PlayStation Store will be back up this week, seven weeks after PSN outage

Written by Matt Swider on May 31, 2011

PS Store News Update: This marks the return of PS3-commerce following a seven week outage that occurred on the same day PSN went down.

When will the PlayStation Store be back online? According to the latest update out of Sony, "by the end of this week." That's promising, but not quite meeting its own deadline established on May 14 when the videogame console manufacturer said "before the end of the month." The end of the month as in May. As in today. As in before midnight tonight.

Of course, while the PS Store could be available again before the end of the night, we aren't holding our breath for three reasons. First, if Sony knew the relaunch of the online store was that imminent, it would've touted that in its press release. Second, PS3 and PSP gamers aren't going to be throw any more of a fuss than they have already; they've being pacified with a free-game-filled Welcome Back program. Third, this is everyone's credit card information we're talking about. Sony knows that it has to get the PSP- and PS3-commerce security situation right, even if it means taking a few extra days and going beyond the May 31 deadline. Entering into June territory is a better alternative to more personal information landing in the hands of hackers.

In addition to PS Store access and game downloads, this week's restoration will finally bring back in-game commerce, the ability to redeem gift cards, vouchers and codes, full functionality on Qriocity's Music Unlimited as well as Media Go. The one detail that Sony has yet to divulge is a timetable for those freebies. The company simply ended its press release with, "The details of this [Welcome Back] program will continue to be detailed regionally."

That being said, Gaming Target will continue to sort through the details as the breaking news come in and, as always, report on deadlines, made and missed.