Modern unofficial servers require DNAS workarounds to access properly. The DNAS service was shut down on April 4, terminating many unofficial servers for games that required it. The last official server for a PlayStation 2 game ( Final Fantasy XI) went offline on March 31, 2016.

Dynamic Network Authentication System (2003-2016): Copy Protection for PlayStation 2 online multiplayer games note PlayStation 2 multiplayer is hosted exclusively by third parties, but later games require the user's console to be authorized by the DNAS to connect.

For simplicity, this page will stick to games whose major or only component was the online mode. Many games that have a single player component can be rendered defunct if you needed to sign in or otherwise connect to the internet at the start of the game (this can be inherent to the console too: try playing an Xbox game without internet). While the more benign variants of this will require it only once upon the initial install, even that can later make an otherwise offline game unplayable once a re-install of any sort is needed.

It's also worth noting that this trope is a major reason why DRM is controversial in the gamer community: DRM often requires connection to a server to verify the software as an anti-piracy measure. Also related to Permanently Missable Content, where in this case the entire game is missed if you learnt of it after it is shut down, and you won't get to play it at all. Related to Temporary Online Content, where game content is made available online for a limited amount of time, and can no longer be obtained after it is taken offline. For online games that were never released to begin with, see Canceled Video Games.

Can you play city of heroes offline