How to download "old" Windows store purchases?

Gimpymoo · 6 Mar 2017 at 17:47

I purchased Age of Empires III from the "old" Microsoft store back in 2010.

Can these be downloaded at all now or did I miss a "Download or lose it" email?

The game is no longer in the Microsoft/Windows store from what I can see. It was switched to Steam?

Speaking with MS support is like pulling teeth.

It is showing in my order history but MS still unable to help.

I also have Viva Pinata but that has also "gone"

Thanks.

Gimpymoo · 6 Mar 2017 at 18:35

Microsoft just told me "Buy the game again".

LOL

GBRusty · 8 Mar 2017 at 08:33

This is quite scary when you realise how much of your catalogue is digital only....

TNA · 8 Mar 2017 at 08:51

This is one of the reasons why I refuse to buy from the Microsoft Store. What if they want to start something new again in the future, they will just say buy it again. lol

I just stick to steam. Works for me. If publishers do not want to sell there, they don't get my money. Not like I miss out either, I still get to play what I want in the end

Spacedeck · 8 Mar 2017 at 09:20

Atleast with Steam you are allowed to download and play any games you own, even if it has since been removed from the store. If they can't or won't do anything about it, I'd avoid buying from the store.

MikeTheNative · 8 Mar 2017 at 09:33

Same happened to me with EA's old download service I had to pirate the game in the end.

VincentHanna · 8 Mar 2017 at 09:46

I thought you could still login to the client?

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/LIVE/PC/DownloadClient

Gimpymoo · 8 Mar 2017 at 11:39

VincentHanna said:
I thought you could still login to the client?

http://www.xbox.com/en-US/LIVE/PC/DownloadClient

Does not work on Windows 10 as they have not updated the dependencies.

Lesson learnt and I hope this is a warning to others to proceed with caution on the Microsoft store.

All arcs back to GFWL being a complete and utter **** stain on PC gaming.

cheesyboy · 8 Mar 2017 at 11:41

So it's more a compatibility issue than a complete withdrawal of what was previously bought?

Can't say that seems so bad, to be honest. Wouldn't necessarily expect compatibility patches in perpetuity.

joeyjojo · 8 Mar 2017 at 11:45

GBRusty said:
This is quite scary when you realise how much of your catalogue is digital only....

To be fair no option works indefinitely. You could buy everything on DVD but DVDs degrade and will one day be obsolete.

Gimpymoo · 8 Mar 2017 at 12:03

cheesyboy said:
So it's more a compatibility issue than a complete withdrawal of what was previously bought?

Can't say that seems so bad, to be honest. Wouldn't necessarily expect compatibility patches in perpetuity.

It is like Valve not updating Steam to work with Windows 8/10.

People would be thinking differently then.

We give "Goodwill" to these companies regarding digital purchases, something is not right.

All I am asking is to be able to gain access to what was purchased. Not my fault they put it behind some very very **** walled garden which owing to their pet project failing, they just go "Meh, start again".

Gimpymoo · 8 Mar 2017 at 12:08

joeyjojo said:
To be fair no option works indefinitely. You could buy everything on DVD but DVDs degrade and will one day be obsolete.

Yes, Microsoft linked me to the $39.99 DVD version and told me I should purchase that instead.

Gimpymoo · 8 Mar 2017 at 12:47

Imagine if Valve just said "This Steam sucks, we are making a new one. Please repurchase any games, thanks".

El_Watcher · 8 Mar 2017 at 13:30

Do you have access to the licence key from your account? Have you tried entering this into Steam to see if it accepts the key?

Gimpymoo · 8 Mar 2017 at 13:34

El_Watcher said:
Do you have access to the licence key from your account? Have you tried entering this into Steam to see if it accepts the key?

That is not shown anywhere in my account unfortunately.

AWPC · 9 Mar 2017 at 22:25

Get someone you trust to logon to the GFW Marketplace client from a Win 7 PC & then they can click on the game title should show the serial number. But for AOE3 its most likely a securom protected title so the serial number will only be to install that not sure you can just input into Steam unless the game is part of the list of migrated titles or you can get MS to give you a Steam key. If you want to trust me your GFW logon details via OCUK trust system (GFW email address & password) I can logon from mine which is still on Win 7 & swap to your details for a moment to check then logout again for you & let you know what the serial number is.

I just checked mine and I can still see Viva Pinata both keys required to play it.

MS are shocking I have several titles I bought on there back in the day which never got ported to Steam & are unplayable so I will never buy or support their PC gaming efforts ever again

this is despite Phil Spencer saying GFWL servers will stay up indefinitely most of them have been shutdown so many games are not playable as the key activation or game matchmaking servers are offline a bunch of us threatened MS with legal action on their forums they responded by closing the thread & refusing to deal with the issue :mad:

.one. · 9 Mar 2017 at 23:08

Pirate the game and tell support you have done so *******.