14 DAY TRIAL // The closure of Games For Windows Live is leaving many games up in the air, and Super Street Fighter VI Arcade Edition is among them, leaving many players wondering whether Capcom's fighting game has a future on the PC.
The short answer is yes, sort of. The long one is that although Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition will survive GFWL, it will do so far from unscathed. The game is migrating to Steam, but all its DLC isn't, whether it's premium or free DLC.
Capcom revealed the plans for the game's transition on the Capcom Unity blog, providing the unfortunate news that it's looking to transfer users to Steamworks sans DLC. The move makes complete sense, especially since Ultra Street Fighter IV is also on its way to Steam, but the DLC part will surely ruffle some feathers.
The transition will take place on May 30, and the company has been kind enough to provide some guides for their customers, revealing that what they need to do in order to secure the future of Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition depends on their currently installed version of the game.
The two guides made available explain the transfer process for those who purchased the game on Steam, as well as for the unfortunate souls who opted to utilize the GFWL marketplace.
Street Fighter IV had quite a lot of DLC, and the official post is pretty unclear on whether all of it is lost now. Capcom waited until the very end to deliver the bomb and ran away, no doubt leaving many wondering whether their money is now wasted forever.
Other companies have tried to sweeten the deal for players making the transfer from Games For Windows Live with some manner of free DLC offered as a consolation prize for having the bad inspiration to get on the GFWL bandwagon, but for now it is unclear whether Capcom intends to do something similar, whether it be in the form of some free DLC for everyone of some discounts or whatnot.
While losing your DLC is not as bad as your favorite massively multiplayer online game closing down, it's yet another instance in which digital game content reveals its ephemeral nature.
If Capcom presents no alternatives and players are indeed left without their DLC, it will raise some questions regarding the lack of control over digital content, and it's guaranteed to negatively impact a large portion of the userbase.