Sony Corp. began a limited and phased restoration of its PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment videogame services Saturday, bringing the company a step closer to normalcy following an attack on its systems that compromised personal information for more than 100 million user accounts last month.
The Japanese electronics giant said that following the release of a mandatory software upgrade for all PlayStation 3 videogame console units, it would begin bringing its PlayStation Network back online in the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. The network will be limited at first, the company said, restoring Internet-based game play, movie rentals, music services and online video streaming through companies like Netflix Inc.
Sony said some customers will be able to regain access on Saturday. Full service should be restored by the end of the month, the company added.
"We know even the most loyal customers have been frustrated by this process and are anxious to use their Sony products and services again," Kazuo Hirai, head of Sony's game division, said in a statement. "We are taking aggressive action at all levels to address the concerns that were raised by this incident, and are making consumer data protection a full-time, company wide commitment."
The intrusion, which occurred last month, led to the theft of names, addresses, passwords and possibly credit card numbers from its PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment gaming services. Sony shut down both services as it investigated the attack, which the company said was highly sophisticated.
The events led to multiple inquiries from Congress and several lawsuits against the game maker, which has been producing videogame consoles for nearly two decades. Sony's brand image also took a hit, according to surveys by YouGov's BrandIndex, dropping significantly following the shutdown and subsequent revelations of the data breach.
Sony has said it will provide its customers with free identity-theft services for a year, including a $1 million insurance policy.
As part of the phased restoration, Sony said all PlayStation 3 customers will need to download a security patch before regaining access to the online gaming services. As a precaution, Sony said customers will be required to change their passwords when they first log back into the systems.
Sony will also be offering "welcome back" packages, including access to otherwise limited content and other freebies in attempts to appease frustrated users
I heard they were offering two free PSN games as well. Not sure if thats going to happen or not.
ResponderEliminarTook 'em long enough. Hahaha!
ResponderEliminarmy brother is sooo mad about it going down lol
ResponderEliminarIt's been down long enough.
ResponderEliminarit should stay down nobody wants this fragile psnetwork anyway
ResponderEliminarPersonally I feel Sony has been letting down consumers more and more.
ResponderEliminarSony is gonna have a tough time getting back to normal after this.
ResponderEliminarThat 'welcome back' better be /damn/ good.
ResponderEliminarHappy that i'm not register into that network but if i was i would have sue them and get everything i could :D
ResponderEliminarI am happy with just ONline :D YAYYY
ResponderEliminarwow sonys been on a lossing steak lately
ResponderEliminaryour blog font is awesome too lol
thank god!
ResponderEliminarI'm so happy that its finally back.
ResponderEliminarGlad it's back, the free stuff hopefully is good
ResponderEliminarthis makes me glad that i have xbox 360
ResponderEliminarI still think that its sad that they had to take it offline. Really makes me glad I bought a 360.
ResponderEliminarCounsels just suck anyway, PC is where its at.
ResponderEliminarI wonder what the free games are. cant wait
ResponderEliminarYeah it's up now, it's sweet!
ResponderEliminarI hope the games are good...
ResponderEliminar"Limited content and freebies". I'll celebrate the day they give us back Linux. Oh well, cheers for some free demos then lol.
ResponderEliminarAnd this, people, is why I'm an xbox nut.
ResponderEliminarSorry ps3 peeps. Hope your credit card #'s didn't get raped.
I keep getting the same message "psn is undergoing ..." it is quite frustrating check mi blog
ResponderEliminarits over, Sony is finished :(
ResponderEliminarThis is great news!
ResponderEliminarI own a 360, but this is still bad news to the whole gaming community.
ResponderEliminargood news but i think many gamers won't use it anymore for security problems
ResponderEliminar