PSN Is Starting To Come Back Online, PS3 3.61 Firmware Available Now, Here’s What You Need To Know [Official Announcement]

If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security. If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this email, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password you can sign-in to your account using your new password.

The update coincides with news from Sony's Kazuo Horai that the company is beginning to to switch its PSN and Qriocity services back on across the globe, with the US and Europe being the first to have their respective switches flipped.

Sony's Seybold laid out plans for the return of PSN in a blog post, complete with a map to show just which states will see access restored.

Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated and change your password, both of which are required to get online.

Sony will no-doubt be sat with fingers and toes crossed that their servers can withstand the onslaught of connections they will no doubt see, even with the staggered restoration taking place.

What are the odds on PSN going back down within a week?

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google and Apple.

Sony today pushed out a new software update for its PS3 console in preparation for the return of its PlayStation Network service.

The update brings the PS3’s software up to version 3.61 and requires users to change their PSN password as part of the new security put in place since Sony’s servers were attacked last month.

If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security. If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this email, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password you can sign-in to your account using your new password.

The update coincides with news from Sony’s Kazuo Horai that the company is beginning to to switch its PSN and Qriocity services back on across the globe, with the US and Europe being the first to have their respective switches flipped.

Sony’s Seybold laid out plans for the return of PSN in a blog post, complete with a map to show just which states will see access restored.

Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated and change your password, both of which are required to get online.

Sony will no-doubt be sat with fingers and toes crossed that their servers can withstand the onslaught of connections they will no doubt see, even with the staggered restoration taking place.

What are the odds on PSN going back down within a week?

You can follow us on Twitter or join our Facebook fanpage to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google and Apple.