Official forums for BZFlag.org

I've just noticed that the bztank servers have gone and bztank.net no longer exists.

When did this happen?

Around November 2018, but you should ask Benfish for details. As far as I know it was a move that was contemplated for quite a while.

While it was over a hear ago since Benfish stopped hosting, it was somewhat predicted, but still came as a surprise.
Mostly due to the fact of BZtank being a long term and large network at the time.
Seemingly during the last months when BZtank was online, player count dropped quite a bit.
(It most likely was done when the player counts were the least to minimize possible negative effects on the player population.)
From what I remember, I do believe that there was discussions to transfer the ownership of BZtank to one of their own staff members.

-Zehra

Benfish took down bztank servers without notice. Hardly predictable.
I would venture that he has moved onto new things having finished schooling.