Sony Online Entertainment back online

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 15 May, 2011

Sony MMOs begin restoration.

Sony Online Entertainment is back online, the MMO company has announced.

Games such as DC Universe Online, EverQuest and Free Realms should now be playable again.

"We are pleased to be back online and deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused by the recent data breach and subsequent outage," SOE said in a statement.

"To thank you all for your patience and understanding, we have prepared a Welcome Back Program that includes complimentary identity theft protection, free game time and special in-game items and events.

"Reminder: As an added security measure, we require a password reset for your Station Account - we recommend you do this immediately."

The compensation packages have been beefed for each SOE game fittingly, and now encompass in-game items, currency and Station Cash - as well as free game time (30 days free plus one extra for each day the SOE game has been offline).

SOE admitted on 2nd May that personal details from 24.6 million accounts had been compromised as the San Diego MMO maker suffered a security breach similar to the one that afflicted the PlayStation Network.

Sony tonight began the restoration of the PlayStation Network with the release of new firmware.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (15) Latest comment 1 year ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • TheHaacon #1 1 year ago

    Great :)

  • TearYouAsunder #2 1 year ago

    \o/

  • unacomn #3 1 year ago

    Yarrrr!

  • Glasofruix #4 1 year ago

    Still down, here in Belgium :(

  • dazdgb1 #5 1 year ago

    this is drivin me nuts i get the firmwear update download it it installs fine so i go to change my passwords but no no wont let me do it still say the same old shit still sayin its down for maintenance ive just about had enought of playstations incompitant and unprofessional way they have dealt with the whole issue think its time to trade this p3 in take the hit and get the more reliable xbox and go on live they dont seem to have these problems sorry about my little rant but enough is enough

  • makeamazing #6 1 year ago

    The are letting people download the patch now, because otherwise if they switched on all of the servers the servers would probably go down due to everyone trying to download the patch and change passwords at the same time. Its common sense really, so stop the crying.

  • dazdgb1 #7 1 year ago

    facts are facts makeamazing they have handled this with complete imcompitance maybe you with your obvious inside knowledge should take over but if i wish to ( cry) as you put it i will i have the right to an opinion as anybody else and is valid as anybody elses maybe you should remember this before making stupid comments

  • Farzlepot #8 1 year ago

    I feel the need to point out to people with reading difficulties that this news article has nothing to do with the PlayStation 3, but rather the MMO arm of Sony, Sony Online Entertainment.

  • makeamazing #9 1 year ago

    I'm not defnding them for the way they left their servers out of date, or for their lack of security, but I also hold those idiots who hack it responsible also.

    maybe you with your obvious inside knowledge should

    It's called common sense... perhaps you should use that mushy thing in your head called a brain... millions of consoles are rushing to log on at around the same time, trying to download a patch and also change email... IT systems arn't built for all those additional millions of consoles that would be trying to log in at the same time.

    but if i wish to ( cry) as you put it i will i have the right to an opinion as anybody else and is valid as anybody elses maybe you should remember this before making stupid comments

    I would have probably taken your comments with more acceptance if you hadnt used the baby "I'm going to get an Xbox" crap cause i cannot wait a few more hours/days to get online.
    Edited by makeamazing at 15/05/11 @ 12:41

  • Hypacharry #10 1 year ago

    Apparently every game you've ever bought and regged with SOE has been given 45 days of free time whether you had a current sub or not. You have until the end of August to "claim" it by logging in to start the 45 days.

    For EQ, EQ2 or maybe even SWO fans etc it's probably worth another look sometime. For everyone that bought Vanguard, I share your pain :p
    Edited by Hypacharry at 15/05/11 @ 12:46

  • dazdgb1 #11 1 year ago

    well makeamazing lets hope your right and hope its more about hours rather than days but i surpose if it gives us a better safer gaming experience then it can only be good understand my little rant lol is only born out of pure frustration

  • DFawkes #12 1 year ago

    Thanks for that heads-up Hypacharry, I've always wanted to give Star Wars Galaxies a go but I'd already had a trial years ago. Now I've got 45 days to play around :)

    Glad to see FreeRealms back up too, as well as most other SOE games, as well as some lovely free stuff in-game.
    Edited by DFawkes at 15/05/11 @ 13:49

  • addugg #13 1 year ago

    Sony Fools and Horses!

  • Vistrix #14 1 year ago

    Im gonna give Planetside and SWG another go!

  • gnnuy__678 #15 1 year ago

    Anyone can tell me where PSN is on?