and reinstall while I'm at work today. This is sooooo stupid, and now that Comcast is instituting data caps in my area deleting and installing 80 gb of content is not something I want to do often. Fuck, Microsoft. Get your shit together.

 

[novabolt]

Welp, I deleted the entire game and I'm now going to let it try and reinstall while I'm at work today. This is sooooo stupid, and now that Comcast is instituting data caps in my area deleting and installing 80 gb of content is not something I want to do often. Fuck, Microsoft. Get your shit together.

You made the wrong choice by going the XBOX PC route. Not our fault, lol.

 

[Chris R]

It's really bad. Constant download restarts, unable to transfer between computers or play offline, evt.

When I have to use a torrent to download the encrypted app file for Forza because it's the only way to get it from on computer to another and only download it a single time... Last game I buy from the store.

 

[Nzyme32]

wat

Sarcasm: How does it work.

A book authored by Blam.

 

[Kilau]

I really wish they would separate the windows store and Xbox on windows 10 to give us a more cohesive experience.

 

[Dartastic]

You made the wrong choice by going the XBOX PC route. Not our fault, lol.

Allowing users to download and install programs and updates shouldn't be rocket science for Microsoft. It's mind boggling that this store is as crap as it is.

 

[Frostburn]

My biggest issue with the store is the 99.9% shovelwear. They should have just had a separate 'Xbox' store that at least has the 'real' games. I feel that, because of the nature of the Microsoft Store, is that it was designed for mobile apps and games and was never properly tested with these 50GB+ games. Also, I'll refuse to buy a game from the store, just based on how they treated GFWL.

This, the store is a mess for the average person. They need to curate the store and offer REAL software if they want it to be successful in anyway. I don't care if they just offer things like Microsoft Office, First Party games and then real releases of software and freeware that add functionality to Windows 10 that isn't built in such as Adobe Reader (Since Adobe probably won't sell their consumer products through Microsoft's store) The state of the store since it was added in Windows 8 has been deplorable and it has only gotten worse.

 

[LordRaptor]

It's mind boggling that this store is as crap as it is.

It works fine for what it was made for - namely downloading candy crush to your phone and your tablet from the same store. Its why candy crush is preinstalled.

what's mind boggling is deciding to use that same store to sell and distribute AAA performance desktop software.

For those of you who think that's not entirely on the Xbox division, you'll notice that other software divisions of MS selling "AAA" performance desktop software sell it as regular ass Win32 executables from regular ass software vendors.
None of this "Just makes business sense not to let someone with a much better shop take a 30% cut!" shit there.

 

[Deadbeat]

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

Your logic applied.

 

[novabolt]

Allowing users to download and install programs and updates shouldn't be rocket science for Microsoft. It's mind boggling that this store is as crap as it is.

This is the reason why I kept my XB1S. At the moment, big games are a no go from the MS Storefront.

 

[nynt9]

Steam also focuses only on games, has been updated and improved a million times and has been out forever.

The windows store is relatively new, has movies, apps, games etc.. and its never been accessible from xbox AND windows before.

Youre comparing one thats been out for ages to one thats just getting started and somehow you expected both to be on par right from the start? Impressive.

Steam also has applications, movies and music as well. It also works across windows, Mac OS and Linux, which are completely different OSes. Also, in this day where we have competitors like uplay, origin and GOG galaxy, it's inexcusable to be in a state like this. It's not like the windows store is even new. It's been out for years.

 

[Gtagentleman]

It sounds ridiculous but I don't think they really designed their store for downloading apps that are more than 1GB in size.

Or slow Internet.

I mean the servers timeout after like 6hs and you need to download everything again.

Happened twice to me with Forza horizon 3.

It's probably fixed now with that windows update but still, it was fucked at release.

 

[Sevenfold]

I'd had two very good experiences with the store. Anniversary update was drama free, Paypal worked Forza came down fine, and performance aside, was good enough for a live chat with MS for an upgrade, all trouble free. Bought GOW4, all good, came down fast, worked great, just enough room on my M2 SSD...

Just starting Act 2 last night and PATCH. Ok. Oh real slow, fine, brew time. Stick Monk on in a Window Kick back and watch the progress bar keep going past what the internet had told me was the patch size, and then change to 73GB (Install location size remains. 15GB free)

Windows update.
Store update.
Try again.
Same.
Reset store.
Same.
Reboot.
Same.
#&'%!!!
Try fucking everything
Give up uninstall and start again.
Fuck you MS. Game is working now can't wait for patch time. I have no data cap and reasonably fast downloads. Some people must hate you!

 

[QuantumSquid]

We should all bombard Phil Spencer and other Microsoft leaders with tweets saying they need to either fix up the broken Windows 10 store or release their games on Steam, because they are losing sales by locking games like Gears of 4 inside their shitty platform.