Microsoft/Steam Support Refuse Further Support, Any Suggestions Appreciated

[Hillistine]

Hello fellow gamers! I have a bit of a pickle and, seeing as how both Microsoft Support and Steam Support have abandoned me on the matter, turn to you for suggestions and ideas as to how to resolve the matter. (Ticket HT-2VB5-RQW2-9TGJ for Ref.)

I have a physical copy of Fable 3 purchased back in 2010-2011 with a valid Product Key in the case. A key which was used years ago in Games for Windows Live service, which sadly has been defunct for some time. All articles I've read have pointed to the game still being playable if you redeem the game key in Steam and apply a third party fix that helps "short circuit" the Windows Live Service verification in leu of Steam's verification.

I've tried getting this to work 3 times in years past with no luck, and hoped Steam would assist. Their support docs said to go to the key vendor, so I tried reaching out to Microsoft Support. They confirmed the key was valid, but that they have no way to add the game/key to my Steam account and to reach out to Steam support for assistance. After opening a ticket, and providing photos of the physical game, case, literature, and product key, They pointed me to the support articles, which I have already tried numerous times, and closed the ticket.

All this to say, does anyone have suggestions as to how I can go about getting Fable 3 to work? I've already paid 49.99+ tax for the game and am NOT going to reward poor support with further funds. Any help is appreciated. :)

[ReBoot]

A GFWL key isn't a Steam key and you can't redeem GFWL keys on Steam.

NOT IN THE GENERAL CASE, that is. You can redeem GFWL keys for some games on Steam. Some, not all of them.

[crunchyfrog]

Haven't fiddled around with GFWL games for years thankfully.

But back in the day if you wanted to brute force it, you had to already have it activated on Steam - so if you can't do that you're out of luck.

Then, when you have it downloaded, you made a GFWL account anew and logged in in offline mode. Sometimes it took a few attempts (as GFWL was ♥♥♥♥) but eventually it'd work.

I did this with Fallout3 iirc.

As for your comments about poor support, that's completely wrong. What you're asking for is pretty damned unreasonable.

[Crazy Tiger]

As said, it's not a Steam key. If you expect Valve to give you a free game, you have wrong expectations, OP. It doesn't matter that you bought the game for gfwl years ago, you're not owed a different license because of it.

The gfwl remover trick doesn't work for you?

[Iceira]

MS shutdown Games for windows ( GFWL )

https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/16/4627194/games-for-windows-live-marketplace-shuts-august-22nd

Entry made vy By Tom Warren Aug 16, 2013, 9:37 AM GMT+2

I bet many know this, but forgotten in the timeline. ( also why many use a fix to disable GFWL )

[MancSoulja]

Originally posted by Iceira:

MS shutdown Games for windows ( GFWL )

https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/16/4627194/games-for-windows-live-marketplace-shuts-august-22nd

Entry made vy By Tom Warren Aug 16, 2013, 9:37 AM GMT+2

I bet many know this, but forgotten in the timeline. ( also why many use a fix to disable GFWL )

No they didn't. MS shut down the GFWL marketplace. GFWL is still up and running, you can even redeem new games if you have a working CD Key.

[Iceira]

Originally posted by MancSoulja:

Originally posted by Iceira:

MS shutdown Games for windows ( GFWL )

https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/16/4627194/games-for-windows-live-marketplace-shuts-august-22nd

Entry made vy By Tom Warren Aug 16, 2013, 9:37 AM GMT+2

I bet many know this, but forgotten in the timeline. ( also why many use a fix to disable GFWL )

No they didn't. MS shut down the GFWL marketplace. GFWL is still up and running, you can even redeem new games if you have a working CD Key.

Last i check you can't even DL them files.at digital DL so yes it's a shutdown.

ps.
it's like MS should have migrated to steam as other game client have done later, but this was in 2013, and they did not think of this way back in time , and now it to late to fix and cost money to make it happend.

ps.
I recommend OP to use wishlist and add product then it go on sale to buy the games cheaper.

( This is 12 years later if we say entry data by Tom is correct, no resouces will be spend on it now. ) i call them games lost games. ( no patch no DL ) game vould be unstable to play from old cover box media.

[Anonymous Helper]

Originally posted by Iceira:

ps.
I recommend OP to use wishlist and add product then it go on sale to buy the games cheaper.

Fable III is no longer being sold on Steam, has not been for years, so only way to get the game would be to purchase unused key from somewhere, having to pay scalper prices for it while risking receiving used or fake key for it.

[Iceira]

Originally posted by Anonymous Helper:

Originally posted by Iceira:

ps.
I recommend OP to use wishlist and add product then it go on sale to buy the games cheaper.

Fable III is no longer being sold on Steam, has not been for years, so only way to get the game would be to purchase unused key from somewhere, having to pay scalper prices for it while risking receiving used or fake key for it.

I was ref to all other Digital games you might have bought. instead of use old box media that dont get patched. ( this is not just a Fable III issue alone ) its a GFWL client that pc gaming is gone.

And we can see MS use new store market place today ( gl with that )

[Hillistine]

Thank you everyone for the information on this topic as I really do appreciate it! I guess I had a false expectation as I had previously had other companies honor old game keys (such as Spore) where they added the game to my digital account when I provided photos/images of the game and valid key. I was under the impression that the GFWL key's were universal and should work on Steam as well. Thank you for clarifying that is NOT the case as Steam Support did not clarify this point and simply pointed me back to their documents stating to reach out to the vendor who the key was from. I guess this will be my fourth and final time trying to get Fable 3 working, but I truly do appreciate your time and responses on this matter. :)