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PSA: Players report sporadic PSN connection issues
Sony is currently investigating PlayStation Network connection issues affecting a number of users this morning, citing "heavy network traffic" as a culprit via its support page. "We're aware that some players are seeing drops on PSN," the official PlayStation Twitter account confirms. "Engineers are on the case and investigating." Today's reports follow up on the recent restoration of PSN service after a disruptive DDoS attack on Christmas Eve. A timeframe for a fix is not yet known. [Image: Sony)
PSA: D4, MX vs. ATV now on Games with Gold
As the calendar flipped to January yesterday, Xbox Live Gold members are now able to download this month's free games on Xbox One and Xbox 360. As revealed in December, Xbox One owners with a premium Live subscription can now pick up Access Games' quirky adventure D4: Dark Dreams Don't Die free of charge. Subscribers get two games on Xbox 360 this month: Offroad racer MX vs ATV Alive and CD Projekt's The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. D4 will be available throughout the month while the two previous-generation games are on a split schedule. MX vs ATV Alive is free until January 15, then The Witcher 2 will be available to download at no cost on January 16 through the end of the month. Lastly, according to the Microsoft Store, last month's Xbox One game Worms Battlegrounds is still available to download for free. [Image: Microsoft]
PSA: PlayStation Network back online, service restored [Update]
The PlayStation Network appears to be fully armed and operational, according to an update post on the PlayStation Blog. The update confirms that the PSN suffered a DDoS (distributed denial of service) attack on Christmas Eve Day, and though the group that took credit for bringing the service down claimed to have ceased its attack on December 25, it was not until late last evening that service was restored. Sony now reports in no uncertain terms that "PlayStation Network is back online." If you received or purchased a PlayStation system over the holidays, you should be free to enjoy your new console. Update: If you're a PS4 user still having difficulties logging in, the Ask PlayStation Twitter account suggests that age-old fix of restarting your system. A tweet reads, "PS4 users: If you are still having issues signing in to PSN today, please reboot the console and try again." [Image: Sony]
PSA: Nintendo investigating Wii U error code issues
After reports rolled in yesterday about Super Smash Bros. and other Wii U games being met with error codes that resulted in a loss of system functionality, Nintendo acknowledged that it is investigating the problems. Error codes 160-0103 and 160-1710 "could affect the ability of the system to function properly" for a "small percentage of consumers playing Wii U," Nintendo of America told Joystiq. The reported issues varied from a loss of data to games on the system being unplayable entirely, issues that persisted within the data management menu on the Wii U for some. The error messages note that "there is a problem with the system memory." Nintendo encourages anyone experiencing the errors codes to call the Nintendo contact center at 1-800-255-3700 for help, until a solution is available. [Image: Nintendo]
PSA: Last chance to grab Spelunky and more on PS Plus
Heads up, would-be explorers: today is your last chance to pick up a free PlayStation Plus copy of Mossmouth's roguelike platformer Spelunky for the PlayStation 4, PS3, and Vita before it returns to full price tomorrow. The rest of October's freebies also expire tomorrow, making today your final opportunity to grab Batman: Arkham Asylum, Rainbow Moon, Dust: An Elysian Tail, and Dungeons & Dragons: Chronicles of Mystara. Make sure to check out Pix the Cat on the PS4 and Vita, too -- it's an oddly compelling mixture of Snake and Pac-Man Championship Edition, and it's the one game I've played the most out of last month's PS Plus additions. November's featured games, including The Binding of Isaac Rebirth and SteamWorld Dig, will be available to PlayStation Plus subscribers when the PlayStation Store updates tomorrow. [Image: Mossmouth]
PSA: Xbox One is now $50 cheaper until January 3
The previously-announced holiday promotion that shaves $50 off the standalone Xbox One and all Xbox One bundles is now live, Xbox spokesman Larry Hryb (aka "Major Nelson") announced on his blog. The limited-time sale will last until January 3, and only applies to systems and bundles sold in the US. On a related note, the Xbox One Assassin's Creed bundle, which combines a 500GB Xbox One with digital copies of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and Assassin's Creed: Unity, is on store shelves starting today as well. The 1TB, Kinect-less Xbox One bundled with Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare will be out tomorrow. [Image: Microsoft]
PSA: Here's one possible fix for PS4 Rest Mode issues
If your PlayStation 4 is behaving badly after this week's 2.0 update, Reddit user Nestledrink has a potential fix that may get your ailing console back up and running. The fix is for users who are unable to wake their PlayStation 4s up from Rest Mode. You'll see your console constantly blinking an orange light if you're affected, and your system will be unresponsive if you attempt to power it on or press the PS button on a DualShock 4 controller. If this is the case, Nestledrink recommends powering down the console by pressing the power button for seven seconds, then engaging Safe Mode by holding the power button for another seven seconds afterward. From there, you can select the third option on the screen that appears in order to reinstall the latest firmware update, which should hopefully fix the problem. While the method isn't guaranteed to fix all PlayStation 4 issues, one Joystiq staffer was able to resuscitate their console by following the steps above, and confirms that their PS4 is now back in action. If your PS4 is still unresponsive, try contacting Sony support for further assistance. [Image: Sony]
PSA: Destiny sign-in issues on PS4 [Update]
Those hoping to play Destiny on PS4 this morning may encounter a few issues getting into the game, and Bungie is on the case. The developer's support team tweeted today that it is "actively investigating issues impacting players' ability to sign in to Destiny on PlayStation 4." While not determined to be related at this point, the log-in issues hit the game on the same day as the PS4's next major system update, Version 2.0. The update adds the online multiplayer Share Play feature to the console as well as the ability to play music files from a USB stick. Destiny was also recently patched on all consoles to remove an exploit in its Vault of Glass mission. We will update as we learn that the fix for Destiny's sign-in issues on PS4 is in. Update: Bungie says the "issues preventing PlayStation 4 players from signing into Destiny are resolving." [Image: Activision]
PSA: PS4 firmware update 2.0 debuts tomorrow
Sony has issued a preview trailer for the PlayStation 4's impending "Masamune" update, due to hit consoles worldwide starting tomorrow. After installing tomorrow's update, PS4 users can access the console's long-promised Share Play feature, which allows players to invite a friend to take over their gameplay or join as a remote co-op partner. Other new and revamped features promised in the video above include YouTube video uploads, voice commands, dashboard themes, a redesigned party interface, livestream browsing by game, and download pausing and resuming. Sony will also launch a firmware update for the PS Vita and PlayStation TV later tonight, introducing the stream-viewing Live from PlayStation app for both devices and 4-player Remote Play support for the PS TV. [Video: Sony]
PSA: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas HD now available for Xbox 360
Rockstar's recently-revealed port of open-world crime simulator Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas is now eligible for release from the company's virtual, metaphorical prison system and is seeking rehabilitation on Xbox 360 systems. If you're looking to relive Carl "CJ" Johnson's adventures in sunny San Andreas, you'll need 2.05 GB of free hard drive space and $3.74 (or £2.99 if you're in the UK) to pay bail. Get it? Bail? 'Cause it's a game about crime! Have fun, you rapscallions. [Image: Rockstar Games]
PSA: There is no beta for GTA5 on PC, PS4, Xbox One
Heads up: if someone claiming to represent Rockstar offers you beta access to the upcoming PC, PlayStation 4, or Xbox One versions of Grand Theft Auto 5, they're trying to scam you. Rockstar has officially stated that it has no plans to offer a public beta test in the weeks leading up to GTA 5's next-gen console debut. "Please note: There is no pre-release 'beta' test for Grand Theft Auto 5," the developer's statement reads. "If you see ads or solicitations to join a beta program, beware as this is likely some type of online phishing scam." It's an understandably tempting offer, and scammers are likely hoping that the game's notoriety will cloud player judgment. Stay safe out there, folks. Grand Theft Auto 5 will hit the Xbox One and PS4 on November 18, and a PC release is slated for 2015. [Image: Rockstar]
PSN going offline for maintenance October 13
Do you have next Monday, October 13 off work? Are you planning ahead to call in sick for school that day? Do you have that date circled on your calendar with the note "gaming marathon" written on it? If you answered "yes" to any of those questions, be aware that Sony has PlayStation Network maintenance scheduled for that day. The routine maintenance is planned to begin at 1:00 p.m. EST (10:00 a.m. PST) and will last until 8:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. PST). PlayStation's support team noted that those that log in to PSN at any point from yesterday on will retain online play and app access during the maintenance period. However, the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home and account management services will not be available during that time. [Image: Sony]
Sony's giving you a free taste of PS4 multiplayer this weekend
Want to check out Destiny's strike missions and raids but haven't shelled out for a PlayStation Plus membership yet? Well, perhaps you can rally a few similarly-leveled buddies this weekend and give The Devil's Lair or Vault of Glass a shot on PlayStation 4 -- even if they're in Europe. Starting this Friday at 3:01 a.m. Eastern / 12:01 a.m. Pacific, you'll have a chance at taking out Sepiks Prime with a little help from your friends in developer Bungie's latest shooter, gratis. Sony's PlayStation Network has grown by leaps and bounds since the PS3 days, and the outfit wants to show it off. If Destiny isn't your game, as Joystiq writes, you can take any multiplayer title online until the free promotion ends Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Pacific. We hear that Battlefield 4 is finally working, too, but if you aren't into the whole pew-pew thing, there's always FIFA 15. Regardless of what you play, there's almost never a bad reason to spend a weekend on the couch enjoying the great indoors.
PSA: Twitch chat links are phishing for Steam logins
Some Twitch users are experiencing a number of phishing attempts within the video game broadcast service's chat windows. Twitch's support team on Twitter advised that viewers avoid clicking the "csgoprize" link that may appear in stream chats, as it is "a phishing attempt to install malware and compromise your Steam account." Twitch did not disclose how widespread the issue is. The support team said it will "work to block that link," but that variants of the phishing attempt may sprout up in the future. It added that "in general, you should be wary of any links in chat." As for ways broadcasters can prevent further issues, they can enable a "Block Hyperlinks" option within Twitch's Channels and Videos settings to prevent viewers from adding their corrupt links to their stream's chat. [Image: Twitch]
PSA: PSN gets knocked down again [Update: Back online]
The PlayStation Network servers are currently out of commission for the second time in as many days. Sony posted a notice to its official Twitter account that its engineers are "aware of connectivity issues" and "are working to resolve" them. PSN suffered an outage for the majority of Sunday thanks to an apparent DDoS attack (distributed denial of service). Sony noted that no personal information was accessed in the attack. b=Both PSN and Sony Entertainment Network were "impacted by an attempt to overwhelm our network with artificially high traffic," though it's unclear if that's also causing today's issues. We'll update this post when PSN is up and running again. Update: Sony said that "network connectivity is being restored," and thanks players for their patience. [Image: Sony]
PSA: Free Dishonored via Games With Gold now available
As promised, Arkane Studios' Dishonored is now available to download for free thanks to Microsoft's Games With Gold. If you've got an Xbox Live Gold subscription, you've got until August 31 to download one of our favorite games of 2012. Alternatively, feel free to sing along to celebrate the occasion. Outsider, hear this plea / help Corvo to save dear Emily / and discover the conspiracy / that led to the Empress' death. / Please bring honor to Dun- / Please bring honor to Dun- / Please bring honor to Dunwall! What, you don't immediately think of Disney's Mulan every time the subject of honor comes up? [Image: Bethesda]
PSA: August's Games With Gold now live
A new month brings with it new things. Most of them, like bills, aren't fun. But you know what is fun? Video games. And if you happen to be an Xbox Live Gold subscriber, there are four games you can snag this month for free, three of which have just gone live and are available right now. From today until August 15, you can dress your Xbox Avatar in some off-road gear and rev engines in Motorcross Madness for Xbox 360. Xbox One owners meanwhile can fly the unfriendly skies in either Crimson Dragon or Strike Suit Zero: Director's Cut. In the former, players control a dragon. In the latter, you'll get behind the flight stick of a transforming spaceship fighter. The only deal not currently active is the Games With Gold offer of Dishonored. But that's okay; being the stealthy assassin he is, we imagine Corvo is just taking his sweet time to line up the perfect kill. Dishonored will sneak out of Games With Gold's shadow on August 16 and remain free until August 31. [Image: Microsoft]
PSA: Diablo 3 Auction House closes its doors on June 24
The Auction House in Diablo 3 that allowed players to sell items for in-game gold or real-world money will close up shop this week, Blizzard has reminded us. While the option to bid on, buyout or list new auctions was disabled back on March 18, players still have until June 24 to retrieve any items or gold still lingering in the "Completed" tab. In other words, if you sold or bought an item via the Auction House before March 18 but still haven't picked it up or collected your payment, this is your last chance to do so. On June 24, any gold or items left will be sacrificed and banished to the ether. The removal of the Auction House has been a long time coming; it was a controversial addition to the game when it released in 2012, and the game's director admitted that its implementation "really hurt" the overall design of Diablo 3. [Image: Blizzard]
PSA: Fake EA Sports Instagram account phishing for Xbox, Origin logins
It's World Cup season; reigning champions Spain lost in spectacular fashion and FIFA soccer fans may be interested in rectifying that loss to Chile in FIFA 14's Ultimate Team World Cup mode. Unfortunately, Instagram accounts posing as official EA Sports channels are popping up during this period of piqued interest, posting tempting offers for free in-game currency in order to obtain players' Xbox Live and Origin account details.
PSA: Netflix, Hulu among apps now free to use on Xbox Live
Last month, Microsoft announced it will no longer keep entertainment apps like Netflix, Hulu Plus and HBO Go behind its Xbox Live premium paywall. The change to its Xbox Live service structure is now in effect, allowing non-paying users to use the aforementioned apps in addition to ones like Twitch, MLB.TV, NBA Game Time, YouTube and more. Microsoft's decision to modify its free and paid Xbox Live service offerings was announced the same day as the $399 Kinect-less Xbox One console, which will be available starting Monday, June 9. Free-to-play and subscription-based games like The Elder Scrolls Online will still require a paid Xbox Live Gold subscription to play online, however. [Image: Microsoft]
