Dark Souls 2's PS3 and Xbox 360 servers are going offline permanently next year

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But the last-gen versions are going nowhere

Dark Souls 2
(Image credit: Bandai Namco)

Dark Souls 2's PS3 and Xbox 360 versions will have their servers taken permanently offline next year.

The news was confirmed by the official Dark Souls Twitter account, which stated the 2014 game's servers will be offline as of March 31, 2024. Players on PS3 and Xbox 360 will be warned of this via an in-game message and, it can of course still be played fully offline.

The Twitter account also confirmed that servers for the game's PC version, as well as for the PS4 and Xbox One's Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin, will remain online for players to continue enjoying co-op, PvP, and other online elements such as covenant interactions and leaving messages for others. And yes, this version of the game is backward compatible on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.

While it's likely that Dark Souls 2's online user base is relatively minuscule on PS3 and Xbox 360 these days, it's nevertheless a shame to see the game's oldest servers come to a permanent end. Especially so for players who don't own more up-to-date systems or simply prefer the base game before the Scholar of the First Sin version's divisive changes.

Dark Souls 2 is largely considered to be the black sheep of the Souls trilogy. And to an extent that's true, as it features relatively linear and uninteresting level design and a rather bland art direction when compared to the games that bookend the trilogy.

That being said, Dark Souls 2 has arguably the most fun and interesting online environment of the three. Its massive weapon variety has led to a thriving PvP scene, even a decade on from its original release. So it'll be a shame to see that go, even if it's for consoles that are about as old as the game itself.

Interested in playing more Dark Souls-inspired titles? You may want to check out our list of the best soulslike games to see what developers beyond FromSoftware are doing with the popular subgenre.

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Rhys Wood
Rhys Wood
Hardware Editor

Rhys is TRG's Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.