A further reminder of Demon's Souls surprising (and totally deserved) retail success came today from North American publisher Atlus when it revealed that the game's quasi-cooperative, sometimes competitive, and always terrifying online mode will now be supported until at least until March of next year.
 
When Atlus originally took over North American publishing duties for From Software's Demon's Souls (Sony originally published the game in Japan, but opted to allow other publishers to bring the game to additional territories), the game's EULA stated that the online servers would be supported for at least six months after its initial release, at which point they were free to discontinue support if the game wasn't successful. It was an absolutely reasonable assumption that a game as impenetrable and messed-up hard as Demon's Souls would not, in fact, be successful in the West.
  

A further reminder of Demon's Souls surprising (and totally deserved) retail success came today from North American publisher Atlus when it revealed that the game's quasi-cooperative, sometimes competitive, and always terrifying online mode will now be supported until at least until March of next year.
 
When Atlus originally took over North American publishing duties for From Software's Demon's Souls (Sony originally published the game in Japan, but opted to allow other publishers to bring the game to additional territories), the game's EULA stated that the online servers would be supported for at least six months after its initial release, at which point they were free to discontinue support if the game wasn't successful. It was an absolutely reasonable assumption that a game as impenetrable and messed-up hard as Demon's Souls would not, in fact, be successful in the West.
  

Cool, even if the online mode really isn't the primary reason for playing this awesome and original RPG.

again?

Looks like the hunt for souls will continue. 

Huzzah. I guess it is time to get back on the horse.

What happens if online get discontinued?

Man, maybe I should play more Demon's Souls.

" What happens if online get discontinued? "

I wasn't aware there were talks of its online getting taken down in the first place.

Well this sucks. When a dev releases a game with multiplayer an integral part of the experience they have the responsibility to keep the servers up for at least the duration of the entire generation, if not further than that. I say this not having played Demons Souls and will probably only pick it up after the PS3 hits $200 which might not be for another two years or so.
 
I think a reasonable period of time would be 5 years after the games release.

I am glad to hear this game is still going.  Definitely a 1-of-a-kind experience.

Man I really want to play this game, seems cool.

Uh, that's cool... I guess? March 2011 still seems really soon for such a recent release though. Hopefully they'll extend it yet again if people continue to play  it.

I loved Demons Souls! Finally, a challenging game that I can enjoy. Loved the environments!

" @sagesebas said:

" What happens if online get discontinued? "

It gets less fun knowing you can't ruin someone else's game. Also, the world tendency doesn't change."

Hopefully the online support continues, since it is probably the best multiplayer experience of 2009. From Software took a big risk implementing the coop/ competitive elements how they did, but it completely payed off.  
 
Demons Souls is the hidden gem/ Dark Horse of 2009, but if online gets taken away, so does 75% of the game (including one incredible boss battle... aka the Old Monk).

" Uh, that's cool... I guess? March 2011 still seems really soon for such a recent release though. Hopefully they'll extend it yet again if people continue to play  it. "

man I need pure black tendency, for those drops. Screw this pure white stuff. But its awesome to see that DS is still going strong. And like Matt said its well deserved.  
 
EDIT: one too many until in the first paragraph matt.

We just got the game here in the uk. I have to say that its the most amazing game i've ever played.
The pure depth, simplicity and addictive soul collection have me hooked.  
I don't get all the negativity concerning the alleged difficulty of the game. I have never found the game to be challenging. Just amazingly complex melee combat requiring patience and finesse to pull off succesfully. This is a game definitely not built for the MW2 generation of noobage.
 
I don't think the comment about everyone being  stuck in white world tendancy is true. Being able to change from white to black is important in the end game. Nobody would be able to collect pure ore's or hunt primevals for colorless demon souls. Not to mention satsuki and other unique BWT events.
 
Perhaps re-read the press release and repost matt. What does the press release actually say?
 
edit: Oh my god, its actually true. American online servers are locked at pure white world tendancy. Thats a kick in the balls. Strange decision there.

this game sucked me in for a long binge. Beat it 3 times and it still felt fresh with a new character.

Everyone needs to go play this game. Go. *gets a broom* GO!

" Everyone needs to go play this game. Go. *gets a broom* GO! "

Well this is just great. Now I have to get Demon's Souls before March 2011 or else I will never be able to experience that game fully.

One of these days I'll get to you Demons Souls...one of these days...

Alright! Gives me more time to go finish the game.

i keep renting it from gamefly. i need to just buy it

This sucks. I mean. More then once I have been saved by someone reccomending my message. 

random question, but if they take away online, do you think the monks head collar be impossible to obtain?

" @Xeiphyer said:

" Everyone needs to go play this game. Go. *gets a broom* GO! "

But I'm stuck :'( Dudes keep invading me that can kill me in one hit :'( "

" @CL60 said:

" @Xeiphyer said:

" Everyone needs to go play this game. Go. *gets a broom* GO! "

But I'm stuck :'( Dudes keep invading me that can kill me in one hit :'( "

So die. "

 Shit, didn't even think about how long the servers would be up. Guess I should finally give it a real shot.

Hmm, I sold my copy a while back to help funding to buy a PS2, and occasionally regret it.  But March 2011 isn't that far away, I guess.

How is this good news? OMG! A game that we just released wills till have support for online as late as 18 months after it was released!
 
That should be a minimal expectation. I haven't had the time and patience to really sit down and pop this into the console, but keep meaning to. I've been paying more attention to other games with multiplayer that are "play now or miss out on the community when it fades away soon". I didn't figure this would be one, too, since . . . you know . . . the online component has to be fairly minimal as far as requirements and maintenance.
 
I love paying retail price for obsolescence.

" i keep renting it from gamefly. i need to just buy it "

Why doesn't Sony just put this game on their servers?

Last few times Atlus did this for the NA version (over valentine, christmas and halloween?), it wasn't "locked" at pure any world tendency, merely reset or manipulated towards pure <x> at various intervals. Player actions still affected the WT, as long as you keep playing and not doing silly things such as restarting the game.  It was a strange moment to see various bits of the world gradually degrading towards blackness even during a so-called "pure white tendency" event. But quite fun. 
 
note: It was even more wicked on halloween, when it was 'supposed' to be pure black, but in reality wasn't. A lot of people were killing primevals and named black phantoms, thereby seriously rigging up the world tendencies. I never saw either world pure black during that halloween. Kinda, somewhat darkish - yeah, but not PB. 

The change to pure white is temporary not permanent and if you want to avoid it just don't play online during the WT event.

" @Icemael said:

" @CL60 said:

" @Xeiphyer said:

" Everyone needs to go play this game. Go. *gets a broom* GO! "

But I'm stuck :'( Dudes keep invading me that can kill me in one hit :'( "

So die. "

But I need help, so I summon people. "

Cool now I can do play through two without being absolutely Ganked around every corner. Although hopefully there will be a way to get pure black world tendency because that's the only way to get the ultimate caster.

Good for people who are still playing this game in March 2011.

Won't this mean it's impossible to obtain certain items?

" Won't this mean it's impossible to obtain certain items? "

Sounds good. Glad the game succeeded.

Good good good. Haven't been on Demon's Souls in a while but I know it'll pull be back eventually.

" @Haru48:  just die a lot in the world you want pure black (with your body) iirc it takes something like 14 deaths to get to pure black from pure white "

" Good for people who are still playing this game in March 2011. "