Is co-op in DS3 dead?

[Giovanni Paolo II]

In DS2 (2,000 players in-game atm), all major bonfires are highlighted, meaning they have active players in their areas. When I place down a sign on my lvl 100 character, it takes me approx 5 minutes to get summoned for the smelter demon.

In DS3 (5,000 players in-game atm), no bonfires are highlighted across my three different characters in major level ranges (lvl 100, 120, and 140 respectively). Even before difficult DLC bosses, like Friede or the twin demons, there are no active players who would summon me there.

Is co-op in DS3 officially dead? Even though there is a large number of players in the game, they all seem to be playing solo/unembered. Which bonfires/lvl ranges are the most active in your experience? Why is coop in DS3 less active than DS2/DS1 remaster?

[Zogtar]

Last time we hit numbers higher than 8k was when they turned the servers back on after being down for months, then it petered back down to around 5k.

[Giovanni Paolo II]

Originally posted by Zogtar:

Last time we hit numbers higher than 8k was when they turned the servers back on after being down for months, then it petered back down to around 5k.

But the issue is not player numbers. DS2 has fewer numbers yet far more invasions/coop.

The issue is that people don't use embers and prefer to play solo. Why?

[Majrick]

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Uninterrupted enjoyment and personal achievement

[Zogtar]

Originally posted by Giovanni Paolo II:

Originally posted by Zogtar:

Last time we hit numbers higher than 8k was when they turned the servers back on after being down for months, then it petered back down to around 5k.

But the issue is not player numbers. DS2 has fewer numbers yet far more invasions/coop.

The issue is that people don't use embers and prefer to play solo. Why?

DS3 has been out long enough to where a few of us play modded, but I couldn't tell you why or if the majority are playing solo or with friends/passwords.

[Killer Kitten]

I have a character at level 60 and I have been very, very busy the last several days in co-op. So it is alive and well.

The issue is that the higher level you are, the less people need you, if that makes sense.

[MundM]

Of course it's dead. How many people do you think are still running through the game, placing down signs and not do anything else until they are summoned? Do you have any idea how many games got released since DS3?

If you wanna coop, I'm pretty sure just a simple thread in this forum will provide you with plenty of people who are gonna join you, but there are not enough random encounters for this left in the game.