SCEE shutting down online servers for old PS3/PSP games

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has shared its plans to close servers for a mix of PlayStation 3 and PSP games.

[remanutd55]

man Motorstorm Arctic Edge could have done a lot better on the vita than it did on the psp.

[Sorrow24]

My guess is they're shutting it down, but they're getting ready for a new Motorstorm on Vita ~this time next year.

[andibandit]

Agree, Sony shutting down these servers are a good thing.

[killcycle]

Well it came out ages before the Vita so what's your point. That's obvious

[remanutd55]

if by any chance you were referring to me then my point is that Motorstorm Arctic Edge is indeed a true Motorstorm game not like RC ( that game only has the Motorstorm name and thats about it), the psp lacks a true online system ( the vita has everything you would expect to have a good online experience ) so i think Motorstorm Arctic Edge would suited better on the vita than it did on the psp

[PoSTedUP]

this sucks, it's better then shutting down socom2 servers tho, they're still up after over a decade and im still playing it lol. i hope they remake it b4 they shut it down

[Gamer1982]

This is why we need differnt online options so when servers go down you can still play online through some method. Net speeds are getting faster each year and hosting games is nothing on my 120mb connection.

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

That's something I completely agree with.

Although I prefer dedicated servers as they are always reliable they unfortunately cost money to keep that publishers aren't happy to pay forever, so I'd say a good move for next gen is if every game have a independent host a game option.

This way publisher won't get as much backlash from closing down servers down the road and we get to keep playing our old games online regardless of publisher supported servers.

Nostalgia lives and everyone is happy... In fact, before shutting down servers they should consider a last update in those games to add this option if it's viable (I'm no tech expert, so I don't know if it's viable) at least for the most popular ones.

[jamesensor]

They don't care about it. They just rush people in to buying games, make the circus and move on after some time. A nice example of that in the pc platform is the Need For Speed Hot Pursuit from 2010. NO lan or whatsoever, only the forced Autolog gimmick for everything. (reasons not to like it: place where I play with family and friends is on countryside with a very slow connection. Lan with a router is just perfect for what I wanted, I play many other games that have this mode. NFS HP has a cop mode which sounds awesome but I'm not buying it because of the enforced autolog)

[CYBERHATER]

Its called a PC :)

[SPAM-FRITTER-123]

sony shut down more servers than EA.

maybe funding these servers are getting a bit costly for sony.

looks like sony are giving you 4 years to play online then cutting you off.

glad i own a PC where i can still play 15 year old games online.

[DigitalAnalog]

I would like to call you out on that one. As a PC gamer, those "old" games are barely if not, no longer officially supported by their respective companies. This however does not mean you can use alternative means like "Virtual LAN or Tunngle" to create faux LAN experience online. To criticize this on a closed platform where the ends meet has to be made by the company itself, your argument does not hold any water. PC is an open platform where the support can be done by the fans themselves.

[STONEY4]

The majority of older PC games I have still have servers running and a small community active. In fact, most of the ones that don't, happen to be EA games.

I don't think Sony is anywhere near the level of EA when it comes to shutting down servers though. EA has done it as soon as only a year later, and whenever they release a list of planned shutdowns, it's massive.

[pixelsword]

@ spam:

I still can play Battlefront and Killzone online, as well as other games from the PS2 days... so you're actually kinda wrong on that one.

[TheLyonKing]

Makes sense, it will save some money too which is definitely needed.

[mewhy32]

This is a good decision for Sony.

[CommonSenseGamer]

I wonder if they will discount the games effected on PSN.

[mewhy32]

@CommonSenseGamer
Hmmm. That's a good question? I hope they do.

[Tony-A]

Unfortunately, I doubt that will be happening. Calling All Cars had it's servers terminated years ago and I don't think anything changed, unless they discounted the game as a result. Can't really remember.

[Blaze929]

Like the online pass, if EA can successfully do it, anyone else can.

[KingME]

Doesn't make sense if you are still playing those games.

[TheLyonKing]

If they are older titles the vast majority of users won't be on and Sony won't be making anything or benefitting from it. What's a couple of thousand people at most when Sony need to save money here and there.

[Disccordia]

Lol when EA do it all hell breaks loose. But when Sony fo it its a good idea and makes sense...

[tigertron]

Thank god they aren't shutting down RFOM.

I wonder why they targeted Pacific Rift specifically and not the original Motorstorm?

[guitarded77]

I think MotorStorm servers have been shut down for quite some time.

[tigertron]

Really? that sucks. Thats my favourite game in the series.

[DeFFeR]

@tigertron

Well, you obviously don't play online that often, haha.

[tigertron]

@DeFFeR

I play online regularly, just not Motorstorm even though I think its the best in the Motorstorm series.

[clrlite]

Yeah, considering the amount of people on RFOM a couple months ago, it may be best to keep it online.

Maybe more people play the original Motorstorm. I am not sure but that was one of the first things that came to mind.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

After 10 years Valve has shut down counter strike servers.. :(

not really..

It's good to be free!

*Maximum Armor Activated*

[Red_Orange_Juice]

its like comparing you to an intelligent person, makes just as much sense

omg im getting banned again, VADER NOOOOOOOOO

[AnotherProGamer]

people have to pay money to keep the servers going.

[BlackKnight]

@AnotherProGamer

It only costs money if you DESIGN the system/service to need servers (matchmaking servers and such).

Our current console games should all support LAN and direct IP connections online just like PC games (Except the console ports that are crippled like this) so that way they work forever and aren't dependent on a service that will eventually break your game. It costs nothing (it costs more to implement a service for the game).

But Devs/Pubs do this mainly to put a lifespan on your game and is a way to get people to buy the new wave of games if they haven't already. Just terrible.

[starchild]

This is one of the reasons I like the PC so much. There are almost always people who keep any good game alive.

[clrlite]

Isn't counterstrike still close to the number one online shooter played worldwide? It should be, because (imo) it makes most of this soft, casual trash with pretty graphics seem boring to me.

Ah CS, one of my favorites. I'm getting CS GO for PC and PS3.

[guitarded77]

I hate it when this happens... I know the games are probably dead online, but I still like to have the option. Guess I'm gonna give Pacific Rift a spin before she gets shut down.

[WeskerChildReborned]

Yea i'm hoping none of the games i actually enjoy will get shut down.

[brettyd]

wonder when S4 servers will be shut down...

[Straightupbeastly]

Probably not anytime soon considering it still sees well over a thousand logins per day. These games bring shut down are literally ghost towns with a few dozen logins per day

[Mastarace]

soon since socom 4 is an abomination.

[rezzah]

Is MAG getting shut down too? Because if it is then that means the disc is basically useless.

[Dante112]

@ rezzah

"On August 31, SCEE will be shutting down the server for The Eye of Judgment: Legends (PSP). And on October 1, the online features for MotorStorm Pacific Rift (PS3), MotorStorm Arctic Edge (PSP), and SOCOM: Fireteam Bravo 3 (PSP) will become inaccessible."

Just these games I guess.

Edit: @ units

Didn't MS shutdown their original Xbox Live for the Xbox last year (Halo 2 server offline), as well as Sports Active 2.0 for the Kinect? EA has shutdown quite a few servers as well recently.

Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/20...

[BanditGamer]

Original xbox? Really? Last gen? That's how far back we need to go? Anything to get the spotlight off of SONY and on to Microsoft huh? Also, Sports Active 2.0's servers are controlled by EA not MS.

[blue7_7]

lol you always drag the Xbox down when something negative about Sony happens it's kind of pathetic but funny.

It's not the same shutting last gen games is not the same as shutting down current gen games.

[AJ Hartley]

Lol yeh they shut down the servers for halo 2 last april its funny because there was still the hardcores playing and when the servers were shut down if you were still logged in you could still play, xboxs were left on for like 2 weeks straight they had a article on n4g saying the last player has finally logged of halo 2 lol he had been on for a ridculous time haha sorry for my grammar etc typing on phone and couldnt be arsed to correct it.

[Raiden]

@ Dant112

Halo 2 server support were closed 2 years ago, a game from the last generation, games from this generation should not be effected by because they can't afford to keep it RUNNING.

[Straightupbeastly]

Not a chance

[units]

desperate times calls for measures

[NastyLeftHook0]

yeah, i would feel the same way as you if i didn't have a ps3.

[FunAndGun]

desperate measures as in units?

[Skate-AK]

Isn't grammar great?

[clrlite]

units, I'm pretty sure people click disagree on you out of habit by now.

Sony is usually pretty good about keeping servers running for a while.

Aren't the Killzone servers still up?

Last I checked there were 40-50k people still playing UC2 daily....

I definitely prefer the longevity rather than pushing out a new installment every year as a replacement you must buy.

@FunAndGun: HAHAHAHA Finally got that after reading through again.

[NastyLeftHook0]

makes sense, they dont want to keep a server going if the games are very old and people are not playing them, but if people are still playing then it would be obvious to keep them on
:ex warhawk should be kept on (even though its old.)

[tigertron]

Definately. If they shut down Warhawk there is little point us owning it.

[Tony-A]

Can they at least give us the online trophies for the PS3 games they cancel? Some of them are simply impossible or take longer than their server's lifespan to even attempt at this point. haha

Warhawk, Bad Company 1, Resistance 2 and MotorStorm: Pacific Rift are a few examples of very hard online trophies. I've been trying for years!

[Persistantthug]

If they shut online servers down, then They should issue a patch that enables all of the online trophies.

[DeFFeR]

"Something is hard... waaah, give me trophies anyway... waah"

Fairly rough translation of what you just said.

[SeekDev]

That's not at all what he said. Because the servers are being shut down, it would be impossible to get any of the online trophies in a reasonable amount of time.

However, if the trophies were enabled for all who owned the games, it would make the trophies that those got before virtually a waste of time. Even though, imo, trophies are literally a waste of time anyways.

[hkgamer]

Yeah, trophies should be hard, I know some are ridiculously hard and some online trophies could be a pain in the ass. But trophies show commitment, whoever has a platinum trophy in a specific game would show how good he was.
I would be pissed if I had a platinum trophy from pacific rift that took me hours and hours and then others get it automatically because the server shut down.

[Baka-akaB]

i Dont see why they should offer trophies . There was ample time to get them , you just didnt want to or had other priorities .

[Tony-A]

Guys, I was just joking. lol, I really wouldn't care if they gave them away or not. But I will say that - on one side - it would be unfair for those who tried harder than I did. On the other hand, those who just recently discovered these older games would be screwed out of their chance from the get-go.

It's for these reasons that I'm against online trophies that are necessary for Platinums. I think a Platinum should be awarded to those who actually take the time to fully complete the story of a game only, with additional trophies for the multiplayer aspect. The online components are mainly a mindless gaming marathon.

Still, I'll be damned if I never tried. I have 10 Platinums, 3 more on the way by August and I have the highest trophy percentage for Warhawk that I have seen so far (75% although I'm sure people have Platinums for it; interestingly enough, the first player on the leaderboard didn't even match that when I checked). I continue to play at least 3 hours every weekend.

[Baka-akaB]

To each their own , i dont mind if they separate platinum from mp , but imo as platinum are supposed to be an harder achievement and a "i've done it all" award , i dont feel they should exclude parts of a game from it .

It's not at all as if platinum are must have , and if you feel you do need them you'll be motivated enough to get them

[skyrim]

I guess it's ok but sucks for anyone playing motorstorm i,m sure the community is not that big anyway or at least i hope lol.

[sandman224]

Let them do what they need to do if it will make online gaming smoother.

[Soldierone]

Why don't they just combine certain servers instead? Socom for example still had a good community going on, why not just put all the socom games on one server? Unless of course Socom is hitting the Vita and an HD collection is hitting PS3 :D

I understand if they are total ghost towns, but if you have a noticeable out cry of fans when it happens, then something is wrong.

[DFresh]

This is one of many reasons why I'm starting not to like console gaming.
Games don't have legs in the online space on consoles compared to PC.
It's like after 2-3 years older games get shut down to make room for sequels.
FAIL.

[Wintersun616]

If they are shutting down servers for games that have online trophies, I hope they change the trophy system so that you can get platinum without acquiring those online trophies.

[Getowned]

Don't play any of these games, but it really sucks when you like a game and people stop playing. Like Blurr which I thought was a really fun game for a while but not as many people play now... havn't been on it for ages.

Motorstorm was horrible online XD!!!. I still have yet to get other raching games(other than Midnight club,Motorstorm,blur..which is funny half my games last gen where all racing games), I've been wanting to get GT5 but im not sure about it, i've managed to miss every demo they had for it some how.

[capcock]

Pathetic.

[dazzrazz]

Funny thing is if this article would be about EA shutting down servers for some old games everybody would be bitching here like crazy :D

[Gekko]

I hope this doesn't become a regular routine when games become old especially if they are games like Uncharted or LittleBigPlanet.

[jayman1]

Sony shouldnt shut down servers for old games.If they came up with a old server subscriber subscription. Like 5 or 10 bucks a month for old games/servers I would pay it.I think PSN ppl or someone should present this idea to Sony.The shutting off of servers for older games will just continue and we will lose some great online games.I hope someone does something before its to late.

[Jazz4108]

That would not work. One thing I have found by reading n4g is that Sony fans feel they are entitled to everything. Even if they get it for free they still want more.

[jayman1]

PEOPLE GO BUY STARHAWK! I will buy starhawk and twisted metal soon. I played starhawk already and the game is great. The online community needs to ban together and support these great titles.Resistance 3 started off slow as well as mag and those went on to respectable sales.The whole problem is sony does not advertise all it's games upon release. Starhawk has vehicles, star wars jetbikes, jetpacks, and a tranformable jet to robot.The build and battle system is clean.You can build your team its own base and fortify it with whatever you need.I had a blast playing it just havent had the loot to actually get it.I think good word of mouth with PSN community this game will grow.JUST GO BUY IT AND PASS THE WORD , THIS KILLS WARHAWK BY A LONG SHOT!

[sypher]

This is definitely a game design problem. The code for matchmaking should first search for dedicated servers. If it cant find any should revert to p2p mode. That way solves all the problems of never being able to go online in future.

[demetreHG]

Good riddance and could care less of those game servers shutting down !!

[smashcrashbash]

Ummmmmmm. just in case anyone didn't actually read the article it is in Europe they are shutting down the servers.No one ever said that it is worldwide. Just pointing that out because the way people are talking in this post as if they said it would be shutting down the servers for all these games worldwide.Also if the servers are no longer active I don't see what is the business sense to keep them going. It costs money to do so you know.

@ demetreHG . Yeah no one cares if you don't. Some people over there probably do. So why post if you don't care. I'll just write up for trolling okay?

[Sithlord-Gamble]

What grabbed my attention was the headlines at the bottom of the page ...

Theyre shutting down the Demons Souls servers!??!

I cant believe that. Its only 2 1/2yrs old! And people are still playing all the time.
Idk about all of you, but that just ruined my day.

[Sithlord-Gamble]

LMFAO ... i get disagrees for not liking that Demons Souls servers are getting shut down ?!!?

I swear, this website is just full of dips**** and a**holes!

[Ravenor]

Demon's Souls isn't getting shut down, it was originally slated to be taken down at the end of October. Then it was supposed to come down in May, and now we are here. Atlus has stated that as long as interest and game population warrants it, they wont take the NA servers down.

You got disagree's because you're getting upset over outdated information. Then resorting to name calling and being defensive. You're a winner.

[BringingTheThunder]

poor eye of judgement you never had a chance

[XB1_PS4]

That's what ya get for not paying for the online services.. If I liked the games that get shut down I'd be writing a big ol' letter to someone.

[turgore]

They could've continued to support Pacific Rift for a little longer.

[Enigma_2099]

So... ready for that online only future yet?

[titans9999]

Another example of why we totally need single player modes...no excuses....multiplayer only sucks!

[titans9999]

This is why we need single player modes!

[Tikicobra]

Crap, Pacific Rift was my favorite of the MotorStorm games.

[esemce]

This Gen has really sucked a lot of fun out of gaming, On disc dlc, online passes, pay to win, crappy rushed ports, timed exclusive dlc, petty bullsh1t pre order bonuses and this crap.

Thankfully we have had some great games from all sides.

[black911]

Next Gen All Consoles should have 4G or 5G.

[Adolph Fitler]

Yes, Pacific Rift's shutdown is a bit premature....apart from that I have no problem with the others mentioned. But I hope thats it, as the Socoms, MAG, KZ1 & 2, etc, etc still have strong communities.

Also, MS:PR is mentioned to be closed, but what about the original MS? And, considering PR had to have sold far better than Apocalypse, (as it was supposed to have sold crap), then it's not a good sign for Evolutions last PS3 disk based offering.
I love all 3 MS's, so it sucks they are shutting down online for one.

[b_one]

those games are old as dinosaurs, what did you expect? plz less butthurt next time.

[Totoro17]

I dunno why, but this news made me kinda sad :'(

[Adolph Fitler]

@ b_one....I think we have the right to be butthurt my friend....especially if your a person whom like myself enjoys a game like MS:PR & bought it at launch for full price with no thought in our heads that the online servers would shut up before PS3's life was over.

These are Sony inhouse games, so it seems more logical to keep them open at very least until PS4 is a couple of months before release. And even then, it would be a nice sign if they all stayed around even after PS4's launch & we could play them on our B/C (at least with all PS3 games) shiny, new PS4 units.

I am hoping so much that Sony make PS4 B/C with PS3, although consumer idiocy has dictated that we want crappy, underpowered, non-b/c, gimmick ladled consoles in this day & age, so Sony & MS will probably under spec there new machines in favour of some turdish, half a$$ed gimmick, like Wii's unecessary motion crap & the even worse tablet controller gimmick Wii-U is going to rip the unsuspecting, unintelligent masses off with.

[b_one]

Terms of use, what do they say about online?

[ThatsGaming]

I don't like 1st party games shutting down servers. This sets a bad example for 3rd party publishers.

I don't buy the cost issue. It is a non-issue for game servers because you are not constantly administering and changing their config. Once it is up and stable, nothing changes. This is just another way publishers penny pinch everyone to death.

Publishers that shutdown servers should have to specify the game's lifetime online clearly on the cover of the game, and should have to ensure that all trophies/achievements are available forever.

[Emilio_Estevez]

Was worried, then read the games, moving on

[Over726]

i think they should patch it so you could run a server from you PC.