Windows gaming took center stage at the Game Developers Conference, as Microsoft announced new features coming to the Games for Windows Live online gaming service and community, such as anti-piracy solution, in-game marketplace, and roaming.

Microsoft announced new features coming to the Games for Windows Live online gaming service and community:

• Anti-piracy Solution: Zero-day piracy protection and server-side authentication help prevent game piracy before street date, and protect publishers and consumers by requiring authentication for online play
• In-game Marketplace: New Marketplace APIs let developers create unique in-game store fronts and experiences surrounding the sale of additional content, providing developers and publishers with new revenue streams, and consumers with a seamless gaming experience
• Roaming: PC gamers can now save their personal settings back to their Games for Windows Live account in the cloud, providing access to their settings on any compatible and connected PC

“This update and other features currently in development represent a tipping point in the evolution of Games for Windows Live as a leading online PC gaming network,” said Ron Pessner, general manager of Games for Windows Live. “In the coming months, we will continue to deliver on our promise to provide gamers and publishers with the industry’s best connected gaming experiences through the Live service.”

In the last six months, the Games for Windows Live community has seen staggering growth thanks in part to the launch of a more PC-friendly interface last November, and the addition of some of the year’s biggest and best Windows games, including #1 best-sellers “Grand Theft Auto IV,” “Fallout 3” and “Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II.”

“As a publisher, no one is more excited to see the continued growth and evolution of Games for Windows Live than Microsoft Game Studios,” said Dave Luehmann, general manager of Window games for Microsoft Game Studios. “We have several projects underway which will incorporate the Live service, and we’re continuing to build new developer relationships here at GDC to bring the best in the industry to Games for Windows Live.”