Master Server Shutdown

[jezman]

Boo, I guess it was going to happen eventually but I always thought they were just going to keep it going and going but now it's actually happened.

https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-is-turning-off-online-services-and-servers-for-some-older-games
They mention UT3 is going to get an overhaul... "Note: We have plans to bring back online features via Epic Online Services in the future."

I only just installed UT2K4 again. 
GOG is still selling it (for now).  I downloaded their installer.  I have no idea where my CD and original key are (to be fair, I don't know where my CD drive is either!).

https://www.gog.com/en/game/unreal_tournament_2004_ece

[Stealer]

Pretty sure there is still a workaround, it's only the stats server isn't it?

[Piglet]

There is a workaround, we think. OpenSpy.

This tells you how to switch across once the master server is fully dead: http://beta.openspy.net/en/howto/ut2k-engine/ut2004

Once you do that:

1. Turn off "standard servers" from the server list
2. Extract this into your system directory to see Freon servers in the list: https://www.utzone.de/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=981

Between now and then improvements in reporting at both ends are expected - i.e. there may be changes I need to make to local code to put the servers in the category. At the OpenSpy end there are changes to drop colour codes from the server list (should not affect the in-game listings - but will make this look better): http://beta.openspy.net/en/server-list/ut2004

Epic is turning off all new purchases of the games. New people who want to play....well..."tough luck" seems to be the attitude...

People have asked and been refused permission to release new versions of the game.


More news as we get it.

[natewrench]

thanks, piglet, for now, GOG.com is the only place to get the unreal classic pack, but I assume they will be delisting the games there too. For now Unreal Gold and UT99 have OldUnreal.com for patches at the moment, UT2003/2004 has I think open-spy, and UT3 is going to be coming back as F2P on steam/gog/EGS. It sucks especially the alpha version of ut 2014 or ut4 is going to be shutdown hard because you wont be able to use it offline because you need to be signed into the epic games launcher to even run the thing.

[Gil-galad]

I do not know if usefull, but in case it is and you don't already know about it, here is a server actor for Unreal Tournament, just released.

EDIT. : same source also has a mutator for Unreal Tournament 2004 that prompts joining players to switch to an alternate master server.

[Piglet]

Nice. I was going to write the first one over the weekend, but I wasn't feeling well enough.

We're currently pointing to both places using a hosts redirect for gamespy. I check this out and possibly add it in

[kops]

On a side note - Hey Jezza    *waves*

[Blub]

I only just installed UT2K4 again. 
GOG is still selling it (for now).  I downloaded their installer.  I have no idea where my CD and original key are (to be fair, I don't know where my CD drive is either!).

https://www.gog.com/en/game/unreal_tournament_2004_ece

Make sure you get the unique CD key just in case.

https://miasma.rocks/pages/gog.php

[natewrench]

Boo, I guess it was going to happen eventually but I always thought they were just going to keep it going and going but now it's actually happened.

https://www.epicgames.com/site/en-US/news/epic-is-turning-off-online-services-and-servers-for-some-older-games
They mention UT3 is going to get an overhaul... "Note: We have plans to bring back online features via Epic Online Services in the future."

I only just installed UT2K4 again. 
GOG is still selling it (for now).  I downloaded their installer.  I have no idea where my CD and original key are (to be fair, I don't know where my CD drive is either!).

https://www.gog.com/en/game/unreal_tournament_2004_ece

If you did buy it from gog legally then ask for a unique cd key so you can play online...

For UT3 I wouldn't touch it except on consoles since I'm not sure what epic has in mind for bring it back with no microtransactions

[Piglet]

If they did a new version of ut2004 that could play all the old maps and gametypes, same old urealscript, but on a new engine I'd buy it

[Killer_XTREME!!!]

If they did a new version of ut2004 that could play all the old maps and gametypes, same old urealscript, but on a new engine I'd buy it

we may very well have to upgrade our hardware too for that, new engine might be UE5 if they decide to do it

[jezman]

On a side note - Hey Jezza    *waves*

Hey!!   

[jezman]

Make sure you get the unique CD key just in case.

https://miasma.rocks/pages/gog.php

Thanks for this (and to the other person who mentioned it). There is a little note when you buy it that mentions something about requesting a key so I will follow this up. I'm using my Steam copy but wanted a spare for the other PC.
 

[Piglet]

On a side note - Hey Jezza    *waves*

Hey!!   

Welcome home!

[Blub]

Thanks for this (and to the other person who mentioned it). There is a little note when you buy it that mentions something about requesting a key so I will follow this up. I'm using my Steam copy but wanted a spare for the other PC.

That's exactly why I got another copy on gog as well - having a backup just in case my physical copy and key get lost somehow. But be aware the support process might take a while, when I did it, it was not even holiday season and it took them 12 days.