Most of you are unlikely to be aware of GameSpy Technology. The service, owned by Glu Mobile, provided multiplayer matchmaking services, player metrics and rankings, cloud data storage, an easy method for adding user generated content, and the ability to enable cross-platform play for a lot of gaming titles. In January 2013, the company stopped licensing its software and has spent the last year or so helping game developers and publishers to transfer their online features to other networking services. Today, with a final message on their website, GameSpy has announced that they will cease hosting services on May 31st, 2014.
Effective May 31, 2014, GameSpy will cease providing all hosted services for all games still using GameSpy.
If you have any questions about how this impacts your favorite title please contact the game’s publisher for more information.
Thanks for a great ride!
The issue with this is that a fair number (read: a lot) of Playstation 3 titles have used GameSpy features over the past few years. The fate of the majority of these titles is not yet known, so do not automatically assume that the servers for these titles will be closing. Of those titles that did use GameSpy features, some have since relocated their services elsewhere. This includes former GameSpy poster boy Street Fighter 3, which developer Iron Galaxy has already confirmed to have moved on to the same system utilised by Darkstalkers Resurrection and will, therefore, be unaffected by the news.
Activision has also stated that their titles "won't be affected". Their only Playstation 3 GameSpy-related title is Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and lacks trophy support anyway. Meanwhile, an Epic spokesperson confirmed that they are currently testing an in-house solution for their GameSpy titles and that this should be available next week. As such, they foresee no impact on Unreal Tournament 3.
One confirmed casualty of today's news is Dungeon Defenders. Although developer Trendy Entertainment has been busy creating its own Playverse matchmaking system, this can not be implemented into their current titles. As a result, the game will no longer have online multiplayer from May 31st. While the title does not have any online-required trophies, the move will make some of the trophies significantly harder. The servers for 50 Cent Blood on the Sand, CellFactor Psychokinetic Wars, Homefront and UFC Undisputed 2010 are already offline and are unrelated to this news.
The fate of the rest of the Playstation 3 GameSpy titles is more uncertain. While other "sources" say that Rockstar's titles will not be affected as the Rockstar Social Club services have been transferred away from GameSpy, experience has taught us to take information from "sources" with a massive pinch of salt. The official line is that Rockstar are investigating the current issues and any possible issues with their titles, which definitely include Grand Theft Auto 4, Midnight Club Los Angeles and Red Dead Redemption. All of these titles have online trophies, although these are not directly attached to the Rockstar Social Club.
Capcom's statement confirms that there are a few titles for which they have used GameSpy's matchmaking services. They are currently looking at other solutions and will provide updates on this on the future. Of their titles, Moto GP 08 does not have trophy support, while Flock does not have trophies that require online play. Unfortunately, Age of Booty does have online trophies, so hopes rest on Capcom finding an alternative service.
We have no further information on any of the following titles. These titles did use GameSpy features and have online-required trophies that MAY become unobtainable in the future.
• Blitz The League 2
• Borderlands
• Bulletstorm
• FEAR 2 and FEAR 2 Japnanese
• Fuel
• Gotham City Impostors
• Guardians of MiddleEarth
• High Stakes on the Vegas Strip Poker Edition
• Joe Danger The Movie
• Mortal Kombat
• Mortal Kombat Vita
• Mortal Kombat vs DC
• SBK 08
• SBK 09 and SBK 09 European
• SBKX Superbike World Championship and SBKX Superbike World Championship European
• SBK Generations
• Supersonic Acrobatic Rocket Powered Battle Cars
• UFC Undisputed 2009
• WWE SmackDown vs RAW 2011
These titles have GameSpy features so may see a loss of multiplayer function. However, none of them have online-required trophies:
• Choplifter HD
• Damnation
• Fairytale Fights
• Hunted Demons Forge and Hunted Demons Forge Japanese
• Superstars V8 Racing and Superstars V8 Racing European
• WWE Legends of WrestleMania
• WWE SmackDown vs RAW 2010
These titles have GameSpy features so may see a loss of multiplayer function. They do not have trophies:
• Beijing 2008
• Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway
• Civilization Revolution
• Condemned 2: Bloodshot
• Fatal Inertia EX
• Full Auto 2: Battlelines
• Hail to the Chimp
• Legendary
• Monster Madness: Grave Danger
• NBA Ballers: Chosen One
• Red Baron Arcade
• Saints Row 2
• SEGA Superstars Tennis
• TimeShift
• Turning Point: Fall of Liberty
• WWE SmackDown vs. RAW 2009
Unfortunately, there may be other titles from 2011 and 2012 that are also affected, but a list of GameSpy supported titles from this period is not available. Right now, nobody knows the full extent of the problem. If we hear any updates on the above titles, or of any others that are affected, we'll be sure to let you know.