Skip to main content

Sony: No idea when PlayStation Network can be restored

PlayStation Network logo
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The sound of gnashing teeth you hear may be caused by the molars of disgruntled Sony gamers: what was first an annoying outage of Sony’s PlayStation Network and Qriocity media service has swollen into an extended crisis for the company. And as the outage nears its one-week mark, Sony has come forward to say it has no idea when it will be able to bring PlayStation Network back online.

“I know you are waiting for additional information on when PlayStation Network and Qriocity services will be online,” wrote Sony’s senior director for communications Patrick Seybold in the company’s PlayStation blog. “Unfortunately, I don’t have an update or timeframe to share at this point in time.”

The statement that the PlayStation’s network outage would be indefinite follows confirmation that the outage was caused by an “external intrusion.” Some speculation has centered on the online hacktivist group Anonymous, although there has been no hard confirmation or claim of responsibility. The outage followed on the heels of Sony launching legal action against PlayStation 2 and iPhone hacker George “GeoHotz” Hotz, who developed a method to jailbreak the PlayStation 3 console so it could run homebrew software and alternative operating systems—a capability Sony itself took away from the PS3 over a year ago. The confrontation between Sony and Hotz has been very public in social media and Hotz’ blog.

PlayStation Network boasts more than 75 million members, enabling users to play against each other and chat; Sony’s recently-launched Qriocity service enables users to stream music to a range of Sony devices, including PSPs, Bravia Internet-enabled TVs, and selected Blu-ray players.

Sony has said it is working to rebuild the PlayStation Network, not just reactivate it. The company has also indicating it is working to determine if any account holders’ personal information may have been compromised.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Does PlayStation 5 have a web browser?
Playstation 5 with a controller.

We live in an era where basically every device in our homes can connect to the internet in some way, and most of them can provide in-depth searching through apps and web browsers. The previous generation of consoles was included in this modern experience, and even the Xbox Series X features full-fledged web browsing – but for those who have purchased a PlayStation 5, the situation is a little bit more complicated.
Does the PS5 have a web browser?
The PS5 does not have a traditional web browser in the way that the PS4 did, meaning users can't quickly pull up websites and surf the net with ease. This is no doubt a frustrating omission for those used to accessing the web from their previous consoles, and it's honestly a bit strange that Sony chose to leave out such a useful feature. However, while you may not be able to pull up a browser from your main menu, there is technically a workaround to gain access to an extremely limited web browser by finagling with the Twitter linking function in your settings, but it's an awful lot of trouble to go through for something that doesn't really function in a way that users can actually benefit from.

Unfortunately, Sony doesn't seem to want to add an official web browser app to the PS5, as the company has expressed on various occasions that it doesn't feel that such functionality is important for gaming consoles. So, if you're in the PlayStation ecosystem, it appears that your web browsing will have to continue exclusively on your old PS4. It's a bummer, but hey, maybe you could try getting one of those refrigerators with web functionality.

Read more
PlayStation 5 Slim: All rumors and speculation
A PS5 stands on a table.

It's at around this point in a console's life cycle that companies like to release a new, slim model to reinvigorate sales, cut costs, and experiment with a new design. Sony has been trimming down its home consoles since the PS2, with each home console getting a slimmer, sometimes cheaper replacement a few years after launch. We're closing in on the PlayStation 5's third birthday and rumors abound about both a PS5 Pro and a PS5 Slim model, and yet Sony's remained tight-lipped about any iterations on the base unit. Still, some of these rumors and potential leaks may hold some weight and are fun to follow regardless to see how accurate they end up being.
Will there be a PS5 Slim? Here's what we know
Before getting into the rumors and leaks, know that until Sony itself confirms the existence of a PS5 Slim, everything that follows is speculative and should be taken as such.

The first rumors of a new PS5 model centered around a diskless version that could be paired with a detachable disk drive you could buy separately in another step away from physical media. This was speculated to be coming out sometime in fall 2023, but has been rolled into the idea of the PS5 Slim. This potentially imminent release date also lines up with statements Microsoft made about a new PS5 Slim releasing this year for $400 during the Federal Trace Commission (FTC) hearing.

Read more
Now’s a great time to buy an extra PlayStation 5 controller
Geoff Keighley holding DualSense.

PlayStation 5 owners who still only have one controller in their arsenal may want to finally purchase another one because the Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller is currently on sale from Best Buy. From its original price of $70, it's down to just $50 for $20 in savings. We're not sure how long this offer will last though, so if you've been waiting for a chance to get the controller for cheaper than usual, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase as soon as possible.

Why you should buy the Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller
While our roundup of the best PS5 games is mostly made up of story-driven adventures and first-person shooters where you're either going solo or playing with your friends online, there are also several titles that you can maximize with a second player on your couch. Examples of the best multiplayer games on the PS5 with couch co-op or versus modes include It Takes Two, Overcooked, Street Fighter 6, and Mortal Kombat 11 -- all of which are good enough reasons to buy an extra Sony PlayStation 5 DualSense wireless controller. If you only play games by yourself, you're still going to want a second controller because there may be times when your controller's charge suddenly runs our when you're in the middle of a boss fight.

Read more