Finally, Dark Souls 3 Seamless Co-op Has Arrived

It’s time to revisit the captivating world of Lothric, adventurers, because one of the most popular mods for Elden Ring has just made its way to Dark Souls 3. FromSoftware’s 2016 masterpiece that rounded off the iconic Dark Souls series can now enjoy the benefits of Seamless Co-op.

As any seasoned player might guess, Seamless Co-op fundamentally transforms the multiplayer experience. It tears down level boundaries, enables co-op play in areas previously off-limits in the vanilla game, and allows players to mutually level up and rest at bonfires without any interruptions. Invading players from PvP can be avoided altogether, though there is an option to leave invasions active for those who relish the challenge. You can grab your copy of the Dark Souls 3 version of Seamless Co-op from Nexus Mods.

What exactly makes Seamless Co-op tick? By disconnecting you from FromSoftware’s standard matchmaking servers, the mod uses peer-to-peer networking and separate character saves, letting you team up with up to five companions without fearing bans. This feature was a game-changer in Elden Ring due to its intricate mix of overworld and side zones, and now it’s available for Dark Souls 3 enthusiasts too.

To install this mod, you simply drag its files into the “Game” folder of your Dark Souls 3 directory. Launch the game using the mod’s executable instead of the usual one. You and your friends can use the provided configuration file to set a password to ensure you all join the same session—pretty much like FromSoftware’s own password system. Plus, you can adjust the game’s settings regarding invasions or tweak enemy scaling directly within this file.

There’s a crucial tip for players who want to transfer their existing characters: change your Dark Souls 3 save files’ extension from “.sl2” to “.co2” to make them mod-compatible. But remember to back them up first; once you advance with Seamless Co-op, trying to revert them to the vanilla game could get you banned by FromSoftware’s validation systems.

The purpose of Seamless Co-op isn’t to make the game a cakewalk; rather, it aims to enhance the co-op experience without altering the difficulty balance. Consequently, enemy and boss health scale up to accommodate five or six players—a significant step up from the vanilla cap of four. Additionally, active boss combats will reset if a fallen player rests at a bonfire before rejoining the fray.

To get a comprehensive understanding of Seamless Co-op, its installation procedures, and all it offers, be sure to read the mod’s full description. It also answers frequent queries you might have.

It’s exciting to witness Seamless Co-op coming to Dark Souls 3, particularly as my friends and I have been contemplating a replay session. This mod arrives just in time to enhance our journey.

Interestingly, Dark Souls 3 is the third FromSoftware game to integrate Seamless Co-op, following Elden Ring and Armored Core 6. There’s no news yet whether Yui, the mod’s creator, plans to extend it to Dark Souls 2 or Dark Souls: Remastered. Personally, I hope they do, as Dark Souls 2’s co-op is notoriously tricky to enjoy with its Soul Memory system that prevents players from teaming up if their soul accumulation is too imbalanced.

For those who haven’t yet explored Dark Souls 3, it’s one of FromSoftware’s top creations, offering exhilarating challenges, awe-inspiring boss fights, and intricate combat mechanics. Currently, its PC version, compatible with the new mod, typically priced at $59.99, can be found at CDKeys for just $24.69. Alternatively, the Deluxe Edition—which includes all DLC—can be yours for $36.69.