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PlayStation Network Shut Down “Indefinitely,” but Calm Down

Sony has shut down their free online service, the PlayStation Network, indefinitely. In this case, thankfully, “indefinitely” doesn’t mean forever, it simply means indefinitely. While dealing with the recent outage, Sony discovered that the “external intrusion” that compromised the PSN could have compromised secure user information as well, so they shut it down and are currently “rebuilding” the service to ensure the PSN’s integrity.

Update: Sony has explained the outage in an unprecedented level of detail, described at the link: Basically, the personal, login, and possibly credit card information of PSN’s 69 million accountholders are at risk.

The outage came at a particularly inopportune time, as a certain mega-release prepared to capture all of our free time–and yes, if the service is not back up by tomorrow, the PSN will have officially been down for a week–but worse things have happened, and if Sony determines that user information was protected during the intrusion and remained safe, then the worst thing to come out of this fiasco is all of the fuel thrown onto fanboy fires.

Yes, the network that is generally viewed as inferior to Xbox Live went down a week ago and hasn’t yet resurfaced, but like I said, worse things have happened: Though the PSN is down, people can still access certain services through their PS3s just fine, such as Netflix, and they can still play all of their games offline, whereas, for instance, Microsoft suffered from a much more terrible ailment once upon a time that rendered the entirety of their console useless, rather than just the online service. As for the other console, well, that basically doesn’t have an online service to begin with. Or games.

So, the point? If you’re one of those people freaking out and damning Sony’s name to different types of hell, it could be a lot worse. Should you be thrilled you can’t play your favorite PlayStation games with your friend’s list? Course not, but you can still play most of your games and you can still access precious, precious Netflix, so hey, it could be a lot worse.

Sony didn’t get where it is today by being–as a wise old artificial soul once said about another artificial soul–the dumbest morons science could create, and they know they have a real PR disaster on their hands. If they didn’t genuinely care about their gamers on some level, they wouldn’t be in the business of trying to keep said gamers happy, so you’d better believe them when they say they’re working around the clock to slap a Band-Aid on this PSN boo boo and hire a handful of moms to kiss and make it better. I also wouldn’t be surprised if they offered something free to PSN users to compensate for the outage.

So, sit tight, play your PC version of Portal 2 that came with your PS3 version, and maybe Sony will offer everyone a free month or two of PlayStation Plus as an apology when the service goes live again.

(via The Wall Street Journal)

  • Ellenaim83

    Actually Netflix doesn’t work, it gives an error that “successful playstation network sign-in is required for use of Netflix”

  • http://profiles.google.com/joggino23 Joe yearsley

    apparently you ca just continue past that according to a load of my friends

  • Uhohh

    only if you’ve already sync’d the two sign-ins

  • Darkwing

    It only works for some people. I can’t get past it either like the lucky ones.

  • ZeusTx

    Netflix DOES work…. Not sure what your doing but it works just fine for all the people I know in the PS3 world

  • Email

    It works for everyone. Just keep cancelling the sign-in prompt. Netflix has its own servers.

  • Email

    Actually, scratch that. You have to fail the sign-in twice. If you cancel, it just keeps asking.

  • Anonymous

    i just fell like crying….LOST without my ps3 and black ops so boring………its just not the same

  • Scottieevil

    The Portal 2 “freebie” doesn’t work unless it can be verified against PSN. So fix that advice, or end up looking foolish

  • Tamaratracey

    U have 2 just keep hitting back and sign in about 10 times and it will allowing you 2 enter Netflix.

  • Tamaratracey

    U have 2 just keep hitting back and sign in about 10 times and it will allowing you 2 enter Netflix.

  • Lcantu13

    Your article clearly denotes that you are a Sony fanboy.

  • Lcantu13

    Your article clearly denotes that you are a Sony fanboy.

  • Anonymous

    they reackon ps3 network back tomorow is that true??hope to god it is’ getting witdrawel sympthoms here…:)

  • Anonymous

    they reackon ps3 network back tomorow is that true??hope to god it is’ getting witdrawel sympthoms here…:)

  • http://twitter.com/mrrix32 Martin Rix

    Don’t you need to sign in to Steam through the PSN to get the free PC Portal 2?
    (Not a PS3 owner, just heard a friend complaining on Twitter)

  • Urmom

    xbox sucks

  • DaDink

    Just keep trying and hitting cancel when you can’t sign in – eventually the error screen goes away and you can use Netflix.

  • Teddyj7

    xbox260 ftw

  • Teddyj7

    360 rather

  • RaptorJeebus

    Play another game such as inFamous or the bomb Uncharted series. PS3 isn’t just about Black Ops ya know. There are a bunch of awesome titles out there that don’t require the PSN.

  • Hamy
  • http://www.facebook.com/sornptar JBee Keller

    You have to try a little harder than that. Netflix does work, after you exit out of the errors.

  • http://www.facebook.com/sornptar JBee Keller

    You can pay for Xbox live (which I do) or you can get PSN for free (which I also do). Where did all the hatred for one system or the other originate? It’s retarded. I assume the console manufactures started this trend to seal in advocates of their company by means of free human commercialization. Realize all systems have awesome games, and have had hardware, software and network issues. Reeeeetarded,

  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar Rob

    “the dumbest morons science could create”

    I see you have been playing Portal 2.

  • Mr.Dragum

    dam ps3 haters,need to get a life.this should have happen to xbox which sucks.2 ps3 an cant do anything with them.any games out that would be good off line,to keep me going until psn is up

  • Senor Chang

    How I know you’re a Sony Fanboy:

    You actually are trying to spin a week-long network outage into something ‘not so bad’ by referencing the Red Rings of Death… a problem that hasn’t been an issue for at least 2 years.

    Above all that: Hardware issues are hardware issues. Network issues are network issues. Your lame fanboyism is like an Mazda RX8 owner making apologies for bad gas mileage by pointing out how Ford Pintos could explode if you hit them just right. Senseless.

  • Christine

    Fingers crossed its back soon!

  • Jeff Higgins

    I’m going to turn on Xbox Live and leave it on all day, just for you :)

  • Eg2323

    i want to return my ps3 i want my money back i bought it to play on line

  • Matthew_lockamy

    People PS3 has gotten hacked, it really stuiped talking smash over systems like really. Anything hackable even xbox anything in this world is hackable. The only thing you can do is just relax and just wait give them some time to get this figuer rushing them isn’t solving anything.

  • Ravko

    I just want to continue with tiger woods masters, can’t do anything until I can download a new course, that was a stupid idea to make it so that the only way you can advance is buying the next course…

  • ZeroCool

    You are all pathetic if you can live a week without your online gaming. Go outside and get some exercise you lazy bastard. Tired of all the complaining.

  • ~*aCiDiC_FaTaLiTy*~

    How I know you are an Xbox Lamewad:

    First off, you have a Mexican title with a Chinese name. Who does that????
    Second, you act like Xbox hasn’t had its fair share of problem, network AND hardware. Remember a couple of years ago when Xbox Live went down the day before Christmas and was down for 11 full days and you could not play the games you got as presents from Santa????

    There is no need for all the system bashing! Everyone on here is obviously upset and waiting fir the return of the network! The system you like more is a personal preference! I have both, I play both, I like both.

    So, my suggestion for all is to quit your freaking whining, it will come back up eventually! The systems are not fail proof, but Sony has to try and be one step faster than the hackers. The Titanic was deemed unsinkable and look where it is now, at the bottom of the ocean, it sank on its very first voyage!

    For all the haters, shut up, both systems have their pros and cons!

    PSN, we wait for your return! ~*aCiDiC_FaTaLiTy*~

  • Rachelle33

    I can get into Netfix que but when I try to play anything it only loads 25% and switches back to screen saying Network is down. I’ve tried many movies over and over with same results sadly. So, we don’t all have Netflix!

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Jordan-Page/100001835565100 Jordan Page

    PSN users I know its frustrating everytime we turn the PS3 on it says we cannot log in but we just have to let PSN do its course. I sure as hell hate it and i’m not one to get on very often due to school. We’ve just got to bite our cheek and let them fix this problem. I want to be online as well as many others do!!! It’s frustrating at most. We just got to find alternatives to entertainment. Don’t hate Sony… In entirity its not there fault.

    Add me on PSN when it gets back online. :) PSN- KILLFRENZIE i’ll be happy to play with any of you :)

  • Dswb305

    Yea I find it amazing how people are flipping out over something THEY DON’T PAY FOR.

    Go find something else to get into, like working out, read a book, study extra for a class or something. Your life shouldn’t revolve around video games.

  • tv7

    you have the worst writing and grammatical abilities… but good point

  • guest

    yes it does work you half to sign in like u usually do and wait until the error sign comes up and hit o to go back and it will continue to go to netflix.. I have been using netflix since the shut down first started and alot of people dont get what you half to do..

  • Tbrown

    hey let me hack it like i did the network and see if it works

  • XNXIXCXOXLXEX

    for one he does not have a Mexican name a Mexican name does not have Chang that is Chinese or Japanese. but other than that you are right. i do not see the reason for hating on the xbox or the ps3. i have a ps3 and i do not like the new xboxs for one simple reason i am not going to pay for something that the ps3 gives for free. xbox has many problems to. they can mess tv’s up, and they over heat after so long. but the original xbox is the best one. so i never bought the 360. but i am a fan of xbox just not xbox live.

  • XNXIXCXOXLXEX

    THEY ARE GOING THROUGH OUT THE WHOLE NETWORK AGAIN. THEY ARE REDOING IT. EVERYONES INFORMATION HAS BEEN STOLEN. THEY SAID THAT EVERYONES PERSONAL INFORMATION. THEY HAVE EVEN TOLD US WHEN THEY DO GO BACK ONLINE FOR ALL OF US TO CHANGE OUR PASSWORDS. SO IF YOU STILL WANT YOUR MONEY BACK WHEN ALL THEY ARE DOING TO PROTECT YOUR ACCOUNT YOU SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A PS3.

  • XNXIXCXOXLXEX

    WELL THEN IF YOU WAS TO GIVE THEM YOUR ADDRESS I BET ALOT OF THEM WOULD COME TO YOUR HOUSE AND KICK YOUR ASS FOR CALLING THEM LAZY BASTARDS. JUST BECAUSE THEY LIKE TO PLAY DOES NOT MEAN SHIT. YOU MUST NOT PLAY GAMES IF YOU DID YOU WOULD KNOW.

  • XNXIXCXOXLXEX

    PLUS SOME DO PAY FOR NETFLIX YOU STUPID ASS AND THEY CAN’T GET ON WITHOUT THE PSN. SO SHUT THE HELL UP AND MIND WHAT YOU KNOW.

  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar Rob
  • http://twitter.com/Gauldar Rob
  • Akuma

    shut up bi tch my life can evolve around games if i want them too punk

  • Dsadjoas9

    PC gaming for the win. You would have to hax the entire internets to stop people from PC Gaming.

  • Giin

    wow u geeks go out for once and get some sun loma you people are so sad boooo whooooo netflix doesnt work oh no i cant play online cry u pimple face losers

  • Ginn

    oh yeah cross ur fingers theres nothing more important than ps3 lol u loser get a life homo

  • ifuckedeg2323mom

    yes return it geek i want to reuturn my ps3 i can play online cry u cocksucker booooo whoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

  • ifuckedeg2323mom

    you felt the same way when ur blow up doll deflated

  • PSN noitall

    actually PSN isnt free it costs $10 extra on ur internet bill

  • PSN noitall

    ive been playin zombies on ps3 since the stuff went out its not tht bad… i just hate how i cant talk to my best friend tht i havent seen in a while tht lives in FRANCE!!! But anyways ppl dont need to be picking sides of game consoles just bc the network is down just get over it itll be back on soon…

  • Stephieb20

    For those of you mocking these gamers or gamers at all, are stupid. You call these people lazy and tell them to get a life, yet u r sitting here talking shit like you have nothing better to do. Everyone is different and no matter what you say, you can’t change that. If these people use this game system then they have a right to vent. If something goes wrong with your car or your phone, you would bitch too. So if it doesn’t involve you, then mind your own fucking business. And by the way, I’m not some pimple faced geek. I am a mother of a seven year old, college student, and CNA. So a lot of these gamers are more intelligent to you. These post are for users of these products. Why even waste your time and comment when you could be doing your homework or going to work?

  • Nash-scooby

    I just got mk9 when it went out but its still fun cant wait for it to come back online and i can still go on youtube and that stuff

  • Anonymous

    its the only game i really play + it just kicks ass online

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001193559446 Nathan Hamman

    it still works you just get the error message a few times then you can watch it

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001193559446 Nathan Hamman

    it still works you just get the error message a few times then you can watch it


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