Dark Souls 2 veterans prepare to return to Drangleic as annual community event launches in late February

The Dark Souls 2 community announced dates for the annual Return to Drangleic event in 2026. Reddit users on r/darksouls and r/DarkSouls2 revealed a two-week activity period running from February 26 through March 13, though some sources indicate the start date may be one day later.

FromSoftware released Dark Souls 2 without Hidetaka Miyazaki's involvement, sparking years of debate about the game's quality compared to other entries in the series. Nevertheless, the title continues attracting players to both versions, while fans organize traditional Return to Drangleic events for cooperative playthroughs.

Veterans note the event provides an excellent opportunity for newcomers – tackling the toughest zones in Dark Souls 2 becomes significantly easier in co-op with experienced players. The second installment is considered the most punishing in the trilogy due to aggressive enemy placement and awkward mechanics like the humanity system and maximum health pool limitations. The game earned recognition for its interesting approach to covenants and PvP.

Participation requires the Scholar of the First Sin edition, as original PS3 and Xbox 360 versions were disconnected from online services several years ago. The same applies to the PC version. Server activity on PlayStation, Xbox, and PC traditionally spikes before the event, though the game has never been completely deserted.

Dark Souls 3 turns 10 years old in 2026, and rumors point to a possible remaster celebrating the anniversary.