Dark Souls servers back online: DS2 and DS3 restored

Dark Souls servers are back online after a 12-day outage. FromSoftware has fixed the security flaw and restored online play in Dark Souls II and III.

FireGhost

November 12, 2026, 10:20 AM5 min read

In brief

AI summary

Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III online servers are back on all platforms after about 12 days offline.
FromSoftware said the outage was caused by a security vulnerability and that a fix has been applied.
Co-op, invasions, messages, bloodstains, and Dark Souls III arena features are working again.

Contents10 sections

The Dark Souls servers are back online. FromSoftware's official November 11 server notice says online features for Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III have been restored on all platforms.

Both games went offline without warning on October 30 at 07:00 UTC, and the outage lasted about 12 days. We first reported it in our Dark Souls servers down story. Co-op, invasions and messages left on the ground are all working again.

A dragon breathing fire at a knight in Dark Souls III — A scene from Dark Souls III (Source: FromSoftware - Steam)

Why were the Dark Souls servers shut down?

FromSoftware gave no reason at first. FromSoftware's November 2 suspension notice then confirmed that the problem was a security vulnerability on the game servers. During the outage, both games could only be played offline. We covered that update in our Dark Souls servers security vulnerability report.

The latest notice is short. The studio says the investigation is complete and a fix has been applied. It apologises to players and thanks them for their patience. There is no word on what the flaw was, who it affected or how it was fixed.

Dark Souls server outage at a glance

Games affected: Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III
Platforms: all platforms
Went offline: October 30, 2026, 07:00 UTC
Reason: security vulnerability on the game servers
Back online: November 11, 2026
Length: about 12 days

Is this outage different from 2022?

Yes, it was much shorter. PC Gamer's report on the Dark Souls servers points out that PC servers for every Dark Souls game stayed offline for most of 2022. Back then, the flaw let attackers run malicious code through the games' online services. This time FromSoftware moved far more quickly.

A knight standing at a cliff edge at sunset in Dark Souls II — A view from Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin (Source: FromSoftware - Steam)

PC players also had a fallback during the outage. The Seamless Co-op mods run independently of FromSoftware's servers, so co-op carried on through them. These mods also let friends play through whole areas together. Console players had no such option.

Which features are back now the Dark Souls servers are online?

With the servers back, the full online layer of both games is active again. Help and trap messages on the ground are showing up once more, and so are bloodstains where other players died. Touch one and you can watch that player's final moments.

The bigger deal is summoning. You can put down a sign before a hard boss and bring another player into your world. Invaders are back too, so PvP fans can break into other worlds again. Dark Souls III's arena matches and covenant rewards can also be earned again.

If you cannot connect, restart the game and your console or PC first, and make sure the game is fully updated. If it still fails, check your platform's online service status. Dark Souls III came to PC in April 2016 and Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin in April 2015, so it is striking how much interest these games still draw.

Two armoured warriors fighting amid flames in Dark Souls III — A fight scene from Dark Souls III (Source: FromSoftware - Steam)

What does it mean for players?

Dark Souls II and III still have big communities, and invasions and co-op are a huge part of their appeal. That is why a quick fix matters. GamesRadar's story on the servers returning also calls the short downtime a relief for the community.

Still, the lack of detail about the flaw leaves some questions open. We suggest keeping both games updated before you go online. For FromSoftware's next game, see our report on The Duskbloods delay to 2027, and for the film side, read about the Elden Ring movie's $200 million budget.

Frequently asked questions

Are the Dark Souls servers back online?

Yes. FromSoftware announced on November 11 that Dark Souls II and Dark Souls III servers are back on all platforms. Co-op, invasions and player messages work again.

Why were the Dark Souls servers taken offline?

In its November 2 notice, FromSoftware said it had found security vulnerabilities on the game servers. The servers went offline on October 30. The details of the issue were not shared.

How long were the Dark Souls servers down?

The servers went down on October 30 at 07:00 UTC and returned on November 11, so the outage lasted about 12 days. The 2022 PC outage lasted almost a year.