As much as many of us are getting a bit of schadenfreude out of the epic Sony security fail, fact of the matter is that nearly 80 million ordinary people, who have nothing to do with Sony’s abysmal customer track record, were affected by it as well. So, for those people – which includes a number of my friends – I’m happy to tell them that the Playstation Network has, in phases, been switched on again over the weekend.
The process of getting your big black box on the Playstation Network once more is a little more involved than just turning it on – you’ll need to install an update to the system software, version 3.61, too. This new version will also prompt you to change your PSN password, which isn’t entirely surprising considering the reason behind the update. Also obvious: this update is mandatory. After the update has been applied, you’ll need to wait until the PSN is up and running in your country – which, by now, is probably everywhere – at least in Europe and the US.
“If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security,” the Playstation EU blog details, “If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password.”
You can follow the phased restoration of the PSN here.
At last the largest and best gaming network is back online,
The largest, best gaming network have always been online ….
Edited 2011-05-16 01:58 UTC
If you meant the Internet, then yes.
Actually, no. Xbox Live is fine.
“largest, best” != fine
Edited 2011-05-16 20:43 UTC
So you do agree that Live contains “largest,best”, just that it != fine?
Parent implies that “The largest, best gaming network” == Xbox Live
And says that Xbox Live is fine
The implication about Xbox live is false since “largest, best” != fine
It’s a start. Going to be interesting to see how well the “Welcome back” packages go over with the affected.
It will go over fine. Most of the general Public on the PSN are young and oblivious to ID theft, ecurity, etc. Most of the parents of these children are also oblivious to the full implecations of security in general, and for that matter, how secure your banking data, ID, is online. So all in all, Sony will churn out a new console, or shiny device, game, or service to the public by Christmas, and all of this by and large is water under the bridge with a huge profit to boot.
Actually, according to the Entertainment Software Association, <link>http://www.theesa.com/facts/index.asp</link>,
Most people on PSN are neither young nor stupid, I know for myself, I’m 40, that Sony’s treatment of Playstation owners and users was a key factor in my selection of a new Samsung Android phone, rather then the equivalent Sony device. Sony make by far the best console, but unless they can make this right I won’t be buying their next one and neither will my friends.
Exactly. The majority of gamers haven’t been kids for a long, long time. If they ever were to begin with.
I hope the ones commenting on the European blog are young. With a large number of the comments about how they were the first ones in their neighborhood, city or state to log back in, it seems they might not be aware of why PSN was down. I would hate for all those posters to be actual adults and oblivious.
Edited 2011-05-16 15:34 UTC
Still not working for me as of Sunday evening. Downloaded new firmware update, and I’m still getting the message that the PSN is down for maintenance. I am in the US.
… how many PSN accounts will be logged into again considering the recent spate of PS3 returns and trade-ins.