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GameSpy server shutdown

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Contents4
  1. Background
  2. The shutdown
  3. Consumer response
  4. References

On 31 May 2014, all multiplayer services hosted by GameSpy were shut down by Glu Mobile.[1] A documented library of over 800 video games on platforms such as PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, and far more were affected by this massive shutdown.[2][3][4] Some games, such as the Arma series,[5] were retooled to function without needing to rely upon GameSpy services by the developer. Most of the games require third-party tools to regain functionality,[3] such as Battlefield 2142, which relies upon OpenSpy and the BF2142 Reclamation community. A subset of affected games had their Digital Rights Management affected by this shutdown as well.[citation needed - Read comment]

Background

In 2012, the mobile game developer Glu Mobile purchased GameSpy's multiplayer service department GameSpy Industries. 2 years after this acquisition, all multiplayer services hosted by GameSpy were discontinued.

The shutdown

Shortly after Glu Mobile purchased GameSpy Industries from IGN in August 2012,[6] the company concluded services for many older games reliant on GameSpy services, such as Fairytale Fights, Star Wars: Battlefront, Sniper Elite, Microsoft Flight Simulator X, Saints Row 2, and Neverwinter Nights. This was done without prior notice to the developers of these games or the users who paid for them.[7]

In April 2014, Glu Mobile announced that on May 31st of the same year, the remainder of all GameSpy services would be shut down.[1] All games on the Wii and Nintendo DS that relied upon the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection platform lost all multiplayer functionality, as Nintendo tied the functionality of this platform on services offered by GameSpy.[8]

Consumer response

There was outrage from consumers over the discontinuation of GameSpy's services.[citation needed - Read comment] Some communities responded by reverse-engineering the servers into new tools such as OpenSpy. One of the initial attempts to restore GameSpy functionality faced a shutdown notice from Electronic Arts regarding the restoration of multiplayer in older Battlefield games.[9][10][11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Futter, Mike (3 Apr 2014). "Glu Shutting Down Gamespy Service, Affecting A Reported 800 Developers And Publishers". Game Informer. Archived from the original on 7 Apr 2014. Retrieved 14 Jul 2025.
  2. ↑ Stevoisiak (7 Apr 2014). "List of games affected by GameSpy shutdown". Reddit. Archived from the original on 10 Apr 2014. Retrieved 14 Jul 2025.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "GameSpy". PCGamingWiki. Archived from the original on 21 Apr 2025. Retrieved 14 Jul 2025.
  4. ↑ "2010 | GameSpy Technology". GameSpy. 2014. Archived from the original on 29 Jun 2014. Retrieved 29 Jun 2014.
  5. ↑ Burns, Chris (4 Apr 2014). "GAMESPY SHUTS DOWN MAY 31: WILL YOUR GAME BE AFFECTED?". Slashgear. Archived from the original on 6 Apr 2014. Retrieved 14 Jul 2025.
  6. ↑ Potter, Seth (2 Aug 2012). "Glu Acquires GameSpy Technology to Expand Connected, Cross-platform Mobile Leadership". Glu Mobile. Archived from the original on 21 Jul 2014. Retrieved 18 Jan 2016.
  7. ↑ Parrish, Kevin (11 Dec 2012). "Glu Shutting Down Multiplayer for GameSpy-based PC Titles". Tom's Hardware. Archived from the original on 14 Dec 2012. Retrieved 13 Jul 2025.
  8. ↑ Williams, Katie (26 Feb 2014). "Nintendo Terminating Wi-fi Service For DS and Wii". IGN. Archived from the original on 2 Mar 2014. Retrieved 14 Jul 2014.
  9. ↑ Moore, Bo (2014-06-23). "Gamers Unite to Bring Back Titles Stranded by GameSpy Shutdown". Wired. Archived from the original on 1 Jan 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
  10. ↑ Orland, kyle (2017-10-27). "EA shuts down fan-run servers for older Battlefield games". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 9 Jan 2026. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
  11. ↑ Chalk, Andy (2017-10-02). "Star Wars: Battlefront 2 multiplayer restored, now with Steam/GOG crossplay". PCGamer. Archived from the original on 3 Sep 2025. Retrieved 2026-01-09.
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