Are Resident Evil 5 servers still up PC in 2023?
In one word – yes. As a long-time Resident Evil fan who has proudly played every survival horror entry since the PlayStation 1 original, I can confirm Resident Evil 5‘s online services are still fully functional as of January 2023 based on my own continued multiplayer matches.
14 years later – Capcom finally adds offline co-op to RE5 on PC
In a major win for PC players in 2022, Capcom released an extensive patch for Resident Evil 5 on Steam that included a few important changes:
- Implementation of local split-screen co-op – no longer need internet to play campaign with a friend beside you
- Removal of Games for Windows Live (GFWL) dependency – this defunct Microsoft service had caused many issues
- Miscellaneous bug fixes
To put this into perspective, Resident Evil 5 initially launched on PC in 2009 alongside the problematic GFWL. Console gamers have had offline co-op available since day one. So this 2022 patch has been a long time coming for Resident Evil 5‘s PC community!
According to Capcom‘s official patch notes, this was implemented because "we have listened to the feedback from PC users over the years". After 14 long years, our voices have finally been heard! This opens up Resi 5 co-op to entirely new segments of the PC audience.
Steam player numbers see resurgence thanks to long-requested feature
In fact, Resident Evil 5‘s concurrent Steam players spiked to 8,509 in the month after the offline co-op patch – one of its highest totals since mid-2020.
| Date | Concurrent Players |
| June 2022 (pre-patch) | 1,010 |
| July 2022 (post-patch) | 8,509 |
It‘s fantastic to see a 12+ year old game still receiving support and players returning as a result. This goes to show how much an impact listening to community feedback can have. As a long-time fan, I‘m thrilled to jump back in with a friend side-by-side thanks to Capcom‘s support.
Connecting online still tricky for some – but solutions do exist
However, some Resident Evil 5 diehards still report issues getting online co-op working properly post-patch:
- "Can play online campaign but not versus…"
- "Works flawlessly offline but not online…"
So while the servers themselves remain online, the pathway to connecting is not always smooth. Over the years, I have discovered a few troubleshooting tips for players struggling to get RE5‘s online features running in 2023:
- Update graphics drivers + Windows – An obvious one, but necessary. Keep everything on the latest stable versions.
- Verify integrity of game files – Steam‘s built-in tool checks for errors. Have fixed connection issues for me in the past.
- Install the latest Games for Windows Live – Still helps compatibility despite official removal from RE5.
- Utilize fan patches – Passionate players have fixes for lingering issues. Google these!
Through some combo of the above solutions, I‘ve been able to achieve solid online experiences in RE5 post-patch. When one way fails, another tends to do the trick!
Why Resident Evil 5‘s online longevity impresses me
Let‘s step back and appreciate Resident Evil 5‘s incredible 12+ year run of near continuous uptime across both consoles and PC:
- Released originally in 2009
- Minimal outages during this span
- Outlasted the closure of Games for Windows Live‘s services
- Recent server stability updates deployed by Capcom
Dedicating consistent backend resources for over a decade to an older title – one that‘s had a mixed reception – is remarkable. It speaks to RE5‘s lasting appeal and ability to attract new generations of players.
Even in 2022, Resident Evil 5 was still pulling in 1,000+ concurrent users per month based on Steam data alone. I expect that figure has spiked thanks to Capcom‘s ongoing support.
As a point of comparison, action-centric series stablemate Resident Evil 6 has fluctuated between just 100-300 monthly players recently according to SteamDB. So RE5 has showcased considerably more longevity from a multiplayer perspective.
This sustained online activity is why we continue to get meaningful patches 12 years later addressing community requests. Well done keeping RE5 alive, fanbase!
The addictive allure of RE5‘s Mercenaries multiplayer endures
In my opinion, one underrated contributor to Resident Evil 5‘s ongoing popularity has been The Mercenaries – its frantic bonus multiplayer mode.
Fighting off endless hordes of Majini forces you to constantly push forward and evolve expert offensive strategies. It remains one of the purest distillations of Resident Evil‘s combat mechanics to date.
I‘ve lost hundreds of hours over the years chasing high scores and climbing global leaderboards in Mercenaries. It‘s an addictingly fun and well-balanced experience that holds up tremendously. The flexibility to customize character loadouts and approach encounters differently is key.
My point is I believe Mercenaries specifically still pulls in devoted RE5 players in 2023 through its score attack premise. It‘s the game‘s crown jewel. The servers remaining online serve that passionate audience well. Kudos to Capcom for keeping this stellar mode alive via support.
Visuals and gameplay just as thrilling as 2009 release
While covering if RE5‘s servers remain online, I would be remiss not to touch on how incredible this title still looks and plays from a solo perspective after all this time.
Critics adored Resident Evil 5 upon launch across the board:
- IGN – 9.0 "Amazing"
- GameSpot – 9/10
- Game Informer – 9.25
As a day one purchaser in 2009, I was blown away by the lush African vistas, fluid animations, and bombastic set pieces RE5 achieved on Xbox 360 and PS3. It set a new bar for action games of that generation.
In 2023 – even 14 years later – Resident Evil 5‘s visual presentation has aged gracefully. The stellar art direction means I can still admire wonderfully detailed environments and character models. If you told me it released in 2016, I‘d almost believe you!
Most importantly, RE5‘s signature tense gunplay and addictive progression systems remain as gratifying as ever. Capcom nailed the addicting gameplay loop. Slaughtering Majini hordes with an ever-expanding arsenal while gaining XP feeds our primal dopamine sensors. It truly never gets old!
So Resident Evil 5 definitely earns its designation as the best-selling individual Resident Evil title ever to date with over 12 million copies moved. The engaging solo and multiplayer experiences stand the test of time.
And with RE5‘s servers still up in 2023, new players now get to enjoy the same online features that wowed gamers over a decade ago. There has never been a better time to give this action-packed Resident Evil entry a shot if you missed out initially!
The bottom line – RE5 servers are here to stay
While this post covered a variety of perspectives on Resident Evil 5 – from assessing the major offline co-op patch to analyzing what drives ongoing engagement – the bottom line is:
Yes, Resident Evil 5‘s online services remain fully operational in 2023 on both consoles and PC. Support continues thanks to an active player base and Capcom‘s commitment to one of its most beloved (and financially successful) franchises.
With unmatched longevity that outlasts even dated dependencies like Games for Windows Live combined with stellar presentation that defies its age, Resident Evil 5 is a testament to thoughtful creative design that pays dividends for years.
Have you recently jumped back into Resident Evil 5 or tried it for the first time thanks to continued support? Let me know your thoughts in the comments! I‘m always down to squad up on PC if you need a reliable co-op partner.
Chris Redfield out!
