Windows 8 Release Date and Price: 40 Games Set to Roll Out on Launch Date, Upgrade Price Starts at $14.99

By James Paladino (staff@latinospost.com) | First Posted: Sep 02, 2012 06:55 PM EDT

Gamers will be pleased to know that Microsoft's decision to integrate Xbox Live into Windows 8 will give them the opportunity to choose between 40 new releases, starting on the October 26 launch of the anticipated OS.

These games will feature all of the expected trimmings of the service, providing Achievements, multiplayer, leaderboards, a friends list, and more.

Microsoft has announced support from Microsoft Game Studios, Halfbrick Studios, Gameloft, Miniclip, and Glu Mobile for the Windows 8 Xbox Live service. Each of the service's games will be playable on tablets as well as PCs and laptops.

In terms of Windows 8's price, Mircosoft is offering a discounted $14.99 upgrade fee for consumers who bought a Windows PC on June 2, 2012 or after. Those interested can visit this site to register for a promo code now. The promotion ends on January 31, 2013. If you are not elegible for the code, you will still be able to purchase a discounted version of the OS for $39 between the previously mentioned dates. The final retail price of Windows 8 after this "early adopter" period is still unannounced.

While Microsoft has not made their final pricing plans public, analyst Patrick Moorhead expects Windows 8 "to be priced the same as Windows 7 but [that Microsoft will] provide some special discounts to OEMs for tablet and convertible devices."

Computer World speculates that a Windows 8 upgrade will ultimately cost $120, and Windows Pro will land at $200.

After you have installed Windows 8, look for the following games in the Windows 8 Store.