Update:

Microsoft has provided a statement that does not at all answer the question of Games for Windows' fate.

Yesterday, an Age of Empires support web page communicated that the free to play Age of Empires Online will be discontinued on July 1, 2014. We believe in Windows/PC gaming and have long-term plans to grow our support. We expect there to be transitions as we build out new investments, but we remain committed to bringing first party gaming services and games to Windows for years to come. We will share more details in the future.

Microsoft declined to elaborate and actually answer the question. Is it closing on July 1, 2014 as originally stated? You can almost count on it.

Microsoft is closing Games for Windows Live on July 1, 2014. Revealed via an Age of Empires Online support page -- which has since been updated to remove the relevant info -- this news follows Microsoft's announcement to kill the Games for Windows Live Marketplace We've reached out to Microsoft for clarification and confirmation about the precise date of Games for Windows Live's apparent inevitable death.Source: Reddit

Mitch Dyer is an Associate Editor at IGN. He’s currently reading Tom Bissell's God Lives in St. Petersburg. Read his ramblings on Twitter and follow him on IGN