Sony suspends PlayStation promo code support following network trouble (update)

No PSN code redemption for you, come back one year

Sony's PSN woes aren't over just yet. The company has temporarily stopped taking PlayStation promo codes following a surge in traffic on the gaming service; for the moment, money cards and game vouchers won't work. There's no estimate for when code redemption will return. It's easy to see the potential causes, however. Between the weekend, the PlayStation 4's European launch and a big discount on PlayStation Plus subscriptions at Amazon, there's guaranteed to be a deluge of PSN activity -- Sony may have unintentionally created a perfect storm.

Update (12/1/13): According to the PlayStation Europe Blog, Sony is "continually increasing the availability of the voucher redemption functionality," so you should see it soon if it's not on your system already. The next step, which we should hear more about tomorrow, is to switch on the What's New activity feed and Live Item in the Content Information Screen for users outside North America.

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Source: PlayStation Community Forums, PlayStation Blog

PlayStation 4’s live launch event begins at 11PM ET, check out the UI first (video)

PlayStation 4's live launch event begins at 11PM ET, check out the UI first video

It's almost time for the PlayStation 4 to arrive. With just a few minutes left before consoles go on sale on the east coast, you should definitely check out our in-depth review if you haven't already. Once you're through with that, take a peek after the break for a nine minute video dive into the system's UI as Sony VP Eric Lempel shows off the system's menus, store, live game broadcasting features, social feeds and much more. Sure it's cutting the timing kind of close, but whether you're still on the fence, waiting for a delivery or sticking it out in line outside a local retailer, this will give a good idea of what the system can offer. Once you're done comparing it to Microsoft's demonstration from last week (and downloading the day one patch and apps), check out the Sony launch event -- the live stream starts at 11PM ET. The Ustream feed is embedded after the break, but you can also watch it on the PS3's Live Events app, DirecTV, or Spike TV.

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Source: PS4 UI Revealed, Live Launch Event

Sony’s PlayStation 4 upgrade program gets detailed: $10 for a next-gen copy

Sony's PlayStation 4 upgrade program gets detailed

Back at Gamescom 2013, Sony made it known that select cross-generational games, like Call of Duty: Ghosts, purchased for the PlayStation 3 would be upgradeable for its forthcoming PS4. At the time, Sony kept general pricing details for the program under wraps, although Activision did announce its qualifying CoD title would set PS4 users back $10 bucks for the next-gen upgrade privilege. Now, Sony's coming clean with the full spate of its limited run upgrade program, adding Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, Battlefield 4 and Watch Dogs to the list -- all for $10.

So how does it work? Well, for those gamers that insist on purchasing a physical copy of any of the above games, they'll receive a redeemable pack-in code which they can enter into the PlayStation Network for a digital copy of the PS4 version. That's not all though. In order to unlock that next-gen copy, the physical disc has to be in the console to activate it. The process is much simpler for those that opt for the all-digital route, as a PS3 purchase made on PSN will automatically qualify gamers for the discount, at which point the game will be available for download. You have to hand it Sony: with news of this expanded upgrade program and the PS4's Gaikai-powered PS3 backwards compatibility, it seems the company's well learned from the lessons of the previous gen's past.

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Source: PlayStation Blog

Here are the PlayStation 4’s 33 ‘launch window’ games, from Knack to Minecraft

Between the PlayStation 4's November 15th launch at retail and December 31st, Sony claims 33 games will be available. That includes heavy hitters like Knack, Watch Dogs, Minecraft and Battlefield 4, as well as smaller properties like N++ and Contrast. We've dropped the full list just after the break for your perusal / approval. Now all we need to know is when Rime is coming out!

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Source: Sony (PDF)

Sony agrees to pay £250K fine in UK for 2011 data breach, begrudgingly

Remember the 2011 attack that crippled Sony's PlayStation Network, leaked almost a quarter million users' information and generally was a nuisance? It's still cleaning up after that mess. Earlier this year, the UK's Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) slapped the company's European wing with a £250,000 fine ($377,575), saying it should have been better prepared for the attack -- now Sony's agreed to pay up. The electronics giant still maintains that the charge is without merit, but ceded to the penalty to avoid disclosing details about its security procedures. Apparently, the two months of free PS+ wasn't enough to make everybody forget.

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Via: Joystiq

Source: V3 (UK), ICO (Twitter)

Your digital game library will be accessible from any PlayStation 4, says Sony

Your digital game library will be accessible from any PlayStation 4, says Sony

The digital games you buy on your PlayStation 4 will apparently travel with you, virtually, when you move from console to console. Sony R&D senior team leader Neil Brown detailed as much at Develop today. "You can visit your friend's house you can log into your account and play any game from your digital library," he said. Paired with the console's "Play As You Download" functionality, Brown promised that users will be able to instantly jump into their full library of digital games from any PS4 after signing in with their PSN ID. "This makes a digital library a practical option in the real world," he added.

PlayStation 4 games are planned for digital launch alongside physical, thus making an all-digital game library a more possible goal. Should you purchase a physical copy, you can take the Blu-ray with you from console to console; the game will automatically install on the console's HDD, though you'll still need its disc in the tray for the game to play.

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Source: Official PlayStation Magazine UK