This article will however only list private server projects for games whose official servers have been sunsetted.ĭisclaimer: The vast majority of these projects are distributing unsanctioned software which could potentially contain malware. There are of course private server projects for games which are still running in an official capacity. Some of these rogue servers, emulators, or private servers are rebuilt from the ground up using only the game’s client-side assets, whereas others are a result of the game’s source code having been made public either officially or via a leak. Yet, their role in preserving MMO history is a vital one, and for that, they should be commended. The teams behind these projects are volunteers – due to legal rights issues they cannot make money from their efforts. Sometimes publishers keep their game’s servers running in maintenance mode, but when this isn’t the case players will take it upon themselves to resurrect the virtual worlds they were turfed out of. Whether it’s because of licensing issues, a dwindling playerbase, or a shuttered studio, there’s a community out there struggling to come to terms with the loss. It’s always a sad day whenever an MMO is shut down.
