Following the release of firmware 3.61, Sony has announced that PlayStation Network and Qriocity restoration will be rolled out in phases, country by country, starting with the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East. The first phase, leading up to a "full" return by the end of May, includes the following services:
* Sign-in for PlayStation®Network and Qriocity services, including the resetting of passwords
* Restoration of online game-play across PS3 and PSP
* Playback rental video content, if within rental period, of PlayStation Network Video Delivery Service on PS3, PSP and MediaGo
* Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, for current subscribers, on PS3 and PC
* Access to 3rd party services such as Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and MLB.tv
* 'Friends' category on PS3, including Friends List, Chat Functionality, Trophy Comparison, etc
* PlayStation Home
When is restoration coming to you? If you're in America, you'll want to keep an eye on Sony's roll-out map -- if your state is highlighted, it means PSN is back on. This is a great way to communicate the PSN's progress, provided it's updated regularly.
While you wait -- Sony adds that some services will take some time to become active in your area -- watch Kaz Hirai announcing the PSN's long-awaited return. (And be sure to change your password once you are able to sign in!)
