Call Of Duty: Infinite Warfare, one of the most divisive and criticised games of the generation — at least from gamers — is finally upon us. However, some PC gamers have hit a frustrating roadblock, with the game’s multiplayer component essentially unplayable for a tiny cross-section of the community.
That’s due to the Windows 10 Store version of the game being restricted to matchmaking against other players who purchased from the same store. Seeing as though a vast majority of PC gamers purchase their game key via Steam, this has any Windows 10 Store customers without a chance in hell of finding an active multiplayer lobby.
So who’s to blame for this? As it turns out — and rather surprisingly — not Microsoft. What isn’t surprising, however, is that the blame sits firmly with Activision, the game’s publisher.
As reported on Windows Central, the restriction — which is similar to Xbox and PlayStation gamers not being able to play with one another — is put in place by Activision. Microsoft confirmed this, saying it “supported cross-play between devices and platforms for partners who want to enable it.”
Steam is, without a doubt, the chosen digital store for most PC gamers. There are a handful of others, although many just redistribute Steam keys anyway. The likes of Origin, which is managed and owned by EA, stocks EA-published games not available on Steam anyway, so there’s no issue there. The Windows 10 Store, however, has to compete directly with Steam, and anyone that is playing games on their PC is probably going to be using the long-established online store over one that’s much newer. That has led to a relatively small install base of players buying their stuff directly from Microsoft, which has fuelled this problem for Infinite Warfare players.
Thankfully, Microsoft has started issuing refunds to players who bought the game on the Windows Store (as reported by Tech Raptor). If you want to play Infinite Warfare online with your friends, best you take up that offer and buy the Steam version. Unless, of course, you’re yet to buy either version of the game and have pity for anyone buying the Windows 10 Store version. In which case, God speed!
Master Fenix
Thursday 10th of November 2016
It's Activision fault, though. So interesting that its MS giving refunds and not Steam.
Maxiboy
Thursday 10th of November 2016
To me its a case of Good Guy Microsoft, its not their fault its not compatible and its not their fault they're the smaller distribution company. Sure they could have put it all on Activision which is legitimate but trying to work out Activision to pay the money back to Microsoft who then refund customers or to Microsoft's customers directly would take too long. By that point Microsoft's Store has burned a whole bunch of customers and earned a bad reputation which it can't afford to if it wants to grow and be a real player in the market.
Steam users aren't complaining, they're by far the majority player base. Even if there are 3 friends, 2 of which have it from the Microsoft Store and one from Steam, the Steam guy is going to say "I see heaps of players, you're shit is broken yo".
Maxiboy
Wednesday 9th of November 2016
Well I was never going to buy a game from the Microsoft Store anyway but this is more reason not to. Good on Microsoft for just giving refunds though.
That is so dumb that buyers from one store can't play with buyers from another store on the same platform!
Even boxed copies have keys that need to be activated on Steam, the best Windows Store could have done is make it cross compatible or simply supply a steam key much like Steam does for Ubisoft games.