The PlayStation Network (PSN) experienced a major outage lasting nearly 24 hours, impacting millions of gamers worldwide. The outage began on Friday night, affecting access to the PlayStation Store, online gaming, and other services. This is the longest outage the PlayStation 5 has experienced since its launch in 2020.
While the outage was significant, it was not the longest in PlayStation's history. In 2011, a data breach resulted in a month-long outage for all PlayStation Network subscribers. Thankfully, this time, the outage was attributed to an "operational issue" and resolved without any reported data breaches.
The outage caused significant disruption for gamers, particularly those with digital game copies. While some games could be launched offline, they were subject to a 15-minute time limit due to license verification issues. The outage also impacted live events and limited-time content in various games.
As an apology for the inconvenience, PlayStation has gifted all PlayStation Plus members five extra days of service. The timing of the outage is particularly interesting given reports of an upcoming State of Play event, which could potentially reveal the release date for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater.
This incident highlights the growing reliance on online services for gaming and the potential impact of outages on millions of users. As gaming continues to evolve, ensuring stable and reliable online infrastructure will be crucial for the industry's future.