After being offline for 2 days shy of a month, the PlayStation Network is beginning its relaunch. The PSN Relaunch comes with a pre-recorded video from Sony CEO, Hazuo Hirai in which he apologies for the outage and thanks you for being patient. You’ve all been patient right ?
The first of a multi-phase relaunch has begun. Currently PlayStation and PSP owners in the US are able to use some services, with other countries due to receive PSN Relaunch phase 1 over the next few days. Phase 1 of the PSN Relaunch will include:
- PlayStation and Qriocity sign-in
- Online gameplay (PS3 and PSP)
- Music Unlimited (PS3 and PC)
- 3rd party services – (Netflix, Hulu, Vudu + MLB tv)
- Friends list
- Trophy comparisons
- PlayStation Home
What’s not included in phase one..
- Sign up for new accounts
- PlayStation Store
To prevent future attacks, Sony have implemented a number of new security protections. They include Advanced Security Technology, Increased Levels of Encryption, Additional Firewalls, Early Warning Systems. While these vague and borderline comical explanations of increased securities at Sony, only time will tell if they are enough to stop future attacks.
When the PlayStation Network is back online in your region, you will be forced to download and install a new firmware for your PS3/PSP. You will also be forced to change your account password. Given that these were taken in the hack, it makes sense to force people to change their password, but its equally important for users to change it anywhere else those same credentials have been used.
Sony are offering users a welcome back package, details of which will be made public in the next few days. Hirai says that it will include content and services. The initial compensation package discussed was to include 1 month of free PlayStation Plus and some kind of game. Given the PSN downtime stretched from a week to a month, the ‘welcome back package’ will likely be more substantial in an effort to keep customers.
More info @ PlayStation
