Finally it appears that the PlayStation Network drama is coming to an end!
More than a month after being taken down after hackers breached the system and compromised the accounts of millions of PSN users, the PlayStation Store is officially open for business once again. PSN service, along with Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity, will be fully restored in the Americas, Europe/PAL territories and Asia (excluding Japan, Hong Kong, and South Korea) by the end of today, Thursday, June 2.
In the U.S., the PlayStation Store is up and running as I type this (though you can expect some error messages as everyone crams in all at once), and there is a wealth of new content waiting for PS3 and PSP gamers to buy right out of the gate.
On the PS3, 11 new games are available, including the likes of Wizardry: Labyrinth Of Lost Souls, Sega Rally Online Arcade, Under Siege and Red Johnson’s Chronicles. Six new demos have also been uploaded, headlined by Red Faction Armageddon and MotorStorm: Apocalypse.
On the PSP front, the backlogged Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars finally makes it onto the digital storefront, along with Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean, a few other titles, and a collection of new Minis.
Loads of DLC, videos, price drops/sale items, PlayStation Plus benefits and other content is ready for your digital consumption as well, the full list of which can be viewed at the PlayStation blog. Another store update is scheduled for Friday, June 3, and the ‘Welcome Back’ content will be available soon.
PlayStation Store is Available and Updated Now [PlayStation.Blog]
Matt Litten is a 28 year old from-the-womb gamer turned video game reviewer/blogger and current editor/owner/operator of VGBlogger.com. Matt got his first taste of gaming as a youngster on the NES and Atari, and the rest is history from there.
In 2004, three years removed from high school and still looking for a career direction in life, Matt landed his first gig in the video game review business writing for the now-defunct website BonusStage.com. After the sad and untimely close of BonusStage, the former staff went on to found VGBlogger.com, and after a short stint as US Site Manager for AceGamez Matt turned his attention to VGBlogger, and to this day is dedicated to making it one of the top video game blogs in all the blogosphere.
Matt is a fair-minded reviewer and lover of games of all platforms and types, big or small, hyped or niche, big-budget or indie. But that doesn't mean he will let poor games slide without a good thrashing when necessary. 
Just a note that as of this morning the most common word you are likely to see is ‘Error’ with yet another inscrutable Sony code. It is ‘up’, but just barely, and it is currently the worst PSN experience I’ve ever had.
I managed to grab LEGO Star Wars III using funds remaining in my ‘wallet’, but it was far from optimal. Let me explain:
I was able to get in through both Media Go and my PSP. I got repeated errors trying to actually DO stuff on either. Managed to grab LEGO Star Wars III (I still had money in my ‘wallet’), but only on Media Go, but then it wouldn’t transfer to my PSP (‘network error’ when hooked up via USB), so I left it re-downloading to the PSP from the PSN store … hopefully it will succeed!
So it is ‘up’, but I would advise patience.
Just noticed that Sony issued a release that these errors are related to millions of fools like me pounding their servers. Actually I think they said it more nicely … but the point stands. If you MUST get on NOW, expect issues. Some patience will go a long way!
And … while I am at it, the list of new stuff available is MASSIVE!
Lego star wars 3 isn’t showing up in the store for me I have tried searching but it seems to not exist
Which region are you in? My post only refers to what was released for the US PSN store.
oh I’m in the UK, I don’t suppose you know when it will be released in the UK do you?
No clue – Sony is really funky about regional releases … and LucasArts has been awful with this game.
Oh well thanks any way
Yeah, I warned about the errors in the story. The service only just came back online to millions of people who have been eagerly waiting to pile in all at once — it would be silly to expect the first day to be a smooth ride. You’re so quick to jump into Sony rage mode
I think Sony was smart to separate the ‘re-opening’ from the ‘Welcome Back’ …
No ‘Sony Rage’, but I will cop to being overly critical, well, somewhat …
1. Sony had to know that the site would get pounded and *should* have been better prepared … that said, the same was true for Amazon and their $0.99 Lady Gaga special last week and they didn’t do so well either.
The overloading and connection issues alone wouldn’t be a problem, but …
2. Sony really needs to do something about their error codes. Trying to buy something and getting a blank screen, back button and ‘Error 8675309′ is completely useless – and inexcusable for any piece of software since about 1995!
3. Media Go: I had to log in to PSN Store to do anything. My PSP is listed as authenticated to my account. So *WHY* do I need a separate validation to copy my games between the two? I figured out THAT was the reason for my Media Go errors (since the error codes are … well, see #2).
I know these sorts of things are lower priority than the huge global security problems Sony has been dealing with (and according to experts, STILL HAS), but these are lingering things that are years old.
It’s good that the PS Store is back. Hopefully the Welcome Back content arrives really soon. Can’t wait to play Dead Nation.