Xbox Games for Windows Phone 8.1 updated, removes self from App list

We are big fans of Windows Phone 8.1. We’re really liking that apps, like the Xbox Games Hub, can be updated independently from the OS itself. This will allow Microsoft the freedom to update more frequently than before. Today we’re seeing one of those updates for Xbox Games on Windows Phone 8.1. It’s an odd update though.

Head into the Windows Phone Store and you’ll see version 2.0.1405.2000 of ‘Games’ for Windows Phone 8.1. A few days after the availability of Windows Phone 8.1 we saw the app pick up its first update. There was no changelog then and there is none today. Though we are noticing a few slight differences.

Update the app and you’ll notice that ‘Games’ no longer appears in the App list. Where did it go? We have no clue. Unpinning the app from your Start screen basically means you won’t be able to access it. We did a search for ‘Games’ with Cortana and it didn’t show up in phone section either. So you might not want to unpin the Games hub from your Start screen if you like it there.

Is this truly the end of having your games all in location on your Windows Phone? Maybe. Last month we detailed why Microsoft decided to put games into the App list. It’s a little odd that they’d remove the Games hub completely, we really liked it. Though we should point out that the Games hub still works if you access it from your Start screen. We just can’t find it after updating it and removing it.

We’ll let you know the official word on the potential removal once we find out more. Notice anything else with the update? Sound off below.

P.S. Want Games on your Start screen? Just use any third-party apps that pins apps to your Start screen if you accidently updated. Apps like Transparency Tiles should do the trick. Thanks for the heads up everyone!

Download Games from the Windows Phone Store.

Thanks for the tip everyone!

381 Comments

Ops. Unpin Games for curiosity and now I loose the HUB.
Can't you go to store, then recent downloads, then go to games and press 'view'?
Nope. Good thought though! If you do that it doesn't launch :'(
Use Transparency Tiles for that :D
Yay.. Recent is back.
They also took away Hydro Thunder Go! It was available in Windows Phone 8.1 then they did away with it. It only works for Windows Phone 7.5
Strangely, I still have Games in the app list although I updated the Games yesterday.
Just tried it with no such luck; it just takes you back to the start screen.
They'll fuck this up like Music.
I'm trying to refrain from calling you a name, but you're making it hard when you say stuff like that on an unreleased OS
+1020
Ban this ass hat....
Who are you calling an ass hat you numb nut?
Sorry but I'm with him.
Me too. The deconstruction of the features which set Windows Phone apart is in ful swing. Microsoft seems busy setting the OS up for plan B which IMO will be to switch to (open source) Android with a 'live tile skin' if the OS does got gain major traction within set timeframe. To make a transition to this option as smooth as possible the hubs need to go as they don't translate to ASOP.
I'm with you. I'm using WP8.1 on my Lumia 920 from day 1 it became available, and it just doesn't feel like - Good Ol' Windows Phone - anymore. The features which set WP apart from the competition, like Hubs, Social Media integration, sharing options etc. is slowly dissappearing from the platform. You need apps to do the things we could do without apps before the 8.1 update. The personality of the platform slowly becomes faded and creeping up to Android (I never thought I'd say that). I never thought MSFT would do this as they had the perfect concept for a competing platform. Please MSFT, give us back the Hubs and integration like it was before!
He's could be right! Why the hate. Truth hurts! I'm a HUGE WP guy and was a huge Zune fan. The Current music app (it is released on WP8!!!!!!!!!) is GARBAGE and MS should be ashamed to have even let it out the door! I'm a paying XBOX music customer I shouldn't have to resort to Pandora for music listening on my phone. Also in before switch to Android or iPhone. FAWK No! I love WP.
When the OS is released, and its still shit, will you eat humble pie?
Since the OS is awesome as it is its impossible it will be bad when it comes out. I find it amusing how, no matter how obvious Microsoft makes it that they are rapidly updating the gates and music hub to make them awesome, people are so stupidity impatient that they resort to talking crap without any basis. Really sad
tkdmacgeek has said nothing but the truth. they fucked up Xbox Music (from 8.0 to 8.1), they just fucked up the Games Hub... and just as predicted, they'll most likely fuck up the OneDrive Music folder feature that's coming up....
+1020
Please stop that
+1020. . . and screw these thought police. I am a windows phone fan, no doubt, but the truth is the truth. I hope killing the Games Hub is just a mistake but the lunacy of killing Zune, mucking up the hubs and corrupting the Metro design with Alpha apps like they did Music leaves a lot room for doubt as they sadly seem to have lost their way....
I completely agree. Windows Phone was better before 8.1, with the exception of Cortana.
I want to ask you guys with insight: How will these apps look like at launch?
Like shit
I agree. The lunacy from dropping Zune was jaw dropping. Yet they continue to destroy what they previously improved upon. I'm a fan but don't know for how much longer.
Thank you.
All updates are screwed uP!!!!!!!!! whatsapp is the most demanding app and happens to be the shittiest app in windows store. Cortana is really not that great, only its slang is good and it is appliccable to certain commands!!! like if i say tell me about einstein...the thing just bings it(face palm) android has so many assistants in their market which are highly customisable and far better than cortana. Only thing good about 8.1 is a wallpaper and notification centre(big wooowwww :/). Is that all microsoft capable of.
Yep. I agree. I wish hadn't updated to 8.1 but I do hope they rectify their mistakes.
You are a moron.
It IS released, in preview. And, for all practical purposes, it's a feature-finished product. So get over yourself. Microsoft has thoroughly screwed up Windows Phone, as far as I'm concerned. Nothing works the way it did, and all to placate all those who pine for Android features on a Windows Phone. I'm not about to use apps like "transparency tiles" since Microsoft shouldn't have screwed with the OS in the first place. I've gone from one of the biggest cheerleaders for Windows Phone to someone who now recommends people NOT buy a Windows Phone.
I just uninstalled Windows Phone 8.1, and am nearly completely happy with my decision. I have hubs back! The Me Tile works as it should, as does People, which also has the Recent pivot back. Games no longer clutter my app list, and I have the Music+Videos hub back (it's not Zune, but it at least five thousand times better than on Windows Phone 8.1. As to features, IE 11's swipe gestures, URL suggestions, and shared bookmarks and reading mode were nice, but I would rather have my full screen video player that always works and a browser that doesn't get jittery and activate my lockscreen randomly, or display a weird, garbled background on the lockscreen. I get back a cursor that works, thank goodness, though password storage was nice. Most importantly: FACEBOOK INTEGRATION. The "genius" behind removing that and the hubs should be fired. Windows Phone 8.1, knowing that's the future, even though I've reverted to 8.0, has just about destroyed my emotional attachment and investment in Microsoft platforms. They release something great, then proceed to destroy it by ripping out piece by piece till it's half functional (Zune). Now, history is repeating itself. Microsoft, why should I stay with Windows Phone if you remove the hubs, Facebook integration, Me Tiles, etc? What are we left with? A less customizable Android without the gaudiness of Android and without the rabid religious zealotry of Apple fanboys.
I will be downgrading too later, the thought of having all those awesome features back is amazing.
How? I'd love to go back to WP8. Nevermind, I found it thanks to Bing :) https://uk.news.yahoo.com/downgrade-windows-phone-8-1-windows-phone-8-114525381.html#qmg9ql2
yup missing fb integration and the old photos hub with a background :( :@
I tend to agree, although the Facebook integration may not have been their choice. In order to get the offical app and continued use on older phones with integration, Facebook may have pressured them to make the change. The integration limited Facebook's ability to monitize on the platform.
"It IS released, in preview. And, for all practical purposes, it's a feature-finished product. " Nope. People were saying this at first, people like Paul Thurott and such, but MS has come out since and said definitively that the preview is NOT final. They are continuing to tweak. XBox music, specifically, is on a every 2-week update schedule until final release - audio scrubbing was just added back yesterday. I'm not happy about what has happened to hubs, but if the point is to make the hubs shells for 3rd parties to plug into, I think that is a better approach than hard coding specific integration while others get left out. I never really understood the point of the games hub. Its basically just a folder for games. I would rather games just act like any other app.
Clearly they already have.
You guys doesnt know that wp8.1 is only a dev preview and not the official wp8.1 update? You sounds like an idiot. Stop wincing and just wait :P
Hoping to Surface from this deluge of comments for a Surface.
You can use Transparency Tiles to pin a tile.
I refuse to use something like that. Microsoft should never have ruined the OS. I HATE transparent tile, by the way. I keep my screen READABLE, not chaotic.
If you keep your screen "readable" as you say, then you probably dont have a background image on your tiles and just have an accent color. FYI, the transparent tile will just use your accent color.
Sorry bud but those transparent tiles are awesome.
Not a LIVE tile.
My games are now listed again in the hub but are also listed in the all apps list.
Lucky... update not available in India... ;P
its is available
You can still access the app using Cortana. Say "open games".
I think thats only if you still have it pinned to Start. The same way Cortana can only open websites if you pin them to Start.
Nope, I don't have it pinned to start. It works anyways using Cortana. Give it a try.
This worked for me. "open games"
Yes it does work indeed. :D
Oh God, why are they fucking up everything for us? Did they misunderstood us when we said they should remove games from the app list? Are these guys drunk at work or what? Instead of them focusing heavily on making Xbox One games appear and bringing us nice features in the games hub...look at what they doing? Like some interns fucking around with the core system. WTF is this shit??
I'm sure they're not causing cancer and killing babies, so you can calm down now.
Yes they are brother, with unreasonable news like this, they giving us blood pressure which puts men in a higher risk of developing Prostate cancer and women miscarriaging their unborns. They need to stop this for real.
+1020 The hubs and their smooth integration is the Heart of WP! I feel WP is trying to be all things to everyone which is a recipe for a slow and painful death. Keep things like they are just update the service not change the experience to make it more like the competition! Many of us got WPs because it's DIFFERENT from IOS and Android!!!!
Yeah...they are basically droping all the unique features of WP...talk of hubs, metro, hinges etc all in favor of a clone of iOS and Android. These guys don't believe in what they work on. We (WP lovers will one day be left in the dark). Talking of senior members of the WP team not even using WPs but iOS....SMFH!!
Truth.
I dont think thats the goal, I hope not anyway. It looks to me like they are opening the hubs up for 3rd part plugins rather than hard-coding one or two services. If that is where they take this, it will be an improvement. I talking about pretty much everything except the game hub. I dont really understant the Games hub, its just a folder for games. When I want to play a game, I would rather just launch the game like any other app. I dont want to open Games, then launch. And I dont want to pin every game to the start screen.
Sadly the Androidbots and itards have successfully destroyed the windows phone environment. MS have allowed the competitors to copy the neat features while they provided alot of crucial apps to them first. Sadly this boost of windows phone is only a sign that they will resemble more like mainstream mobile operating systems. It won't be long before it won't resemble what we loved.
No they are spreading Aids...So you just keep your mouth shut...Let Techies talk here
Stupid comment...are u a techie guy? Do u know who I am?
Osama...or may be an aids virus..
Lol....ain't got your time bro. Assume what you want to but my advice is never discriminate....and don't boast with ur knowledge or stuff u have in abundance....cuz u might just loose them oneday! Enjoy ur day :-)
Just keeping up with you bro...enjoy ur day too dude...may god bless you
This is what happens when a bunch of Android and iPhone users dictate to Microsoft how to change the OS. It gets ruined.
Lol it's just a bug that wasn't supposed to happen, get over it, they will fix it
I hope you right but with 8.1 just few days more to global release and still having bugs?...Not a good indication. Wonder what's on the soon to be released Nokia 630.
This was an app update. Separate from OS updates. If it is an error don't judge them so badly for it. They're only human, mistakes do happen. Perhaps this slipped under the net.
I guess they took "take the games out of the app list" too literally.
Ha!
I think they're trolling us. Pretty soon, all of our music and videos are going to be listed in the app list instead of in the music and video hubs.
Well, it looks like I may have to turn off auto app updates then.
I think that's a good idea. Makes your music easier to find, and won't have to deal with the music app
That doesn't make your music easier to find, that just clutters up the start screen.
I think someone doesn't know what sarcasm is
those are their own words when they said why we should have the dozens of games that were nicly tucked in the Games hub out in the app list... don't hate the player, hate the game
This.
Lol. Be hilarious to see all of my songs listed in the app list.
Seriously, I can't imagine my 500+ songs listed in app list... LOL
haha, exactly what i was thinking
You win the prize of "Best Comment" for this article.
Wtf...ftw what is this update what the funk worthy or for the win worthy ???
Very interesting
This is nothing. Why does my phone not have the data submission arrows, but the 928 and Icon does? >_
+620
They misunderstood "remove GAMES from the App list". :/
Right!!! What a bunch of idiots
I blame people for not knowing how to convey exactly what they want properly. Had they taken the extra minute to properly construct their sentences in a coherent manner, this might have all been avoided. /s <----- Coherency.
Haha! They did it anyway.
What the f*ck were they thinking adding the games to the app list and then removing the GAMES Hub where your games are supposed to be in the first place?!
+920
Just FYI, you can use transparency tiles to get the tile back if you accidentally unpinned it.
There was no accidentally about it when I unpinned the Games hub. I know it's beta and all, but Microsoft neutered the thing to the point where there is almost no reason to have it pinned (why I unpinned it), and now they make it impossible without a third-party app to repin it. Is the Games hub team enjoying too much 420 lately, because I really don't follow their thought process.
....so you unpin something because it's useless, then get upset because you can't re-pin it?
I never said it was useless. I said that feature-wise it no longer serves much of a purpose on the Start screen.
Wtf are MS doing? Hubs, music and metro were the reason I went with WP over Android and iPhone now they're fucking it all up by removing so many elements that made WP unique and replacing them with shitty apps that are slow and unresponsive.
+920
+1020 they are making WP a copy of ios and Android. The heart of WP is the hubs and their smooth integration. I will not overreact because it's still in beta and maybe they are just testing these new features or at least that's my hope.
Cortana is in beta. WP8.1 is released on new phones starting this week. It is not beta.
No it didnt, and yes it is.
No, WP8.1 ISN'T in beta. It's in PREVIEW. It is FEATURE-COMPLETE. It's no more a beta than Windows 8 was beta. All OS's get various tweaks and updates after release. Cortana IS in beta.
Now is the time to let them know. I miss being able to easily share items from weave news reader to twitter and facebook, but at least when they removed that feature it gave some developers the option to make an app that does the same thing. Unishare works the best so far, but it needs work. I really don't like the new music app and the podcast app needs alot of work. I see it doesn't download my podcasts unless I open it. I hate that. It should be doing that for me. The music app is still really slow. Im not sure why its so slow to load too, the other app worked great. I also liked having just one app for music, video, podcasts. Maybe in the lung run it's going to be better having separate apps. But I try to keep in mind this is preview release. As I understand it this version of windows phone is not beta, it's a developer preview. Cortana is in beta and she works great. Best feature added so far. She does play music. Lets see what happens. I do feel it has lost some of its shine. Lets get her fixed up nicely.
Yup, if I wanted everything to be an app, I would have stuck with my iPhone.
Exactly. Stupid flipping iPhone and Android users have pushed Microsoft to screw up WP. I hate you all.
I rather apps over baked in os that gets an update once a year, providing they put a little more effort in to these apps
Apparently some people complained that they couldn't find their games in the apps list because it was in the games hub. That's one of the dumbest complaints I have ever heard, so I was surprised Microsoft actually did something about that. Well, I guess my complaints about the waste of space in the landscape keyboard are even dumber than that.
Curious, why not just make an app folder basically and put everything in there? it appears wp is being brought closer to the other platforms so the majority of the average users dont complain about have to relearn to use it.
Hey v-007! Mind blowing idea!!!!!!!!! :D
Funny how Android/iOS are now gravitating towards the exact opposite I.e. "Game Centre" in iOS is essentially an imitation of the Xbox experience, minus the Xbox experience of course.
+9000
+1020
Not updating
Just turned my auto updates off
Some developer was like my games not Xbox live compatible, So why the heck is it in the Xbox hub. And knowing Ms there were like your wish is my command
Except its technically the "games hub" :P
I highly doubt that this is the end of it since there is a Xbox games app for IOS and android that look similar to the one we have.
Can't get it on my Note 3. I emailed ms and was told it wasn't available for newer android phones.
Not installing this!
RECENT is back on the game! =P
You're right. The splash screen seems shorter as well.
Yes. Loving that feature again.
Awesome, I'm bringing back my hub then before it upsets.
can you elaborate more, what is RECENT, like RECENT what?
Recently played games. A really missed feature of new game app. Glad to have it back.
Lol...if you unpin the games hub from the start screen it's virtually gone forever. You can't open it via Cortana if the live tile isn't pinned.
(excuse me for my English)
Say open games to Cortana
Well what happens when my phone doesnt have Cortana yet. Cause if i change it i dont get to access my store.Yes i have 8.1 but i dont have Cortana cause i'm in Australia
Tell Me can open apps as well so you don't NEED Cortana to open apps.
LoL didnt know about Tell Me..I've learn some more new things. Gonna give it a try.
Maybe its a bug? Its not like they uninstalled it.
That's what I'm thinking, looks like a bug that slipped through the net.
Ok? I like to use for messaging. Guess have to be careful not to unpin.
Even if they unpin it they can use any app that pins live tiles!
Can send messages with Smartglass.
Microsoft...what the hell.
yea, I feel the same way...
I'm wondering at the moment.....what is going on with the OS?
I'm avoiding this update like a plague. No way I want my app list to be extra long. I like how my games are neatly hidden away.
I bet you're happy that you don't have apps set to automatically update ;)
I think he's talking about 8.1...otherwise he'll get the games on the app list with or without the Games Hub app there.
This makes no sense. Didn't Belfiore said that they would consider making the games-showing-on-the-app-list thing optional? I NEVER use the app list to access any game. I always use the Hub. Though I must say...the current Games Hub app sucks. Big time. It's an horrible experience when compared with the Hub integrated with WP8. So I hope this delisting is just something made before a big update to it. Because it really needs it, as that 1 and a half star rating shows. And if this indicates any possibility of the arrival of Sony WP devices along with PS-games on WP, then great. Take it away, do whatever you want with it, Microsoft. If not, then get your act together. By the way, by scanning the QR code, the app is there. So it's just hidden.
//Didn't Belfiore said that they would consider making the games-showing-on-the-app-list thing optional?// And so they did.
You have the option to install or ignore the update ;-) You can create your own little hub just use "Folders"
Anyone not upgrading to 8.1 is just stupid. At any rate, it just doesn't make sense, after you saying you're considering taking a step back and allowing gamers to hide the games from the app list and have it again only on the Games Hub, to delist the Games Hub. Also, there's absolutely no excuse for the poor performance of the Games Hub app. If Microsoft wasn't ready to bring forth separate good apps like Games Hub and Xbox Music, then perhaps they should have left the removal of these things from the core OS for later. Unless, of course, this was done to allow Sony devices to come to WP with their PS offerings. Which would make sense since Microsoft probably has more interest in having another strong OEM joining in than to be stubborn with the Xbox apps which they, clearly, never really cared as much about (judging by the state they allowed XBL games on WP to reach). Also, I have the Games hub pinned. Still, it's nowhere near the same experience to put apps in a folder.
Actually some apps have been reported not working as expected when running on wp8.1, especially messenger such as whatsapp and wechat where the notification is either delayed or doesn't received at all when the problem happen. Thus for some, restraining from update to 8.1 dev preview is a smart decision :)
He was talking about the update in general I think. Because the listing of apps in the app list and the Games Hub app separated is a 8.1 thing, not something exclusive to the developer preview. And the "preview" thing is reaching an end since there will be phones on the market with WP8.1 in the coming days/weeks.
Yup I am enjoying following the process but I've learned the hard way as a past android user, Wait for official release. Lol
I am very excited for the 8.1 release!
Indeed. I got both W8 and WP8 on launch day.. And ill get WP8.1 on launch as well. But I use my phone as a work machine too. No need for it to have bugs on it that I don't need. Lots of niggles will get solved by the time it swings by for public release I am sure, even if only via a Nokia firmware update
Folders DO NOT replace all the functions of a hub so are NOT an alternative!!
It's like a petulant kid... "I am NOT going to play games with you, we'll just see about that!! I'M OUTTA HERE."
LOL
I'd so much rather have my games listed in the game hub than in the list. Darn you MS.
seems faster after games hub disappear
Hey.....NO! *SLAP*
Another *slap*.
An another to remember
And another slap, you know, just to make sure
Idk...without a change log and some explanation of why,I think I'll just wait this one out. Mac
And so it begins: The first time I feel a hatred for auto-update apps :| #byegameshub
They removed the games hub from app list because it was having obvious problems and not stable for public use yet. Until the real games are out of app list, then the hub will come back after fixing connectivity and frequent refreshing.
Wow, so you have insider knowledge. Thanks for sharing that with us /s
And you know this how?
I think like Microsoft (;
If it was delisting of an app, wouldn't the Games Hub App icon turn grey, and refuse to load when opened? It's a messed up update, that's what!
The apps that launch other apps can still pin it to start
I noticed the recent games are back and it will move your recent games to this list and out of the game list until it not recent any more.
Used transparency tiles for the hub tile
an update that makes the app impossible to ever use. this feature seems counterproductive to me... that being said, I hate the clunky, slow-to-load Games hub app on 8.1. I've been using Nokia App folder for my games since I updated the OS. Plus I have Transparency Tiles to pin a Games tile anyway, so......... meh.
Once they removed the X-Box avatar from the Live Tile I no longer had the Games Hub on my Start Screen only a link in the Nokia Folder App. So with no Games Hub in the App list, the shortcut in the Nokia Folder App disappeared as well. Luckily some people mentioned that the Transparency Tiles short cut to the Games Hub still works. That's a pretty serious quality control mess up by Microsoft. I expect it is easy to fix and will be fixed quickly, but still that's poor quality control....
Keep in mind 8.1 still isn't released to the public as of yet.
Sorry, unless Microsoft fixes this within a couple days tops, I'm not buying this as an excuse. Completely removing Games from the app list is intentional stupidity.
You dare question the powers of unintentional stupidity. They are beyond measure! (I just can't see that it was intentional, that makes no sense whatsoever. If it is intentional, someone's getting fired shortly....)
8.1 has already RTMed. The Nokia L630 is going on sale in the next couple of days with 8.1 in it. The "preview" excuse is reaching its time-limit.
Even so if it does get released to the public like this. Then it will be a complete disaster for windows phone. So far we've lost the original music hub & with this the ability to see new & recent music. We've lost Games hub which was great. And we've lost the ability to share to multiple social networks with one click you now have to use the abysmal independent facebook and twitter apps. And if you share a picture facebook thinks its a status I mean WTF!!!! Microsoft ive been loyal to to this platform since the lumia 800 on the day of release and if Microsoft don't fix this soon. Il be abandoning ship.
We've not lost the Games Hub, that's just hyperbole. I also don't see 8.1 as a "complete disaster". I accept that the Music/Video/Games Hubs are now separate so that they can be updated without an OS update. We shall see what the state of them ends up later when they are more mature.
Probably, some intern guy!
THIS !!!
I have noticed i have completely stopped playing games on my windows phone since 8.1 when they completely ruined the games hub. I use to play a game everyday now not at all, Now games mixing with the apps list has confused me i don't even know what to play....... Mixing games into the apps list is a massive mistake especially considering there is no native app folder application
100% agree
I agree with you 100%. I reverted to 8.0 and am glad I did. Games in the App list is confusing and plain stupid. What's next, every individual song, album, and playlist also in the app list because a handful of users don't know to open Music+Video? Reverting got back the Me Tile (I can see historic notifications now, unlike the Notification Center), Recent in People, Bing Vision/Local Scout and landscape mode in searches, and most importantly, the Facebook integration works as it is supposed to work. I don't think I will get 8.1 when it's released. I didn't leave Windows Phone, Windows Phone left me.
I had stopped using games and listening to music because of the changes in 8.1. I even stopped using Facebook because the integration was removed .
You're easily confused then. I do not like that Games are now listed in the main app list, however the idea that one is so confused by that so one cannot play games anymore seems ridiculous. Just go to the Games Hub and pick your game there, the games are simply listed in multiple areas now for discovery purposes.
What is happening with xbox games? Weird update tho.
Too bad my games app doesn't show on my app list ...... I don't even know what to think but oh well shit happens still love windows phone OS ....
I love your comment too bro. Hahaha. :)
Maybe the hub is going to be integrated into the OS again. XD or maybe it's just a mistake
I miss all the hubs. Too bad they didn't work out...
On his Reddit AMA, Joe Belfiore agreed that having an option to toggle between showing all games listed in app list or not was a good idea. I am hoping this is a precursor to that update.
I WISH!! But I doubt it. I bet that change will only come through a GDR update as I would expect that it requires an update to the OS.
What in the FUCK are they doing? Are the honestly this fucking stupid over at Microsoft??? They have officially gone full retard. They flat out don't care what we want. I never heard ONE FUCKING REQUEST TO GET RID OF THE GAME HUB. Talk about weapons grade retards....
I noticed their incompetence after the music app debacle
It gives off the appearance that the head has no clue what the hand is doing. I personally believe this level of silliness should not be happening at a company this big.
Usually, the bigger the company the less the different parts have a clue what any of the others are doing.
I don't care who you are, that was funny right there.
And i welcome myself to the club with no games hub on app list. Lol.
Well I'm glad I read this before I pushed the update through...
How would we access all of the Xbox social features without the hub?
If you guys notice the hub is just there. Its only the live tile or the tile on the app list that's been removed. Though we still didnt know if this is prior to the update that joe was planning or something like that. But let's see. :)
Where did it go, we have no clue. :P and am laughing like crazy :D
Maybe they have something awesome up their sleeves...
Maybe they will bring it back with Zune functionality. I hope they know what they're doing...
It also seems slower.
My god....... even the boys here @wpcentral are wondering what the hell is going on @Microsoft wasn't 8.1 supposed get be better?
idiot Microsoft
Totally funny! Just disappeared and gone.
So much crying over nothing. smh
How many more components of this OS will MS break...
Sam updated to the new version, had pinned the games tile to start. Now the app looks like an old Xbox games app without the settings to turn off Xbox extra features. But the games still appear in the app list!
I put them in a folder and pinned it to the start screen
Literally EW I can't
This is not the update,it's downgraded version with no valid changelogs..
Eh there is an improvement. Recent games at the top.
I have to admit I haven't accessed the games hub since I got windows phone 8.1, only because all my games are in the app list. I don't like my games in my app list because it looks way too cluttered. It's be cool if they offered a folder or group options in the app list. Place all the games in a folder or group would work best.
The Games Hub is the "Folder" for games.
Not anymore apparently.
Don't worry guys there will be another update by evening which fix's the issue:D love windows phone.
You can still access the app using Cortana. Say "open games".
Thanks....
You can still access the app using Tell Me or Cortana. Say "open games" Fixed it for those of us who don't have Cortana yet!!!!
Woohoo it adds recent games back as a feature.
... and removes Games from the app list as a downgrade!!! ;p
I am not updating.
Not exactly what I had in mind when I hoped for no games in the app list...
Maybe the app works good only with final version of 8.1? Who knows? They are so unpredictable.. Instead of removing Xbox music and games from the OS, THEY Could have Used the TIME to get A NEW FEATURES LIKE MULTIWINDOW.
It's more likely to be a screw up on Microsofts end, they'll probably release a fix for it soon.
I honestly can't believe the amount of whining over an obvious mistake which will be obviously be fixed soon.
Pretty embarrassing from a group of people who are supposed to be core of the user base.
Yeap.
Yes some people are being over-dramatic... but people do need to comment to let them know how important it is to remove a basic thing (and much-loved 'hub' features)
It will be fixed,but they really should test updates before releasing them.And notification's need's to come back to the Me Tile.
+920 everyone is sitting and criticizing them while they work - one of the worse conditions to work under. Then when the developer preview gets locked down to prevent this kind of negative backlash, people will complain why. people need to STFU, let them work and do what they need to. once everything is final, go rate the app if you dont like it and leave bad feedback for them to read / address / fix.
What seems embarrassing is the lack of quality control..
I agree JJ, its clearly a mistake... But they need to be aware of their mistake to fix it..therefore this whining helps!
We all thought Xbox Music was an "obvious" mistake also. Three years later we are waiting for that to be "obviously fixed". You're right; Pretty fucking embarrassing.
Agreed, I stopped auto updates and cancelled the update for the moment. These things happen, the devs at MS are only human like us.
One could use transparency tiles to get a tile that accesses the games hub if you do accidentally remove the original tile.
I updated before I read the article..... Now I cannot delete the games hub.
Karma! :P
You define the word 'enthusiast '
WHAT IN THE WORLD?!?!?!?! I wonder if they did this so you can't 'rate+review' the app in the Store anymore? It seems that all the 'hubs' are still in the OS but just hidden (Music Hub is still there, just hidden... Games hub still there, just hidden).... what in the world is going on and why bloat the OS like that? One or the other... geez. Also, i hope this is just temporary because Belfore said they are working on an option to hide games from the list.
Didn't update Lol :D
And the games hub is outdated too. No Xbox one support...
Then what's the use of the update? WPC App for Android- Lenovo IdeaTab A3000
Seriously, what is happening in MS?
Well it's a good thing I went back to 8.0, cause my camera refused to open even after 2 hard resets. Good to still have the hubs and I will wait for the wp8.1 + cyan update to roll out.
Are you saying that cyan isn't currently an option on 8.1 ?
"Recent played" is back!!!!!
Lol i don't see any apps in my app list after update i can't even access my office only way to access anything is cortana and no option to pin i only pin all apps after downloading
.... After sometime they disappear some bug in wp update
Seriously, MS.. WTF.
Or guyz u can jst make a new folder from app folder as they both take same amount of time to open u will not feel the difference
lol that requires working, generally speaking people are too lazy to do that. everyone wants everything done for them. Like geeks that want a hot smoking girl, but they dont want to put the effort into figuring out how, so they jack off and blame the hot girl cuz shes stupid anyway.
I'm a geek. I've been chased by hot smoking girls. I didn't know what to do. I lost my chance to get with them. GGWP I need social skills.
If i wanted to work to use a decent os i would have bought a lagdroid device
Folders do not replace hubs and all their,functions....so NO!
I hope this is just a glitch or something. I only just got back being able to view my avatar and whatnot in the hub.
Recently played games are shown
I think Microsoft got confused. Users want an option to remove the individual games from the App List and access them via the Games Hub. Not remove the Games Hub entirely!
lol
I realm am starting to worry here, bot about the OS but the people behind them. They couldn't have taken "remove games from the app drawer" that literally, no ones that stupid. I like wp8 because of the hubs and the start screen. The hubs made it so easy to find stuff. Play alot of games? Pin that shit to the start screen! A monkey could do it. They're taking WP in the wrong direction. Im gonna give the official a few months. If they don't fix their shit, I'm going back to android. At least there I get a great app community -.-
See you later :)
Wtf?
I do believe They should fire Joel Bellfire and have Wpcentral Team heading their Company
I agree he should be fired, but his name is Joe Belfiore
Gill Bonfire
We know much more than Microsoft , they don't even have to think of new ideas , we will give them problems , they are here for suggestions .
Still they don't understand. Microsoft is either incompetent or dumb .
Did anyone consider that maybe Cortana has gone rogue? "All your games be mine!"
Rampancy?
The robots are rising! First our games, then the world!
Shouldn't that be "All your games are belong to us"?
LOL
Slightly off topic but that Lumia 630 is looking mighty nice as a DD
I just noticed the update, went to my app list, and 'games' was gone. I didn't have the live tile on, but I had games in a folder created with App Folder. So I went to that tile, opened it, and the ' games' icon disappeared right before my eyes. It was like having something stolen from you... It hurt.
Lol:D just weight few more hour's its going to be alright :D
MS, YOU WIN FXXXXXXXX
The application disappeared from the hub of applications. I hope they fix the bug.
This is exactly why I didn't turn the receive updates automatically setting on and why I always check WPCentral before updates! (:D
Thank fuck that horrible thing is gone. Used to take forever to update/load my gave list.
I think they were trying to make it so the games themselves didn't show up on the app list and they screwed up the code somewhere.
Looking back, our children's children may understand why Microsoft did what they are doing. And then they will sit and shake their heads in disbelief.
What is happening with Microsoft's QA?
I now regret retaining windows phone ( bought a 1520 recently )... Loved the hubs and now the uniqueness of the OS is gone... Musc n videos hub dismantled, people hub dismantled, now games...already feels cluttered to me...this doesn't seem evolving..
Telling Cortana to open games doesn't work, she just ask me which app? Not having a Music Hub or Games Hub etc...is making things less intuitive....Microsoft...listen to the user..!!!
Use folders apps to create a folder and put games in it. This way you will have your own games hub, and not surprisingly, better than the original one.
Even notifications show up in action center..why show up live tiles...that can be removed too...the changes done to hubs in 8.1 are degrading the original OS uniqueness
They have just rolled out faulty app , they must update it ASAP .
Wait! I couldn't get it! They updated an app to remove that app! Is it right what i am thinking!??
Please, 8.1 is already released. The only thing missing is firmware.
Please use Transparency Tiles as a workaround!
Its my first comment here.. Welcome me guys.. :p
Welcome to WPCentral!
Welcome aboard. Unfortunately you're on the thread of petulance and impatience. Some realize it's a temporary mess up, and some take every opportunity to air their grievances and threaten to "go back to Android/iOS" like tantruming children... I hope you enjoy your Windows Phone, I love my red 920....
Hey, red 920 too, and awesome ❤
And welcome, a time of change for WP but sure all will be good....
Actually the new games hub in 8.1 is so badly done. If I don't have internet access it loads so long.
Yeah... It was far far better in WP8. Who the heck gave them the idea to f*ck up the games hub...?
I didn't get any update of Xbox Music or Video in India. Why? When will it be available?
^ "Check for updates" manually!
Nah .. region locked.
Wow. People are really upset about this. 1) it might be an error and 2) If you have feedback, other than cursing a WP fan site, try windowsphone.uservoice.com if you would like this changed.
Already using Transparant Tiles tile. "open games" in Cortana also works. Using Cortana although I am not in the US.
I guess they're going to revamp the games interface or integrate with something.
It is what it is. Life goes on.
+920 Yea, no doubt it's going to be fixed quickly....
Well that's just stupid then
Should I update it? Going by the comments I got confused...
I think I am gonna pass...i know that I'm too clumsy and accidently if I unpin the hub from my start screen, it will fuck things up. And I won't be using transparency tiles after that(I like my hub green not transparent), which will definitely cause a major fall back for me. I will wait for the fix to be released by today or tomorrow.
Agree, I'm gonna pass it too. Though transparency isn't a problem for me but the functionality became worse and worse with every update...
If you want to access your games via the games hub then don't update.
Thanks! I guess I should wait until I see some good reviews in the store.
Imo they just aren't ready with a good games hub, so they prefer to "hide" it temporarily. Because this week... 8.1 starts officially and "average" users will have it on the Lumia 630.
I think this is the beginning of an major update! I don't think they will remove games app because they have told Xbox one games app of coming soon! I think they have kept the app invisible so that the new customers don't face any problems till the app is completed...
Well this is a stupid decision!
Stupid decision????? This is SPARTAAAA!!
The hell?? Glad I turned off auto updates after installing 8.1 preview. I bet these ios and android baboons will start complaining that wp now lacks a "games centre" *_*. I am hoping this was a buggy update...
If the 630 is getting released in the next few days with 8.1 we might get an update to the developer preview too, just a hopeful thought!!
An update that's more like an uninstall. Unusual
I swear, sometimes the Windows Phone team seem like the Keystone Cops.... ...'we'll do it this way...no we'll change it and do it this way...no let's throw out the previous version and start from scratch...no wait, let's reverse that and......'. God :/
Mine has stopped working all together. Its on my start screen but when I press it it flickers and goes back to start screen. Tried power off and back in and still the same. Wtf!
The hubs are a bit of a mess at the moment! Stopped playing games to pass the time on Windows 8.1 because the hub was downgraded in everyway. The Me tile doesn't really serve any purpose now. And the music experience is shocking mind bendingly in a bad psychedelic trip shocking way.
WP 8 had the worst music experience of any OS on the market! The team behind it then made it worse specially for 8.1 looks like they have got to play with the games hub
Note to self through it all I take comfort from the fact that MS are pushing out updates on a regular basis
Well just tell cortana to open games and there you are
Have you read the first properly? Even cortana can't find it either!!
i don't think its removed i think its hidden until they fix it correctly
To back up savinati, games hub will come back by the launch of 8.1 Or even before that. So far I understood they are fixing some issues like syncing with Xbox 360/One. Progress of games and one drive music acces and so on. They took it offline simply cause they weren't happy with the preview. So downgrading back to 8.0 is silly. Just be patient and Wait for it to return.
I can understand the 'hate' because of the update removing the games hub from the app list but atleast they added some functionallity back that was lost before. Here's the changes i found (so far): recent played games are back in the 'recent' section games can be removed from within the hub again (seriously, this is one i really missed) The fact that the games hub is removed from the app list is just stupid and i hope that this issue is really just that, a mistake on Microsoft's side, and is fixed soon.
I just hope they don't wait two weeks to fix it if it has been a mistake on their end.
How the hell are we supposed to manage our Xbox live account like our avatar, messages and friends???
Smartglass takes over entirely
Having read the article and some comments I was about to go raging demon up in the b***h but then I put my ryu hat back on and thought for a moment, maybe the issue mentioned in the article is a bug or glitch in the update. Hell having done programming myself I can see how this might have happened and yes, even ms with their wealth of experience can make this mistake. Now reading some of these comments about the games hub, yes I agree, I was/am a big fan of the games hub. It was fast, stable and simply got the job done BUT I found myself often hoping it would get updated, the UI and to some extent the UX seemed dated, it hadn't changed much since wp7. As things stand now, a lot of you say ms made a mistake turning it into an app and yes, atm it seems that way but the great thing about apps are, updates, updates, updates, frequent updates that even if they break a feature, can easily be fixed with an update, something that wasn't possible or feasible with the baked in games hub. Currently in treating 8 to 8.1 like the x360 to x1 were ms made such a massive change to the core that they had to make a change to how features work. Who is to say that they aren't working to bring all the features and functionality of the old games hub to this new one, they are probably trying to ensure that there is performance parity. To quote a famous football (soccer for the US) manager, "you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet" well ms can break as many eggs as they want as long as the omelet is the best they've ever made ;)
It could have been updated with every GDR update which occurred every 3 months (give or take a week or so).
-_-
Thanks for ua great info I don't feel lyk updating the app after seein all ur comments
What.
That's why wp8.1 is called BETA, shit happens
Maybe your unique copy of wp8.1 preview is called a beta, the other million is not
Well its a developers version and its not released to the mass public. Yes I understand that but yes in my mind it is a beta version and that's why things are the way they are. So for your dumb ass unique comment you can save it. Just keep complaining and when they drop the official version for the rest of the millions maybe it will be there.
It's fixed and like I said shit happens
No its not and that's why its out there for anyone who wants it.
Well again its a preview then and its not the done finished product. So wait
Wish Microsoft would use the what's news section in app descriptions. Only takes a few minutes to do
recent games is back!
I got used to games being listed in app list. Since I've updated to Windows 8.1 DP game hub got slower on my phone and I've pretty much stopped using it.
Most people here doesnt have patience. Hahaha they panicked.
The hideous green thing is hiding, yeyiiii. Quick MS remove the other two green things (music & video). Ya i am mad.
Relax they will fix
Why not use uservoice and vote for what we really want on this Game hub issue!
I have, and its made all the difference :-\s
So many people saying, "be patient, it obviously was a mistake".
Well, we though the same about Xbox Music and Video. And here we are three years later, being patient about that mistake and yet I'm still left to use those giant piles of shit.
Still ain't got 8.1
My Games Hub doesn't work, just takes me back to the start screen when I'm pressing it, wtf!?
For those who haven't removed the games app from the start screen or use Cortana to launch it, I've noticed that the "recent" feature which has returned now removed the recently played games from the app list within the games app. I guess ms didn't want us to have to scroll too much.
How about the ability to install apps to the SD card for those of us with 8gb storage devices is a big win? I really don't mind not having the me tile besides I use the Facebook and Twitter apps anyways. The music hub I just use Nokia Mix Radio to play my local music because it gives me access to the audio settings directly when i am using my earphones. That's just my 2 cents. I also love word flow as well.
On the bright side however... The "Recent" section is back.... Not sure if it went away or not....
Man its just the preview. Everything will get back to its original position. Don't worry.
The preview is not beta, it is feature locked.
MS f**ked up Photos, People, Music, and now Games! The key features that made W8P different and useful have all been destroyed. Conrtna is nothing more then a poor mans Google, and in which Google and Siri all surpass MS effort. Though we finally have a notification page, compare this to the options and key figures on iOS and Google - MS effort is just average! MS and fans may claim that it's pre-view of W8.1, but face it this an almost compete version of 8.1; a disappoint too!!
Yup dude you are right I feel too
I cant find Game Hub after upgrade
Put your phone in Airplane Mode and open the Hub, its fluent as it was before, the constant sync when you have data enabled shutters the hub, give option to enable or disable sync
Wow they added recent list in games hub and really it seems faster than before :)
If windows OS goes open source let me try to make like android...and name it Snickers....just like kit Kat...may be google should buy it
Its not removed.. Its hidden.
If you had games live tile on start screen.. Then it works.
else it doesn't.
There killing Xbox Live games...
I don't like where this is going...
Um, yeah... I just checked on my 810 and indeed, the Games app no longer shows in my app list. Well, that sucks.
Everybody keep calm. There's a reason behind everything. Lets hear their reason for this nonsense first before we start a lynch mob.
My games app disappeared a week or more ago. Not with this update. Fortunately I have it pinned to the start screen. It's going to be a problem if I lose mine as most of my games are only accessible from within the games app.
I can see all the installed games in the Applist.. Although, no games app in the app list. from the recent apps in the store, it goes to the start screen... that's really strange..
Come on Microsoft, what are you guys doing... Wp 8.1 is great, but you're messing up apps. I don't get why games was unhooked from the OS. I get music, but the games hub didn't really have issues..
FUBAR! sums it up nicely. Posted via the WPC App for Android!
This is almost the last draw... My next phone will most probably be an iPhone.....
That iPhone 6 is "looking" more and more desirable each day. This games crAPP is another nail in the coffin. Come on Microsoft, really?!?! Dafuk are you thinking?!?!
Temporary move to hide the unfinished app from L630 owners.
I can not believe the freaking mess they made with this games crap... Unfreakingbelievable!!
Check the store and you'll find another update. Version 2.0.1405.13001 - from what I can tell it restores Games to the app list. Doesn't remove the games themselves from the list still though. Hitting 'view' takes you to Games in the app list now.
It's back.
Microsoft provides quick update for games yet again... Yes you can find games in app list now..
And guys stop quarrelling now...
Today's app updates..
GAMES
LINE
MIRROR CAM... All these apps have updated today and now you can find GAMES Back on App list...
New update brought it back.... (v2.0.1405.13001)
The Games App shows up in the App list for me even after today's update o_O

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