Monday evening was not too great for PlayStation fans as Sony’s PlayStation Network, or PSN, had a global outage that rendered millions of gamers unable to play their favorite online games, apps, and features. Every platform, from the PlayStation 5 to older consoles like the PlayStation 3 and the PS Vita, which is connected with the PSN, faced a global disruption. Whether you were preparing for the ultimate multiplayer battle or just looking forward to relaxing with a new game from the PlayStation Store, chances are you hit a wall. Here’s a detailed explanation of the issues, the ongoing efforts to resolve them, and the strategies employed by players to cope.
What Happened?
The outage, which apparently began around 2:21 PM ET on Monday, quickly blew up into a full-blown global issue, knocking all services linked to the PlayStation Network out of action. Features on Sony’s Official Service Status Page pointed out that every aspect of the network suffered anomalies, which extend as far as account management and gaming, social features, PlayStation Video, and the PlayStation Store. Several reports have surfaced on the internet, stating that users are unable to sign in to their PSN accounts, play games, access apps, or even use the network’s online features.
The error code “WS-116522-7” soon became a known mess for many of those who sought to log in or begin their games. Sony’s website on the issue indicated that the system software update had been a failure. Immediately, frustration overtook social media as players vented, complaining and sharing their experiences.
Who was affected?
Outages of PlayStation Network services affect all, and this time was no exception. The outage affected a wide range of PlayStation devices, from the latest PlayStation 5 to the PlayStation 3 and even the PlayStation Vita, Sony’s handheld console that has been out of production for quite some time now. Regardless of what PlayStation system players were using, if they tried to connect to the PSN, error messages and blank screens were waiting for them.
To many players, the biggest problem was that they could simply not access any of the online multiplayer features they rely on for games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, or FIFA. Single-player games that start by forcing an initial online connection were rendered unplayable, leaving much of the gaming population in limbo. It wasn’t only multiplayer action gamers affected; however, people who just wanted to log onto the internet and buy or download new games from the PlayStation Store found that they could not do so because the store itself was down.
So, what’s causing the outage?
Sony has not yet confirmed what is causing the outage. Though there’s no concrete evidence to support a correlation between the outage and recent PS5 home screen artwork bugs, speculation online and in gaming communities is spiraling out of control. During the day, Sony had taken time to address and repair the bug affecting the home screen artwork of PS5 games, yet this global outage appears completely unrelated to that.
The company’s only official statement so far is that they are working hard to resolve the issue. With no concrete return information, most players feel frustrated and anxious about when they can get back online. Therefore, Sony has not provided an estimated timeframe for the network’s full restoration, but they have assured users of regular updates.
Are the gamers coping?
Despite the PlayStation Network outage disrupting many players’ plans, the gaming community is known for its flexibility. Many gamers have turned to playing offline single-player games as a short-term relief from the network issues. For instance, Astro’s Playroom on the PlayStation console has become an attractive option for PS5 players, as it does not require internet connectivity. There are also excellent off-line options available from titles such as The Last of Us Part II, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and God of War.
Players had taken to social media platforms like Twitter and Reddit to air grievances, provide some troubleshooting, and share their complaints. Some players have humorously suggested that now is a good time to revisit the endless list of single-player games that have been neglected in favor of multiplayer ones.
For those reliant mainly on online gaming, it’s definitely been a crappy night. Most players said their consoles were nearly unusable without a PSN connection, making them feel split from their gaming worlds.
Unfortunately, PlayStation users must wait for Sony to fix the issue, but here are some things you can try:
Continue to monitor the PlayStation Network service status page. The most recent information about the network restoration’s status can be found on the official PlayStation Network Service Status page.
Play Offline Games: If you cannot access the online features, then you can play a few of those single-player games that do not require a connection to the PSN. This is a beneficial moment to give in to all those solo experiences you had been planning to put aside.
Reset Your Console: Occasionally, this appears to resolve the remaining issues. It is definitely not a sure shot, but then again, it’s worth a shot.
Be patient: While these outages are frustrating, it appears that Sony teams are working around the clock to repair them. It is unclear when the network will be fully operational, but they will do everything possible to restore it.
Conclusion
This outage has created a shockwave in gaming communities around the world, effectively impairing multiplayer activities and online content sales. In the meantime, as Sony continues working to correct this issue, gamblers should keep abreast of information about the outage and its likely duration with patience and by playing offline content available to them.
This outage highlights the heavy reliance modern gaming may place on staying connected online, even in single-player experiences. Whether you are a multi-player freak or someone looking to wind down with their favorite game, this PSN outage is a reminder of how much we rely on seamless, always-on connections. Hopefully the company gets services back up and running fast and provides insight into what caused this far-reaching problem. Until then, it may be time to rediscover the joys of offline gaming.
