Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 have suddenly lost access to several of their defining gameplay features after FromSoftware unexpectedly took their online servers offline across all platforms. Although Dark Souls 2 and its sequel remain playable, fans returning to Drangleic and Lothric will have to make do without some of the series' most recognizable online interactions.

While both Dark Souls 2 and 3 are primarily single-player experiences, their approach to online multiplayer has always been a huge part of their appeal. Throughout the games, players can summon strangers to help defeat difficult bosses, invade other worlds for PvP, and leave cryptic messages offering advice or deliberately misleading fellow players. Bloodstains and wandering phantoms also serve as reminders that thousands of other players are making their way through the same dangerous environments and are probably equally as frustrated. While many soulslikes have their own twist on the genre, FromSoftware's approach to multiplayer remains a defining feature of their RPGs. Even when playing alone, Dark Souls makes its worlds feel eerily connected, which makes the disappearance of those systems particularly noticeable.

More Dark Souls 2 cut content has been uncovered, further demonstrating the potential and ambition that this much-maligned game had.

In an October 30 announcement on Twitter, FromSoftware confirmed that the online servers for Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 have been temporarily disabled on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. The developer attributed the shutdown to an unspecified "server issue," leaving cooperative multiplayer, invasions, player messages, and other network-dependent features unavailable.

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