Sony's second console, the PlayStation 2, had a limited number of online features in select games via its online network. It required a Network Adaptor, which was available as an add-on for original models, and integrated into the hardware on slimline models. However, Sony provided no unified online service for the system, so support for network features was specific to each game and there was no interoperability of cross-game presence.
In March 2006, Sony announced the online network for its upcoming PlayStation 3 system at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing meeting in Tokyo, Japan,[3] tentatively named "PlayStation Network Platform". Sony also stated that the service would always be connected,[4] free,[5] and include multiplayer support.[6] The full list of features available at launch was announced at their TGS 2006 press conference. When the network launched, the registration interface could only be accessed through the PS3 or PSP system interfaces.[7] This has been changed since to allow users to sign up from the PlayStation Network website.
At the Tokyo Game Show on September 21, 2006, Sony announced that users would be able to download some PlayStation and PSP titles from the PlayStation Network for about US$5–15, starting with those with the smallest game data.[8]
On May 8, 2007 Sony Computer Entertainment announced PlayStation Network Cards,[9] a form of electronic moneythat can be used with the Store. PlayStation Network Tickets, available in units of 1,000, 3,000, 5,000, and 10,000 yen, can be purchased at convenience stores throughout Japan.[10] Each ticket contains a 12 characteralphanumeric code which can be input on the PlayStation Network to place credits in the virtual wallet.[11] The tickets are available through electronic kiosks at 26,000 convenience stores, including Lawsons,Family Mart, Daily Yamazaki, Ministop andSunkus.[12] They are also available at 26,000post office ATMs, although registration at a special mobile website is required first.[12]
A similar system based around cards rather than tickets was introduced in South Korea,Hong Kong and Taiwan in Mid 2007,[13] in North America in early 2008,[14] in Malaysia in June 2009 (in conjunction with the launch of the Malaysian PlayStation Store), and in the UK and Eurozone in October 2009.
On June 29, 2010, Sony launched a premium subscription service on top of the free PSN service. Known as PlayStation Plus, the system provides access to exclusive content, as well as discounts on games, free games, and other free content such as themes for the PlayStation 3.
On September 15, 2011, Sony changed the PlayStation Network's license agreement to legally bar users from filing lawsuits and joining class action lawsuits.[15][16][17]
2011 security breach and outage
The PlayStation Network had an outagewhich began on April 20, 2011 and affected 77 million registered accounts,[18] is the longest amount of time the PSN has been offline since its inception in 2006.[19] Sony acknowledged that the outage prevented users from having the "ability to enjoy the services provided by PlayStation Network and Qriocity including online gaming and online access to music, movies, sports and TV shows", making it temporarily unavailable.[20]
While remaining offline, the PlayStation 3 was unable to play certain Capcom titles that were downloaded from the PlayStation Store.[21]Streaming video providers Hulu, Vudu andNetflix were noted to display the same maintenance message and may have been inaccessible for a time, however many users were still able to access the services.[22]
Sony reported on April 26, 2011 that user data had been obtained by the same hack that resulted in the downtime. This included names, addresses, email addresses, birthdays, PlayStation Network passwords and logins. It was also possible that profile data, including purchase histories, billing addresses and PlayStation Network password security answers may have been obtained. Sony proceeded to give step-by-step guidelines on how US users could obtain a credit report, place a fraud alert, and freezetheir credit file through Equifax, Experian andTransUnion in an effort to prevent identity theft.[23][24]
On May 1, Sony issued a press release and their sincerest apologies stating that the PlayStation Network would shortly begin a "phased restoration", starting with gaming, music and video services.[25] Sony also announced "a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty".[26] On May 5, Sony announced that they would be offering all PlayStation Network and Qriocity account holders in the United States one free year of AllClear IDPlus, an identity theft protection program powered by Debix.[27]
On May 14, 2011, Sony began regionally restoring the PlayStation Network and released a mandatory security firmware update that required users to update their passwords.[28]
In June 2011, Sony launched a "Welcome Back" program following the outage, allowing all PSN subscribers who joined prior to April 20 to download two free PlayStation 3 titles and two free PlayStation portable games. Users also received 30 free days of PlayStation Plus, while users who were already subscribed before the outage got 60 free days.[29]
In January 2013, the U.K. data protection watchdog (Information Commissioner's Office) fined Sony for the April 2011 breach. The fine totaled close to $400,000. Sony Computer Entertainment Europe initially appealed against the ruling but later abandoned their appeal stating that fighting the judgement would risk exposing sensitive security data.[30]
Services
User information
Trophies
PlayStation Store
PlayStation Plus
PlayStation Blog
PlayStation Home
Netflix
FacebookEdit
On November 18, 2009, Sony released PS3 system update 3.10 which incorporatesFacebook into the PS3. With the update, users have the option to automatically update their Facebook News Feeds with Trophy and PlayStation Store activity. The update also allows developers to set specific criteria in their titles to publish additional game information to the user's Facebook News Feed.[86]
What's NewEdit
What's New was released on September 1, 2009, with PlayStation 3 system software 3.00. The feature was to replace the existing [Information Board], which displayed news from the PlayStation website associated with the user's region. The concept was developed further into a major PlayStation Network feature, with the [Status Indicator] featuring some of What's New (currently in North America, Japan and Brazil only).
The system displays the What's New screen by default instead of the [Games] menu (or [Video] menu, if a movie was inserted) when starting up. What's New automatically animates even without opening the application, just by hovering over it. The application has four sections: "Our Pick", "Recently Played", and new content available in PlayStation Store. There are four kinds of content the What's New screen displays and links to,[87] on the sections. "Recently Played" displays the user's recently played games and online services only, whereas, the other sections can contain website links, links to play videos, and access to selected sections of the PlayStation Store.
The PlayStation Store icons in the [Game] and [Video] section similarly to the What's New screen, except that they only display and link to games and the Video Store in the PlayStation Store, respectively.
Life with PlayStationEdit
Life with PlayStation was released on September 18, 2008[88] to succeedFolding@home. Life with PlayStation usesvirtual globe data to display news and information by city. Along with the Folding@home functionality that allows consoles to simulate molecular processes, the application also provides the user with access to four other information "channels", the first of which being the Live Channelwhich offers news headlines and weather. Information is provided by Google News, The Weather Channel, the University of Wisconsin–Madison Space Science and Engineering Center, among other sources.[89]The second channel is the World Heritagechannel which offers historical information about historical sites. The third channel is the United Village channel. United Village is a project designed to share information about communities and cultures worldwide.[90] A later update allowed video and photo viewing in the application.[88] The fourth channel was the USA exclusive PlayStation Network Game Trailers Channel for direct streaming of game trailers.
As of PlayStation 3 system software update version 4.30 on October 24, 2012, Life With PlayStation has ended.
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