If the Age of Empires Online support page is to be believed, Games for Windows Live will be no more as of July 1, 2014. The game’s online functionality is dependent on the Windows Live service, meaning AoE Online will also cease to be at the same time.
Games for Windows Live will be discontinued on July 1, 2014. Although it is available through Steam, Age of Empires Online requires features of the Games for Windows Live service. You can continue to enjoy all the features of Age of Empires Online as the service will remain 100% operational until July 1, 2014 when the server will shut down.
Games for Windows Live launched back in 2007, and was Microsoft’s attempt to re-create the Xbox Live experience on the PC. However, with the steep competition of Steam and other easier to use services, GFW Live always fell short of its potential.
And while this decision may not come as a surprise, it will be a bummer to a number of online communities. Multiplayer for Grand Theft Auto IV, Dark Souls, and numerous other games depend on Games for Windows Live, and will likely suffer a similar fate to Age of Empires.
Via: NeoGAF