A minor status update is better than none at all
The Dark Souls series’ servers went offline on PC after the discovery of a security vulnerability with dangerous remote-code repercussions, and we’re now into the four-month mark of having no online PvP or PvE in these games. Is there any hope of online functionality returning for Dark Souls and its sequels? The response from Bandai Namco has been limited, to say the least — but there’s a small status update today.
In a new response issued to PC Gamer, FromSoftware said that developers are “currently in the process of restoring the online servers for the Dark Souls series on PC,” adding that they “plan to restore online service for each game progressively, bringing back servers for Dark Souls III once we complete the necessary work to correct the problem.”
“We will provide additional updates as soon as the restoration schedule is finalized,” the FromSoftware rep told the outlet. “We want to thank all our players for your patience and understanding as we work to fix this issue.”
PvP servers for Dark Souls 3, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls: Remastered have been temporarily deactivated to allow the team to investigate recent reports of an issue with online services.
Servers for Dark Souls: PtDE will join them shortly.We apologize for this inconvenience.
— Dark Souls (@DarkSoulsGame) January 23, 2022
(Bandai Namco’s original announcement from January, and the follow-up in February.)
Returning to where it all started
Considering how many first-time FromSoft players Elden Ring brought in, I imagine many players have been looking to the studio’s prior action-RPGs, eager to crack into the past to fill the Lands Between-sized hole in their hearts after finishing 2022’s hit game.
With that in mind, online play is a vibrant part of the Dark Souls series, especially Dark Souls III with its distinct Covenant player roles. (Am I right, fellow Mound-Makers?) It’s been sad to think that the servers might never return for the full Dark Souls trilogy on PC, even if Elden Ring is — and really should be — the priority. For now, we’ll keep waiting.
Today’s news doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence, but it’s still a necessary reassurance. If you’re feeling impatient, it’s still possible to play PvP and PvE in the PlayStation and Xbox console versions of Dark Souls and its sequels. See you at Pontiff Sulyvahn’s spot!
[Image Credit: Baal]
