Suffering from interminable woes in 2011, Sony continues to soldier on. News has come via a translation of the Japanese PlayStation website that a firmware update will ‘soon’ be launching – firmware 3.61.
Sony Japan has confirmed that previous rumours of PSN being online in Japan were untrue and as previously announced, Sony will be following a phased roll-out of PSN restoration.
Analysing the information from the Japanese PlayStation website, it would appear that the first step in this phased roll-out will be to introduce firmware 3.61. This will mark a partial restoration of PSN services. Having installed the firmware update, users will be prompted to change their PSN passwords.
Beyond this initial firmware update and password reset phase, we can expect a full restoration of PSN service sometime in May. We are still waiting on news as to how PSP users will have to update their passwords. Sony has yet to lay out specific dates for this firmware update and PSN restoration scheme.
With the first phase of the PSN restoration it is planned to have the following services available:
• PlayStation Network sign-in
• Use of online games
• Account management
• Watching video content
• Toro Station (Japan)
• Ad-hoc Party for PSP
• PlayStation Home
• Trophy data
• Friends list
• Messaging
• Video chat
• Text chat
The PlayStation Store, item purchases, and downloading product codes will not be available during this first phase.
Sony Japan has also updated their FAQ regarding their gaming network’s security breach. Should one wish to delete their PSN registration information, they can contact customer services. Sony is still contemplating whether it is feasible to cover the costs of people who decide to have their credit cards reissued for safety – this would obviously be a massive undertaking with global implications. Sony will at a later date update PSN users on when and how they can redeem free PSN content and 30 day subscription offers.
Sony reiterated that PSN passwords were not stored unencrypted, and that they have not been approached by credit card info thieves trying to sell back the information.
PS3 firmware 3.61 coming ‘soon’ – PSN relaunch in May << share your views in the forums
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