The PlayStation network has been completely offline on all platforms for more than half a day to prevent online games, store purchases, game updates and more
The PlayStation network has been fully populated for 16 hours and counting while writing, first offline on February 8 at 1pm/4pm/4pm. Sony has not provided an explanation for the interruption, which affects PSN login and services affecting all platforms, including PS5, PS4, PS3, PS Vita and PC.
Sony’s only official comment on the matter was a tweet from the Ask PlayStation support account that read: “We know some users may currently have problems with PSN,” linking to the Web Services Status page, which is in Service interruptions are reported in the following reports:
- Account Management
- Games and socializing
- PlayStation Video
- PlayStation Store
- PlayStation Direct
Community notes on Ask PlayStation tweets state that it cannot capture the full scope of the blackout: “some” users are obviously every user. The Community Note also claims that this may be the result of a DDOS attack, citing Sony’s support for information sharing elsewhere on social media, but this explanation has not been confirmed. Fixed host comments about PlayStation Subreddit’s Megathread’s comments on this question state that without Sony’s full accounting, there are many users spreading “incorrect service information, rumors and thorough lies”.
At the time of writing, I can still access streaming services like Netflix and Hulu on PS4, but I’m logged into PSN and can’t access updates or other services. This question also highlights other PSN dependencies that I wouldn’t normally consider. Day 1 updates and DRM checks have additional difficulties when trying to play offline, even if you still buy physical media. User @graham_brn on Twitter demonstrates how the PS5 Pro’s separate disk drive uses the console for the first-time PSN connection, potentially locking you completely in a physical library if the drive is not rubbed or needs replacement.
Sony is understandable at present in crisis mode, with the weekend blackouts already falling, but the company’s lack of communication certainly didn’t help the panic, confusion and misinformation among PlayStation customers. We’ll learn more when Sony is working on solving this problem and ultimately provides an explanation, but my thoughts immediately turn to the 23-day PlayStation Cyber ​​Hacking and Disruptions in 2011. Hopefully this current crisis won’t be as clumsy as that legendary cybersecurity.
