Windows 8 media player won't play back MKV and MP4 files

[The_Abyss]

I just installed Windows 8 yesterday on my main PC following an upgrade, and the list of supported file types for video playback seems very short. MKV and MP4 aren't supported, amongst quite a few others.

I've downloaded a couple of codec packs that fixed the issues in Windows 7, but nothing seems to work in Windows 8. Any ideas?

 

[Sin_Chase]

Forget the standard player. Forget USELESS and RIDICULOUS codec packs.

Download and Install VLC.

Job done.

They also currently have a Kickstarter for a full Windows 8 Metro VLC player so soon enough it will look and feel 'native'.

 

[KIA]

VLC is the way to go.