Cant connect to ds2 servers

[Ra_03]

when I boot the game up I get a message saying services are unavailable but nothing is suggesting thats true so I assume its an issue on my end, any fixes?

[Paradox]

Sure, grab a large container, usually a gallon size will work. Fill it with water and pour it directly into the case of your computer. That should help remove any dust and dirt and improve your connection. Or you could scroll through the forums here and look at the other dozen or so recent posts about this issue.

[Bionicle Pizza Delivery Service]

If it fails when you boot the game up, try selecting 'Go Online' from the main menu, and if that doesn't work let the game through your OS' firewall.

[Romara]

I've noticed the game not wanting to connect on startup the past couple days as well.
just hit cancel, then hit Go Online on the main menu and it should work.

[Ra_03]

The firewall thing worked, never had that issue before so it didnt seem like it was the solution but it worked :)

[энвелоуп]

Hello, tell me what exactly you did with your OS' firewall?

[Ra_03]

Originally posted by энвелоуп:

Hello, tell me what exactly you did with your OS' firewall?

im on windows 10 but surely the steps are close enough on windows 11 (if thats relevant)
I went to "Firewall & network protection", clicked on "Allow an app through the firewall". then click "Change settings" and scroll down to "Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin", I clicked to ensure both private and public were checked off and hit OK in the bottom to save my settings

[RUNZZZON]

this is normal. if you get the "the dark souls II service is not available" notification upon startup, then the solution is to keep pressing "OK" until it connects you to the servers (unless you have no internet connection, then that won't work). sometimes it logs you in first try, other times you'll have to keep pressing that "OK" button until it connects you. or you can just press "CANCEL" and play offline if you don't care about the online features.

[энвелоуп]

That's exactly what this is not normal. There are no such problems in DS1. And clicking “OK” 20-30 times is not cool at all. DS3 has the same problems as DS2, but the download is 10 times longer and you have to click “OK” for about an hour to log into the server

[RUNZZZON]

although it is usually is not normal for games to be this way, this is definitely normal for ds2, and 20-30 times is a big exaggeration- it doesn't take nearly that many times to log-in. and i've not heard of there being a similar problem with ds3; i've always managed to log into ds3's servers first try every time for years.

[Ra_03]

I never had this issue in the past few years I played ds2 which is why I was curious if smth changed for some reason