Demon's Souls servers staying open

By Fred Dutton Published 22 September, 2011

Atlus promises to keep it online into 2012.

Demon's Souls' US publisher Atlus has announced that it plans to keep the game's servers open into 2012.

Back in December 2010, it promised to keep the acclaimed PlayStation 3 RPG online until October this year. However, it's now extended that pledge indefinitely into next year.

"While it comes at significant cost to us and although it has been over two years since the game revolutionised the notion of multiplayer and online functionality in an RPG, our commitment to the game and the fans that turned it into an incredible success remains as strong as ever," commented Atlus PR man Aram Jabbari.

"While the reality is that one day the servers will ultimately close due to operation and maintenance costs, that day is not today, nor will it be this year. We're excited to continue to support one of the most significant, influential games in recent memory into its third year, and we're planning to hold more tendency events for our loyal, beloved fans.

"If you've been waiting to try Demon's Souls or held off with concern that it was too late to join in, the truth is that there's never been a better time to see what all the talk and awards are all about."

We're checking in with Namco Bandai, who published the game on these shores, to find out whether it plans to follow Atlus' lead.

Dark Souls, the game's multiplatform spiritual successor due out next month, is being published by Namco Bandai worldwide.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (19) Latest comment 8 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • smithdown #1 8 months ago

    Excellent news! Hopefully those people who buy Dark Souls will enjoy it so much that they will go back and try Demon's Souls too. I expect this is what Atlus are banking on. Which reminds me, I must go back and finish it!

  • repeater #2 8 months ago

    At the same time, Nintendo can't even be bothered to put any online multiplayer component into the Star Fox 64 remake. I know what kind of company I want to support..

  • varnavides #3 8 months ago

    I'm still playing it now and there seem to be more people than ever either invading your game or offering help before some of the bosses.

    To those who have helped me many times, I am extremely thankful.

    To those who keep on invading.... bugger off!!

    Triggerhappy below, totally agree ;)
    Edited by varnavides at 22/09/11 @ 22:21

  • Triggerhappytel #4 8 months ago

    Excellent stuff! Atlus are brilliant. From Software are brilliant. I am very excited for Dark Souls in a way I've not been about a game in a long time.

  • Mister-Wario #5 8 months ago

    This is sad to hear, in a way; that someone in the distant future will find this game only for its online component to have gone. It's also why I'm annoyed that you can't download LittleBigPlanet levels, unergonomic as that may be.

  • shadowdogg #6 8 months ago

    Eurogamer != YankGamer

  • Widge #7 8 months ago

    Luckily the game is thoroughly enjoyable without being online. I know this as the US servers were bobbins to start with and you kept getting booted into single player. Messages, phantoms and bloodstains vanish ... but the sheer awesome remains.

    Interesting to think, all those games with shells of a single player that serve as training modes for multiplayer, once classic will be reduced experiences when they become retro.

  • HyperTails #8 8 months ago

    Namco Bandai, please please please don't shut them down. Amazing game, one of the best games this Gen in fact. Playing it offline just feels better for me, its like its part of the story... Boletaria is a monster's nest, and the ghosts of people running round, or watching a ghosts demise... just feels better than offline. This deserves to be kept online, and even though i'm super hyped for Dark Souls, i'll not be tuning my back on Demon's Souls, no way.

  • Zozzilla #9 8 months ago

    Glad they're staying up, cos I still need to finish this. @_@ So...damn...hard...but...GREAT.....

  • Obli #10 8 months ago

    @Widge - I'm based in England and got a US copy of Demon's Souls. Never had much of an issue with the online component. Weird.

  • Nevflinn #11 8 months ago

    With Dark Souls coming soon, this is something that Atlus really doesn't have to do. But they're doing it anyway.
    Wow. They're just as inspired as the people who've played the game.

  • PuppyFiddler #12 8 months ago

    It really is a standout game, something very special about it in the way it's constructed. I finally finished it last week and went straight into a new game+ to try things I didn't get around to first time but there's so much to it I'll probably sadly be letting it die away when Dark Souls arrives..although it's so unique you could happily play it years from now and it won't have aged I bet.

    Having major trouble defeating the Flamelurker second time around..thank christ the servers are still up I can call in some help!

  • dirtysteve #13 8 months ago

    I bought the Chinese coy on EG's recommendation, as at the time, the idea of a western release seemed to have been shot down. Online has never been a major issue for me either.
    It's an innovative approach to online, not invisible, but not as jarring as many other online interactions.

  • Widge #14 8 months ago

    The us servers are fine now, it's just on release they were awful.

  • Ceelion #15 8 months ago

    I love the online aspect of Demon's Souls. I needed to know I wasn't alone when I played. The game was so huge, and enemies so vast, that I just needed that minuscule amount of contact.

    Granted I never saw other players in person, and I was never invaded, but the wisps of white, and the bloodstains on the floor made me feel less pathetic when I forgot to block, dodge, or change my armour.

  • Ranger101 #16 8 months ago

    Woohoo! I only got Demon Souls in August when the PS3 price drop came.

  • TheApologist #17 8 months ago

    While it's great they are giving the online component more time, this reads like a shame to me. As games increasingly incorporate online components, it will be impossible for people to experience older games as they were intended - at least on console.

  • Architect_z #18 8 months ago

    I actually started Demon's Souls when the PSN went down, so the online component was missing for about 85% of the game.
    But it's still the most impressive game released in the current console gen.

    That is until my copy Dark Souls comes in the post. ^_^

  • cyber_nicco #19 8 months ago

    I guess I should start playing the copy I bought a few months ago.

    Can one play at all without the servers? Just in case I am slow to get to it...