A modder is lastly bringing seamless co-op to Darkish Souls II, over a decade later

TL;DR: Greater than a decade after its unique launch, Darkish Souls II is about to obtain a major fan-made multiplayer replace. A modder is at present engaged on a brand new “seamless” co-op mode that will theoretically permit the sport to be performed from begin to end in a single, soul-crushing session.

A well known FromSoftware modder named “Yui” is engaged on a brand new seamless co-op mode for Darkish Souls II. The mod is deliberate for launch on the Scholar of the First Sin version, which incorporates all beforehand launched DLC and several other enhancements to the bottom sport. In a latest submit, Yui mentioned the venture is taking longer than anticipated, as Darkish Souls II has confirmed to be a difficult reverse-engineering effort.

Initially introduced in 2025, the mod is now approaching the steadiness required for an “alpha” testing section. Yui confirmed that it has turn into considered one of their most advanced and impressive tasks so far, noting that Darkish Souls II is a really totally different beast in comparison with different FromSoftware Soulslike titles.

A seamless co-op mod is designed to let gamers cooperate and full a sport with out the standard restrictions of official multiplayer modes carried out by FromSoftware. In idea, as much as six gamers might progress by means of your entire sport in a single co-op session, persisting by means of demise and carrying world development with them.

The mod would require the Scholar of the First Sin version of Darkish Souls II, which is a 64-bit improve of the unique 32-bit base sport. Yui beforehand labored on a number of mods for different FromSoftware titles, together with Darkish Souls, Darkish Souls III, Sekiro, Elden Ring, and Elden Ring: Nightreign. These video games are constructed on a broadly related engine structure, making it comparatively simpler to grasp their programs after engaged on any considered one of them.

In contrast, Darkish Souls II seems to make use of a separate department of FromSoftware’s proprietary engine. Because of this, Yui successfully needed to reverse engineer the sport from scratch, which explains why improvement of the co-op mod has taken significantly longer than anticipated.

The mod just isn’t but full, however Yui launched a brief video to announce the upcoming venture and exhibit that it’s technically possible. The developer plans to supply a take a look at construct of the mod free of charge, whereas bug reporting and help shall be restricted to venture supporters by way of Patreon.

Darkish Souls II was launched in 2014, additional increasing the “Soulsborne” system launched in Demon’s Souls and Darkish Souls. The sport was a important and business success, and FromSoftware went on creating much more punishingly arduous action-RPG titles till Elden Ring: Nightreign got here to be. Elden Ring was so profitable that they’re now making a film out of the sport.