More than three weeks after the PlayStation Network was crippled by hackers and taken offline, Sony has confirmed that services are coming back online across the world. It's finally some good news for the 77 million registered users of PSN as well as countless games which have been effected by the outage - from downloadable titles to blockbusters like Portal 2, a game that was set to bring the Steam platform to PS3's which has been left foundering for weeks.
Services are coming back online on a country by country basis but the expectation is that everything will be back in working order by midnight on Sunday the 15th of May.
Check out the full press release from Sony below and a video address from Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy Director of the company.
SAN DIEGO, May 14 , 2011 - Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced today that restoration of its game services will begin today. The phased restoration will include the return of nearly all of SOE’s portfolio of online games, the reinstatement of SOE’s game forums and websites, and added functionality to require players to reset their passwords.
Increased Security Measures
As the result of a criminal cyber-attack on the company’s network, SOE shut down its game services in order for the company to undertake an investigation and incorporate rigorous enhancements to the overall security of the network infrastructure. SOE worked with several outside respected security firms during the course of implementing significant security measures that strengthen safeguards against unauthorized activity and provide customers with greater protection of their personal information.
SOE made enhancements to overall data security as well, including updating and adding advanced security technologies, additional software monitoring, performing new penetration and vulnerability testing, and increased levels of encryption.
“Our main priority is the safety and security of our customers’ personal information,” said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. “We are making consumer data protection a full-time, company-wide commitment, and have applied enhanced security technologies so that our customers can feel protected and confident about playing our games.”
Hirai added, “We are committed to delivering secure and entertaining games for players of all ages and thank each of our players for their patience and support during this difficult time.”
SOE will also be offering its customers a “Welcome Back” program that includes special game content and services to all registered Station Account holders. As part of this program, players will receive 30 days of additional game time plus one day for each day SOE’s services were down.
For more information about the SOE network intrusion and restoration, please visit
http://www.soe.com/securityupdate