Early Windows Store games include Xbox, mobile rehashes
updated 10:05 am EST, Tue February 7, 2012
Windows 8 preview to have handful of ported games
The Windows 8 public preview when it ships will have a handful of available games that mostly come from familiar sources in the Microsoft universe, according to new tips on Tuesday. Some of the games seen by The Verge will be direct ports of Xbox 360 downloadable titles, such as Ms. Splosion Man and Toy Soldiers. Others would be titles that are better known on mobile even with a big-screen version, such as the seminal Angry Birds and ilomilo.
Every copy of the beta OS will reportedly have both Pinball and Solitaire preloaded, with the rest available through the Windows Store. It's not clear whether these apps will be offered completely for free during the test period or if downloaders will have to pay for anything more than a trial version.
The focus of the existing games shows Microsoft mostly focusing on those who can quickly port over, either from Windows Phone 7 or from the XNA kit for the Xbox. It may get more complex games by the time the finished version of Windows 8 arrives sometime in the second half of the year. The public preview and Windows Store opening are both due in late February.
