PSN Alive In Japan, May Return To NA/EU Tomorrow

Sony says some PSN services will return this week, and it appears Japan is already back up and functioning.

According to various sources and reports, there have been plenty of Twitter and Facebook entries that claim the Japanese Network has returned, although gamers in North America and Europe have no such luck just yet. Apparently, U.S. users can expect the PSN to be back up tomorrow, which just so happens to be the normal update day...sadly, without the Store, that won't mean much. We won't be able to access the Store for some time yet, although we should be able to play online with the resuming of services this week; and "this week" may mean "really soon." Also, just as a reminder, you will receive a mandatory firmware update that requires you to change your PSN password. You may also want to change some other data, if you're still leery about the system's stability.

At any rate, we'll keep a close eye on the PSN's status 'round these parts. Feel free to let us know the instant you see service return.

Tags: psn, psn outage, playstation network, psn return

5/2/2011 9:51:31 AM Ben Dutka

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Comments (70 posts)

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Lord carlos
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:18:09 AM
Reply

I created my profile on my 60gig which bricked on me & i then got a slim where i input my old details and got my psn profile back,can i just continue as normal after the update or will i have to confrim through email???

Also i used a friends email account back in 2007 to create my psn profile as i didn't have an email of my own at the time,late to this internet thang i know!

2 up, 2 down

Lord carlos
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:20:04 AM

Also HURRAY!!

2 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:27:00 AM

I believe it's not about the original PS3 you started with, but the current system the account is active on.

If not, email should be quick and easy too.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:37:54 AM

I think you're correct Underdog. It will be the system that you are activated on, or your current verified email address.

the fact that it's the system you are activated on makes me hope that the passwords are hashed and that they are now (if they were not already) salting the password with the PS3's unique identifier. That would make the resulting passcode being hashed extremely long and therefore extremely difficult to match in an attack.

3 up, 0 down

Lord carlos
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:47:06 AM

Thanks guys

0 up, 0 down

DazeOfWar
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:45:42 AM

It says if you don't have the system you started your account on it will have to be through email verification.

"As an added layer of security, that password can only be changed on the same PS3 in which that account was activated, or through validated email confirmation, a critical step to help further protect customer data."

Last edited by DazeOfWar on 5/2/2011 11:46:19 AM

3 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:49:07 AM

Oh, by the way, for anyone interested in the technicalities. PSN passwords were never stored in plain text on PSN, they were hashed. Sony confirmed this at their big press conference. They don't describe how their hashing worked - no great surprise - but the key point is that the passwords were protected, not simply stored as text.

7 up, 1 down

Underdog15
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:35:26 PM

Thanks for the update, Highlander.

I mean, my gosh, I hate to say I told you so over the last few days, everyone. ;)

BOTDV!

1 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:38:39 PM

I use my same account on 2 different PS3's so it shouldn't be a prob.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 1:00:46 PM

Indeed underdog, indeed. I think what ticks me off the most is the number of supposed journalists on tech sites that spend nearly all of the outage crying from the rooftops that PSN was unprotected, that passwords were in plain text and that CC data was just laying out to be taken. When in fact PSN used multiple firewalls and precautions at the perimeter, passwords were stored as hashes, and not immediately recoverable or readable and CC details were on separate systems and encrypted. I've taken a lot of heat on other sites over this, and in the end, I hate to say I told you so as well, but we were correct. Of course the precautions were insufficient because the hack took place, but that doesn't mean that Sony were especially lax in their security, or that they did nothing to prevent attack or protect information.

Well, I don't know why I worry about it, and it's not going to change any time soon... But, this trend for news organizations to report the first bloody tweets and hints of news as fact, and to sensationalize and fear monger on the back of that... Well, that trend is really worrying, it appears to me to be part of mainstream reporting now, and that means that most people who watch/read the news are relying on faulty information. The consequences of that are frightening.

5 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 4:09:16 PM

Was there ever any doubt that the Highlander would be proven correct?

There can be only one.

/cheese

p.s. I think Daze is (unfortunately) right.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 5/2/2011 4:10:55 PM

0 up, 0 down

Dreno
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:18:34 AM
Reply

Ill be waiting on the psxe community to tell me when psn goes back up in NA.
So I can take the good 'ol ps3 to my parents house to steal their internet so I can update my firmware and change the neccessary info.

Glad tl hear that sony is doing everything they can to keep their word to the consumers about the psn going back.

Cheers to you sony.

*someones going on the christmas card list* haha

0 up, 0 down

main_event05
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:19:15 AM

you know you can put the update on a an SD Card or a flash drive and you can change your info from the playstation site.

2 up, 0 down

the P-O-B
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 2:12:34 PM

thats great , here is more mis information ..... (ITS ON IN JAPAN ) why is there blogs saying (STILL UNDER MAINT.) from people that live in japan...... maybe they only got it on in japan where the tidal wave took out everything ... what is NA stand for NORTH AFRICA?????? FROM NO INFO FROM SONY , to mis information .... from every where else !!!!!! l just wish they turn on the damn online gaming ( AND TAKE THERE TIME FIXING THE REST)

0 up, 5 down

bearbobby
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 3:33:52 PM

@The P-O-B

Man, I've been "reading" your posts for the last few days and wondering to myself are you purposely putting in extra effort to make your posts difficult to read? Not to mention cracks about tidal waves in Japan.

Is your world really just a tiny room with you in the middle? So you haven't been able to play a video game online for a couple weeks. Big whoop. People are starving and loosing their homes to natural disasters here in the US, in Japan, and around the world. Take a step back and realize you've got it better than so many people.

Maybe be grateful you're not in their situation, maybe show some compassion, understanding and patience. Oh, and maybe try to make your posts easier to read.

Sorry for the rant, but WTF?

5 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:27:30 AM
Reply

lol, love the picture choice

4 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:29:18 AM
Reply

Is it wrong to take an image of people dancing in the street to the news of Bin Laden's death and instead claim they are celebrating the return of PSN?

That's how I feel about it! Yay!!! Can finally play online with friends again!!

Content will still have to wait til the store is back online. Buying more songs for rock band and singstar along with little arcade games are more of a priority than online shooting.
Mind you, with gears 3 beta, I've hardly been affected by the outage so I can't really talk.

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:40:08 AM

Judging from the stadium seating and the color of the scarves being waved in the picture, it looks like a picture of fans cheering at a Queen's Park Rangers (or Glasgow Rangers) football - soccer to my US friends - match...

Gotta be happen that Obama got Osama though....

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:29:03 AM

Actually our US Navy Seals got him.

4 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:39:49 AM

You know it Jawknee!!

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:50:16 AM

Yes Jawknee, I know, joint operations took care of it, Obama issued the executive order as commander in chief. Hence the statement Obama got Osama. Commander in chief and all that jazz...

0 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:06:03 PM

Just sayin...if you want to be specific and name names, Navy Seals took the risk, they pulled the trigger, they get the credit.

2 up, 1 down

Jawknee
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:19:28 PM

But I see your point. Boy I want to shake the mans hand who pulled that trigger. It's a great day for the US and the world at large.

1 up, 1 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:27:36 PM

The only thing about Bin Laden is that it's kind of a double edged sword. You always wanted for him to be caught, but live capture brings a host of issues with it not least of which is defending against the attacks that would undoubtedly follow in an attempt to force his release. On the other hand a dead terrorist leader of a fanatical fundamentalist group instantly becomes a martyr to that group and those that support it. Martyrs are annoyingly difficult to deal with. Martyrdom can inspire new attacks also. We need to be on our guard.

2 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:36:52 PM

Indeed. I will be traveling overseas this summer. I am a bit worried now but I guess I can't live in fear or they would win. It's awesome. I just heard a clip of Bush speaking days after 9/11 saying he didn't care if we found him dead or alive and couldn't say when we would find him, couldn't say if it would be in a week or a year but that we will find him. And we did.

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:41:49 PM

Nope Obama got him, he rappelled into the place and strangled him to death then shot him in the head for good measure and will be unstoppable in the election, HAHAHA!!!

1 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 1:26:47 PM

I heard Obama smothered him to death by blanketing his face with his ears.

3 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 2:56:18 PM

Can a Secret Muslim kill a deranged Muslim?

1 up, 2 down

Underdog15
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 @ 8:42:54 AM

I dunno world, but remember his big news conference to announce it?

This is what he SHOULD have done:

http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkjsa0vvlq1qzu2tdo1_400.gif

0 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:34:16 AM
Reply

If we're going to be unable to access the Store for some time yet, I'm wondering whether that means that they are overhauling the entire transactional system and it's security? To be honest, I'd like to see all PSN transactions accompanied by a password challenge anyway. It might hurt some impulse sales, but it is a lot safer - assuming of course that the server side of things does decent hashing and encryption...

I have to admit though, I am of the opinion that in addition to all the usual precautions one would take, all PSN traffic except downloads, needs to be strongly encrypted. But, that might be a step too far for them to have taken in the time available.

0 up, 0 down

BorrowedTime
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:35:59 AM

I thought all PSN transactions were password challenged. Unless it's an actual setting that I changed, I've always been asked for my password before a purchase could be completed.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:51:01 AM

If you let your PS3 remember your password, you don't have to enter it every time.

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:46:46 PM

My ps3 remembers my password, but there is still an option to make it require your password whenever you make a purchase. I have mine set up that way.

You can't change it to not require it without putting in your password too. Once you've set it up to require it that is.

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 1:01:42 PM

Cool, it's been so long since I set it up, I don't even remember that setting. I'll have to double check tonight

0 up, 0 down

Eternal
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:39:40 AM
Reply

That's a good news hopefully us too

0 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:42:52 AM
Reply

Excellent if this indeed does happen.

I am so ready to see the Seasonal updates in GT5 and go play SOCOM 4 online.

1 up, 0 down

mk ultra
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:49:53 AM

Seasonal updates?

0 up, 0 down

maxpontiac
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:04:10 AM

Yes sir. GT5 has had weekly race updates for quite some time.

There should be 2 of them there when the PSN comes back up.

Plus, GT5 is due for a title update sometime at the end of Spring.

1 up, 0 down

mk ultra
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:48:19 AM
Reply

Great news, I only got two matches of MK in before the network went down. I wonder how long it will take to sync all the the new trophies ive got?

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:46:59 PM

another week

2 up, 0 down

duomaxwell007
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 10:57:10 AM
Reply

Well from what Ive just read theres an article stating that this is a rumor and ppl in the US with JP accounts scant log in.... so i asked someone who actually LIVES in japan (to see if that would make a difference) if he could log in (and he has a JP PS3 as well as a JP account) and he too says he cant log in.

0 up, 2 down

mk ultra
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:05:02 AM

They could be rolling it out slowly. I'm sure they wouldn't let everyone on at once.

1 up, 0 down

duomaxwell007
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:09:19 AM

if that were the case then the article should say something like "limited ppl have access to psn in japan" this article on the other hand makes it sound like EVERYONE in japan is enjoying PSN again.

0 up, 3 down

mk ultra
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:30:12 AM

the article just says there are reports that numerous twitter and fb accounts are claiming its back up. If that is true then it either is or alot of people are lying.

2 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:53:15 AM

And the nitpicking begins. should the article have named over the individual accounts that have been allowed back on?

As service is restored, firewalls will be activated to allow access. The firewalls may currently be set to prevent users outside the region from accessing servers inside the region. This would prevent their servers being overwhelmed by logon requests from every PS3 that's internet connected.

4 up, 0 down

duomaxwell007
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:36:12 PM

thats why I said even someone who LIVES in japan (i.e not a US resident with a JP PSN account) is also claiming he cant log in and still gets the maintenance message.. soo wanna explain that one?

0 up, 5 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 1:03:30 PM

Indeed, and as service is restored, initial access may be patchy, you can't just turn it all on at once. But I take your point.

0 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:02:01 AM
Reply

Way to go Sony! Missed you! Cannot wait to get back online. I thought you handled this debacle with class and a great deal of professionalism!

7 up, 2 down

karneli lll
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:50:45 AM

If you call class keeping quiet and hoping it all blows away then yes, Sony had some class. Seriously, Sony needs a shakeup. First their marketing now PR as well?!!!

0 up, 7 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:55:50 AM

What was Sony supposed to do, give you information it didn't have? They announced the attack pretty quickly considering. It took about three days for the full impact of the attack to be known - forensic data analysis takes time. I'm well aware that most people think that technology is magic and you can just snap your fingers and have a result immediately, but in the real world - where I live - you can't do that, and some things take time. You cannot communicate information you do not have.

10 up, 1 down

CrusaderForever
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:25:07 PM

I don't see it that way. It takes time to know everything. You cannot just through non-facts at the public. A lot of verifying had to be done. I felt they did everything right in the face of something very embarrassing. Total class on the PS+ bonus when we who didn't subscribe to PS+ don't even deserve it. I don't feel like Sony owes me anything.

Last edited by CrusaderForever on 5/2/2011 12:25:55 PM

7 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:43:35 PM

Anybody who says Sony was slow or that they took too long to report, quite simple, does NOT get it.

I've been saying this from day one, and ever since then, claim after claim has been proven false. (CC info stolen... false. Passwords easilly stolen.... false. Sony did the investigation... false.) Every reason given to say I'm wrong seems be proven false with time. Wow... Underdog and Highlander actually might be the kinds of people to only post with conviction if they feel they have the understanding to say so!!! Seriously... there are many discussions where I say nothing because I am not informed. And there are many more still where I follow up a statement with "I'm not sure" or "I could be wrong" or I simply ask a question.

Just saying. Win. Me.

BOTDV!

2 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:50:05 PM

What the hell is BOTDV? a new disease?

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 1:14:32 PM

Underdog, have you ever noticed how as the false claims are proven false, the argument tends to shift ground into areas not related to the actual topic? You know, once the password thing, and security thing and cc encryption thing are done, it shifts to not communicating enough, or not compensating fast enough, or not doing enough ahead of time (20-20 hindsight's wonderful), or how Sony was asking for it by taking hackers to court for breaking their security, or how Sony deserves it for the BMG rootkit fiasco. I'm waiting for someone to claim they deserve it for charging so much for their console, or better yet claiming that it's somehow related to the lithiu8m ion battery problem a few years back. There's always something, and these people have long (and selective) memories. How many times does Betamax get mentioned compared to Walkman? There's just a very weird anti-Sony undertone that pervades most of the tech/gaming world. Very weird.

4 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 1:29:13 PM

Oh I've noticed, Highlander. It has nothing to do with this example though. The most common thing people do when faced with facts is to defer and at all costs NEVER admit to being wrong. I've noticed.

And @World,
yes. it is sort of. BOTDV= bring on the down votes. lol. I'm anticipating getting downvoted in the wake of my gloating. but it's worth it.

Last edited by Underdog15 on 5/2/2011 1:29:40 PM

3 up, 0 down

karneli lll
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 4:48:40 PM

One reason why the false claims started is because no one was saying anything, Sony should have said something,anything really. The hardcore gamers understood but several casual gamers (like my friends and some family members), panicked during the first few days and traded/ sold their consoles. Keeping quiet almost always does more harm than good.

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 @ 8:47:15 AM

Yeah... people are driven by fear... even in free countries.

0 up, 0 down

Veitsknight
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:24:35 AM
Reply

YES!!! one more day! I can finally test socom online

1 up, 0 down

Dreno
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 11:47:22 AM
Reply

Thanks main-event

Ill have to give that a try.

0 up, 0 down

CoolBLKguy
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:24:27 PM
Reply

What does this mean for people who have multiple accounts in different regions? My US account is my main account but I have a JPN and a EU account too for downloading demos the US doesn't get or get later than the other regions.

0 up, 0 down

The Doom
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:42:48 PM
Reply

Are you sure those sources are right Ben? I'm not seeing any changes on the Japanese site.

0 up, 1 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:52:38 PM
Reply

I think all those folks celebrating in the streets only did it because they weren't on their PS3's. I'm sure they'd celebrate in the streets again when PSN comes back for everyone but they will probably be indisposed.

0 up, 0 down

kraygen
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 12:53:53 PM
Reply

Well congrats to those twittery facebookers who are saying they have access. That's definitely good news to hear. Hopefully we'll all be playing our ps3's tomorrow with gratitude because I'm kinda tired of listening to the whiners.

I'm hoping that tomorrow I can finally try out that I2 UGC beta and make some deadly levels that others can enjoy.

0 up, 0 down

WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 2:54:55 PM

yes, down with whiners. I thought I complained a lot, but jeez.

4 up, 0 down

sha4dowknight05
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 1:59:23 PM
Reply

Awesome hopefully we'll get PSN back tomorrow!!!!

0 up, 0 down

Gamer Girl Gemo
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 2:50:27 PM
Reply

This makes me wonder... If I have a Japan account on my PS3, will I be able to access the Japan PSN? Just a question that's been bothering me.

0 up, 0 down

Kingharris
Monday, May 02, 2011 @ 4:34:10 PM
Reply

It would take another half a year before I even considered 360. Sony do too much for us on PS3, to be fair; were spoilt..

1 up, 2 down

___________
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 @ 5:14:04 AM
Reply

apparently its not.
useless for me anyway, till they get the bloody store online!

1 up, 3 down

sha4dowknight05
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 @ 2:20:36 PM
Reply

Uh PSN is still not back up yet?

0 up, 0 down

Mavfan321
Tuesday, May 03, 2011 @ 5:49:30 PM
Reply

Whats the point of a month free of PS+ if the store is not up yet? Make no sense to me, regardless it's a nice gesture and all but seems to me that in hindsight considering you lose what you get it's just a way to entice people to keep the PS+. Which after dropping the ball on PSN safety it's odd to have that be the welcome back.

0 up, 0 down

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