FromSoftware has temporarily disabled online multiplayer services for Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 following an unspecified server issue affecting both games.
The developer announced the shutdown on October 30, 2026, confirming that online features would remain unavailable while the problem is investigated.
The interruption affects all supported platforms, including PC and consoles. Players currently cannot access the games' official cooperative multiplayer, invasions, or online messaging systems.
FromSoftware has not disclosed the cause of the issue or provided a date for restoring the affected services.
However, the developer has said it will share additional information when a clearer restoration timeline becomes available.
Dark Souls 2 and 3 Lose Online Multiplayer Features
The temporary shutdown affects several features that have remained important parts of the Dark Souls experience.
Cooperative multiplayer allows players to summon others for assistance with difficult areas and boss encounters, while invasions introduce competitive encounters between players.
The online messaging system also lets players leave warnings, hints, and other information throughout the game world.
With the official servers unavailable, these features cannot function normally.
Players can still experience the games' single player content, although the absence of online interactions changes some aspects of exploration and combat.
The shutdown currently affects Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3. There has been no announcement indicating that the original Dark Souls or other FromSoftware games are experiencing the same problem.
FromSoftware Has Faced Similar Server Problems Before
This is not the first time the Dark Souls franchise has experienced a prolonged online service interruption.
In early 2022, a serious remote code execution vulnerability was discovered in the multiplayer systems used by the Dark Souls games.
The security problem raised concerns that attackers could potentially execute malicious code through online interactions.
FromSoftware responded by disabling multiplayer services for the PC versions while investigating the vulnerability and developing fixes.
The interruption lasted several months before online functionality was gradually restored.
However, the current situation differs from the 2022 incident.
This time, only Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 are affected, but the shutdown extends across all supported platforms rather than being limited to PC.
There is currently no confirmed evidence that the latest interruption involves a similar security vulnerability.
Seamless Co-op Mods Offer an Alternative for PC Players
PC players interested in continuing cooperative sessions may have another option through community developed modifications.
Modder Yui's Seamless Co-op projects allow players to experience Dark Souls 2 and Dark Souls 3 together using infrastructure separate from the official multiplayer servers.
Dark Souls 3 has supported the modification for some time, while Dark Souls 2 received its own version toward the end of September 2026.
These modifications change the cooperative experience by allowing players to progress through larger portions of the game together.
Unlike traditional multiplayer, Seamless Co-op can maintain shared progression without automatically disconnecting players after a boss is defeated or a character dies.
Because the modifications operate independently of FromSoftware's official servers, they may remain usable during the current interruption.
However, these are unofficial community projects, and compatibility or stability can vary.
For console players, there is no equivalent workaround mentioned in the announcement.
FromSoftware has not provided an estimated restoration date, leaving players dependent on further updates from the developer before official multiplayer services can resume.
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