Sony reveals outage compensation
May 17, 2011 - 10:08AM
Access to the online PlayStation Network has now been restored for Australian PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable owners, and Sony has announced its package of gifts to help compensate gamers for the lengthy outage.
The outage followed an attack on Sony's data centre located in San Diego California on April 20. Sony says it was forced to shut down its network in order to complete an investigation into the attack and improve the security of the network infrastructure.
In the attack the user data of 77 million PlayStation customers was obtained by the hackers, including 1.5 million Australian accounts.
The Welcome Back program for Australians lets all existing PlayStation Network members choose two PS3 games. The games available for selection are:
· LittleBigPlanet
· Infamous
· Wipeout HD/Fury
· Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty
· Dead Nation.
Those with PSP accounts are also eligible to download two PSP games. The games available are:
· LittleBigPlanet PSP
· ModNation PSP
· Pursuit Force
· Killzone Liberation.
All existing PlayStation Network members also receive 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership, while existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will be given 60 days free subscription.
Existing Music Unlimited subscribers will be given 30 days free subscription.
Sony says it is also working on an offer for PlayStation Home.
The content will be available for download via the PlayStation Store, which is not yet back online. Sony says “we are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible”.
Sony also says it will be publishing new content to the PlayStation Store multiple times per week as soon as "commerce functionality is restored."
Sony has also offered free identity theft protection for North Americans affected by the malicious attack on PlayStation Network, but is yet to announce any details of a similar program for Australians.
In other PlayStation Network news, game developer Sucker Punch is evaluating extending the inFAMOUS 2 beta program, as well as expanding the scope of the beta content.
SOCOM developer Zipper will also announce details soon on new activities to get SOCOM 4 fans playing the shooter online again, while Treyarch says Call of Duty: Black Ops players will get another extra Double XP event.
Sony says it has worked closely with several external security firms to help implement "new security measures that strengthen safeguards against unauthorised activity, and provide consumers with greater protection of their personal information".
"The company has made considerable enhancements to the data security, including updating and adding advanced security technologies, additional software monitoring and penetration and vulnerability testing, and increased levels of encryption and additional firewalls."
Sony also says it has added an "early-warning system" for unusual activity patterns that could signal an attempt to compromise the network.
Sony expects to have all its online services in all countries fully restored by the end of May.