Dark Souls PC PvP servers shut following security issue

Dark Souls
(Image credit: FromSoftware)

The PvP servers for Dark Souls: Remastered, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls 3 have been temporarily turned off following fears of a security issue that could leave some players' PCs open to hacking.

While neither FromSoftware nor Bandai Namco has formally detailed what's happened, rumors across both the Dark Souls and Elden Ring subreddit suggest that without intervention or a fix, "it is possible for Dark Souls 3 invaders to run code on your PC without permission. AKA RCE, Remote Code Execution. This same hack is possible in Elden Ring".

"PvP servers for Dark Souls 3, Dark Souls 2, and Dark Souls: Remastered have been temporarily deactivated to allow the team to investigate recent reports of an issue with online services," explains a notice on the Dark Souls' official Twitter feed earlier today.

"Servers for Dark Souls: PtDE will join them shortly. We apologize for this inconvenience."

The Verge goes further with an explanation, stating that the exploit was first publicized when a streamer was hacked via an RCE during a live broadcast. Though the hacker stopped short of providing evidence, the hacker says they had tried, and failed, to get FromSoftware to take the issue seriously. It seemingly took a livestream hacked in real-time to get either FromSoft or publisher Bandai Namco's attention.

As of Sunday evening UK time there's been no subsequent update, nor confirmation on when the servers made be restored. As always, we'll keep you posted.

Did you know Elden Ring has become Steam's most wishlisted game? All year long, Dying Light 2 has topped the chart – it reportedly knocked Cyberpunk 2077 off the perch in December 2020 and has remained there ever since – but a couple of weeks ago, From Software's eagerly-anticipated action RPG has claimed the top spot, just a few weeks ahead of the release date of both games.

Valve doesn't provide hard figures to substantiate the claims, so we can't analyze them in granular detail, and Steam users have to remove their own preferences to see the unfiltered list. Interestingly enough, though, SteamDB's own chart – which doesn't always tally with Valve's – intimates the same line-up.

ICYMI, a consumer survey – reportedly from Elden Ring developer From Software – has revealed a new Armored Core installment is in development.

Read up on our new games 2022 guide for a complete look over all the other games launching over the next few months.

CATEGORIES
Vikki Blake
Weekend Reporter, GamesRadar+

Vikki Blake is GamesRadar+'s Weekend Reporter. Vikki works tirelessly to ensure that you have something to read on the days of the week beginning with 'S', and can also be found contributing to outlets including the BBC, Eurogamer, and GameIndustry.biz. Vikki also runs a weekly games column at NME, and can be frequently found talking about Destiny 2 and Silent Hill on Twitter. 

Read more
Elden Ring Nightreign
Elden Ring Nightreign network test starts with a stumble as PlayStation servers go down for maintenance just as it begins
Elden Ring's seamless co-op modder takes their talents to Dark Souls 3, letting you "play with friends" from start to finish with "no resummoning or interruptions"
Dark Souls: Remastered
Dark Souls Remastered seamless co-op is officially coming from the creator behind the same Elden Ring mod, and it's set to include everything from PvP to scaling
Elden Ring Nightreign screenshot showing a monstrous, terrifyingly large enemy
The first Elden Ring Nightreign network test "has ended" after a few disastrous hours, and "an additional network test is being considered" to make up for it
One of Elden Ring's best mods comes to Dark Souls 3 as a prolific FromSoftware modder gets seamless co-op up and running
Elden Ring Nightreign screenshot which displays three unique character builds engaged in combat against a hellish creature
Is Elden Ring Nightreign crossplay?
Latest in RPG
Witcher comics Geralt
"Something for true collectors": CD Projekt CEO shares his nostalgia for the "super retro" Witcher comics that are coming out in English for the first time
Baldur's Gate 3 pale vampire elf Astarion, a man with curly white hair and red eyes
A new Baldur's Gate 3 Patch 8 stress test update is here, targeting "several crashes and gameplay fixes" while it "brings us closer to release" of the RPG's big update
Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty Idris Elba
A Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty cinematic lead endured a "personal nightmare" bringing Idris Elba to life because of his "very specific eyebrows" – "how he moves them is amazing"
Cyberpunk Turf Wars
There's an official new Cyberpunk 2077 game, but the bad news is that it's housed in a 9-foot, 1,500lb arcade machine
Illustrations from Obojima D&D supplement
This gorgeous Ghibli-style Dungeons & Dragons 5e campaign setting just dropped on D&D Beyond
Skyrim
Skyrim and Fallout veteran left Bethesda after 14 years because he'd already made 3 runaway GotY winners: "That's a really hard thing to top"
Latest in News
Dragon's Dogma 2 screenshot showing a young female Pawn with short brown hair holding her right hand up, a glow emanating from it
Devil May Cry and Dragon's Dogma director Hideaki Itsuno says he's working on a new AAA action game that'll make you say "'I've never seen that in a game before'"
Astro Bot
Astro Bot director says precisely what the industry needs to hear: "It's OK to make a small game" because "players today have a backlog of games" they can't complete
Marvel Rivals: Ignite #1
Marvel Rivals goes manga in a new comic from Peach Momoko and three other Japanese artists that reveals several new in-game costumes
Balatro
Even Balatro's publisher doesn't know when LocalThunk will be done with 1.1: "Maybe I should whisper in his ear, like, 'So how's those 200 new jokers coming?'"
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows reaches 1 million players on day one, and it sounds like even Ubisoft's having a tough time believing it: "It's not even 4PM here"
Pal wields a massive turret in a screenshot from Palworld
Palworld devs tried, but the "certain franchise plus guns" brand in the West "has stuck with us to this very day despite our best efforts to shake that off"