The closure of Gamespy Technology has already impacted various online servers of last-gen games that utilized them. Not the least of these is the imminent and permanent deactivation of any online components for all Nintendo DS and Wii games on May 20th, published by Nintendo and otherwise. Nintendo isn’t the only publisher having to shut down online components of their last-gen games either, as 2K Games has just confirmed that several of their games will be going offline on May 31st, primarily on PC, and in some cases, PlayStation 3.
Obviously, 2K’s games published on Nintendo platforms are going offline with the rest on May 20th, namely the various 2K Sports games on DS and Wii, as well as the Civilization spin-offs released for DS. 2K has also confirmed that two of their most beloved Gen-7 games, Borderlands and Civilization Revolution, will also be going permanently offline at the end of the month, though solely on PlayStation 3. The Xbox 360 versions of both games won’t be affected (this is due to Microsoft managing Xbox Live servers completely in-house), and the PC versions will have their online servers shifted to Steamworks.
Borderlands and the various legacy Civilization games for PC will temporarily go offline at the end of May, as their transition to Steamworks is completed, but it shouldn’t be long.
Borderlands’ and Civilization Revolution’s PlayStation 3 ports won’t be so lucky however, as their online deactivation is permanent, until further notice. 2K is exploring other options for new server homes for both games’ PlayStation 3 builds, but for the time being, both will only be playable offline after this May. Fortunately, Borderlands 2 will remain fully online-capable on PlayStation 3 and otherwise.
2K has also confirmed that the following PC games are being permanently taken offline on May 31st:
– Close Combat: First to Fight
– Jetfighter
– Jetfighter V: Homeland Protector
– Leadfoot
– Rune
– Stronghold 2
– Stronghold Legends
– Top Spin
– Top Spin 2
– Vietcong
– Vietcong Demo
– Vietcong: Fist Alpha
– Vietcong 2
– Vietcong 2 Demo
Fortunately, these mainly seem to be old and long-abandoned online game servers, but for the handful of PC gamers that still play any of these games online, it still marks a sad occasion.
Gamespy’s closure is affecting even more publishers still come May 31st. Crytek has confirmed that they will be terminating the online components for the PC versions of Crysis and Crysis 2 on May 31st, though Crysis 3 won’t be affected on PC or otherwise due to having its servers on Origin, and the first two games’ Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions will be unaffected as well.
EA will also be forced to terminate the online components of various legacy Battlefield games on PC (again, the most recent Battlefield 4, which has its servers on Origin, will be unaffected), though has assured fans that they are trying their best to find another solution, as the older Battlefield games only offer multiplayer gameplay. Unfortunately, thanks to having their own in-house digital distribution service in Origin, EA can’t rely on Valve’s Steamworks to move their PC servers, as it would be a conflict of interests.
This storied Gamespy closure is also threatening certain games published by Capcom, Sega, Rockstar and Konami, among others. Activision has claimed that they won’t be affected by the closure (good news for Call of Duty fans who still play the older games online on PC), with Capcom remaining uncertain of which online components may be shut down, and Bohemia confirming that their popular Arma games will see their online multiplayer compromised and perhaps terminated, though Bohemia are also quickly trying to formulate a solution.
Sega, Konami and Rockstar have so far not commented, though sources have indicated that Rockstar’s games won’t be affected, allowing the online modes of Grand Theft Auto IV and Red Dead Redemption to proceed without issue on PlayStation 3, as well as PC in Grand Theft Auto IV’s case. Again, the Xbox 360 versions of both games were never in any danger of being deactivated, thanks to Microsoft keeping Xbox Live activity in-house, so online Xbox gamers can keep breathing easy.
Eggplante will continue to monitor the Gamespy issue, and will be providing updates on which games may be affected and how, so stay tuned leading up to the shutdown on May 31st.