diff --git a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/Multiplayer.cpp b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/Multiplayer.cpp
index d70317fe09..0364c83389 100644
--- a/src/openrct2-ui/windows/Multiplayer.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2-ui/windows/Multiplayer.cpp
@@ -349,8 +349,8 @@ static ScreenCoordsXY WindowMultiplayerInformationGetSize()
     }
 
     // Likewise, for the optional server description -- which can be a little longer.
-    const utf8* descString = network_get_server_description();
-    if (!str_is_null_or_empty(descString))
+    const auto& descString = network_get_server_description();
+    if (!descString.empty())
     {
         u8string buffer = descString;
         gfx_wrap_string(buffer.data(), width, FontStyle::Medium, &numLines);
@@ -359,16 +359,16 @@ static ScreenCoordsXY WindowMultiplayerInformationGetSize()
 
     // Finally, account for provider info, if present.
     {
-        const utf8* providerName = network_get_server_provider_name();
-        if (!str_is_null_or_empty(providerName))
+        const auto& providerName = network_get_server_provider_name();
+        if (!providerName.empty())
             height += LIST_ROW_HEIGHT;
 
-        const utf8* providerEmail = network_get_server_provider_email();
-        if (!str_is_null_or_empty(providerEmail))
+        const auto& providerEmail = network_get_server_provider_email();
+        if (!providerEmail.empty())
             height += LIST_ROW_HEIGHT;
 
-        const utf8* providerWebsite = network_get_server_provider_website();
-        if (!str_is_null_or_empty(providerWebsite))
+        const auto& providerWebsite = network_get_server_provider_website();
+        if (!providerWebsite.empty())
             height += LIST_ROW_HEIGHT;
     }
 
@@ -409,46 +409,46 @@ static void WindowMultiplayerInformationPaint(rct_window* w, rct_drawpixelinfo*
         auto screenCoords = ScreenCoordsXY{ 3, 50 };
         int32_t width = w->width - 6;
 
-        const utf8* name = network_get_server_name();
+        const auto& name = network_get_server_name();
         {
             auto ft = Formatter();
-            ft.Add<const char*>(name);
+            ft.Add<const char*>(name.c_str());
             screenCoords.y += DrawTextWrapped(dpi, screenCoords, width, STR_STRING, ft, { w->colours[1] });
             screenCoords.y += LIST_ROW_HEIGHT / 2;
         }
 
-        const utf8* description = network_get_server_description();
-        if (!str_is_null_or_empty(description))
+        const auto& description = network_get_server_description();
+        if (!description.empty())
         {
             auto ft = Formatter();
-            ft.Add<const char*>(description);
+            ft.Add<const char*>(description.c_str());
             screenCoords.y += DrawTextWrapped(dpi, screenCoords, width, STR_STRING, ft, { w->colours[1] });
             screenCoords.y += LIST_ROW_HEIGHT / 2;
         }
 
-        const utf8* providerName = network_get_server_provider_name();
-        if (!str_is_null_or_empty(providerName))
+        const auto& providerName = network_get_server_provider_name();
+        if (!providerName.empty())
         {
             auto ft = Formatter();
-            ft.Add<const char*>(providerName);
+            ft.Add<const char*>(providerName.c_str());
             DrawTextBasic(dpi, screenCoords, STR_PROVIDER_NAME, ft);
             screenCoords.y += LIST_ROW_HEIGHT;
         }
 
-        const utf8* providerEmail = network_get_server_provider_email();
-        if (!str_is_null_or_empty(providerEmail))
+        const auto& providerEmail = network_get_server_provider_email();
+        if (!providerEmail.empty())
         {
             auto ft = Formatter();
-            ft.Add<const char*>(providerEmail);
+            ft.Add<const char*>(providerEmail.c_str());
             DrawTextBasic(dpi, screenCoords, STR_PROVIDER_EMAIL, ft);
             screenCoords.y += LIST_ROW_HEIGHT;
         }
 
-        const utf8* providerWebsite = network_get_server_provider_website();
-        if (!str_is_null_or_empty(providerWebsite))
+        const auto& providerWebsite = network_get_server_provider_website();
+        if (!providerWebsite.empty())
         {
             auto ft = Formatter();
-            ft.Add<const char*>(providerWebsite);
+            ft.Add<const char*>(providerWebsite.c_str());
             DrawTextBasic(dpi, screenCoords, STR_PROVIDER_WEBSITE, ft);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/openrct2/network/DiscordService.cpp b/src/openrct2/network/DiscordService.cpp
index e5f9ca2e15..9665beebdb 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/network/DiscordService.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/network/DiscordService.cpp
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void DiscordService::RefreshPresence() const
                 state = serverName;
 
                 // NOTE: the party size is displayed next to state
-                discordPresence.partyId = network_get_server_name();
+                discordPresence.partyId = network_get_server_name().c_str();
                 discordPresence.partySize = network_get_num_players();
                 discordPresence.partyMax = 256;
 
diff --git a/src/openrct2/network/NetworkBase.cpp b/src/openrct2/network/NetworkBase.cpp
index 9af12a5077..f543419c46 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/network/NetworkBase.cpp
+++ b/src/openrct2/network/NetworkBase.cpp
@@ -3430,8 +3430,8 @@ void network_chat_show_connected_message()
 // Display server greeting if one exists
 void network_chat_show_server_greeting()
 {
-    auto greeting = network_get_server_greeting();
-    if (!str_is_null_or_empty(greeting))
+    const auto& greeting = network_get_server_greeting();
+    if (!greeting.empty())
     {
         thread_local std::string greeting_formatted;
         greeting_formatted.assign("{OUTLINE}{GREEN}");
@@ -3886,35 +3886,35 @@ static u8string network_get_public_key_path(u8string_view playerName, u8string_v
     return Path::Combine(network_get_keys_directory(), filename);
 }
 
-const utf8* network_get_server_name()
+u8string network_get_server_name()
 {
     auto& network = OpenRCT2::GetContext()->GetNetwork();
-    return network.ServerName.c_str();
+    return network.ServerName;
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_description()
+u8string network_get_server_description()
 {
     auto& network = OpenRCT2::GetContext()->GetNetwork();
-    return network.ServerDescription.c_str();
+    return network.ServerDescription;
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_greeting()
+u8string network_get_server_greeting()
 {
     auto& network = OpenRCT2::GetContext()->GetNetwork();
-    return network.ServerGreeting.c_str();
+    return network.ServerGreeting;
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_provider_name()
+u8string network_get_server_provider_name()
 {
     auto& network = OpenRCT2::GetContext()->GetNetwork();
-    return network.ServerProviderName.c_str();
+    return network.ServerProviderName;
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_provider_email()
+u8string network_get_server_provider_email()
 {
     auto& network = OpenRCT2::GetContext()->GetNetwork();
-    return network.ServerProviderEmail.c_str();
+    return network.ServerProviderEmail;
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_provider_website()
+u8string network_get_server_provider_website()
 {
     auto& network = OpenRCT2::GetContext()->GetNetwork();
-    return network.ServerProviderWebsite.c_str();
+    return network.ServerProviderWebsite;
 }
 
 std::string network_get_version()
@@ -4168,29 +4168,29 @@ void network_append_chat_log(std::string_view)
 void network_append_server_log(const utf8* text)
 {
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_name()
+u8string network_get_server_name()
 {
-    return nullptr;
+    return u8string();
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_description()
+u8string network_get_server_description()
 {
-    return nullptr;
+    return u8string();
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_greeting()
+u8string network_get_server_greeting()
 {
-    return nullptr;
+    return u8string();
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_provider_name()
+u8string network_get_server_provider_name()
 {
-    return nullptr;
+    return u8string();
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_provider_email()
+u8string network_get_server_provider_email()
 {
-    return nullptr;
+    return u8string();
 }
-const utf8* network_get_server_provider_website()
+u8string network_get_server_provider_website()
 {
-    return nullptr;
+    return u8string();
 }
 std::string network_get_version()
 {
diff --git a/src/openrct2/network/network.h b/src/openrct2/network/network.h
index a4bf247d20..1e19281d6d 100644
--- a/src/openrct2/network/network.h
+++ b/src/openrct2/network/network.h
@@ -103,12 +103,12 @@ void network_set_password(const char* password);
 
 void network_append_chat_log(std::string_view text);
 void network_append_server_log(const utf8* text);
-[[nodiscard]] const utf8* network_get_server_name();
-[[nodiscard]] const utf8* network_get_server_description();
-[[nodiscard]] const utf8* network_get_server_greeting();
-[[nodiscard]] const utf8* network_get_server_provider_name();
-[[nodiscard]] const utf8* network_get_server_provider_email();
-[[nodiscard]] const utf8* network_get_server_provider_website();
+[[nodiscard]] u8string network_get_server_name();
+[[nodiscard]] u8string network_get_server_description();
+[[nodiscard]] u8string network_get_server_greeting();
+[[nodiscard]] u8string network_get_server_provider_name();
+[[nodiscard]] u8string network_get_server_provider_email();
+[[nodiscard]] u8string network_get_server_provider_website();
 
 [[nodiscard]] std::string network_get_version();