Dark Souls 2 & 3 Officially Shut Down Online Servers Across All Platforms

Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 have unexpectedly had their multiplayer servers shut down by FromSoftware on all platforms, with no timeframe for when they'll return.

The action RPGs produced by FromSoftware are known for their brutal difficulty, but one way for players to make the gameplay experience easier is by summoning others to help them with bosses. Unfortunately, the longer a game has been out, the less active players are around to assist, meaning people either have to ask for help on forums, or just gird their loins and level grind until the boss goes down.

Dark Souls 2 & 3 Servers Have Been Taken Down

It's been over ten years since Dark Souls 2 was released, and bang on a decade since the launch of Dark Souls 3, meaning FromSoftware fans have had plenty of time to conquer their bosses. Those who want to go back and play those games will have to do it solo for the time being, as the FromSoftware Player Support Twitter/X account has announced that the servers for both games have been completely shut down on all platforms.

It's unclear what the problem is and why it only affects those two specific games, and not titles like the original Dark Souls or Elden Ring. It's possible that it's connected to the recent technical issues that have plagued multiple websites over the past few weeks, and the global cybersecurity concerns it sparked. What's important is that there's currently no ETA for a return, and while FromSoftware claims the shutdown is temporary, there's a chance the servers for these older games could be gone for a long time.

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Online Multiplayer Was Vital to Dark Souls' Identity

While the FromSoftware action RPGs became beloved due to their incredible art design and challenging gameplay, one shouldn't forget the role that the online multiplayer had in cementing their fame. This dates all the way back to Demon's Souls, when the online discourse involved players being able to invade each other's worlds, and how it was such a novel concept at the time, especially as it was tied to the game's most memorable boss, the Old Monk.

The active player numbers for the older Dark Souls games have diminished over time, but it's sad that even people who want to team up for a nostalgia run will be unable to do so. Hopefully, what issue is plaguing the games is resolved and soon, so fans can go back to dying together.

Dark Souls 3 Action RPG Systems OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 90/100 Critics Rec: 94% Released March 24, 2016 ESRB M for Mature: Blood Violence Developer(s) From Software Publisher(s) Bandai Namco Entertainment, From Software Engine havok, proprietary engine Multiplayer Online Co-Op, Online Multiplayer FX Wiki Wiki Genre(s) Action RPG 0:00 / 0:00