After all the heartache PSN users suffered over the holiday season due to the DDoS attacks on the PlayStation Network servers, Sony has finally come through with their “I'm sorry” discount. The apology comes in the form of a 10% off sale on select content over the weekend.
Detailed on the PlayStation blog, it's noted that the discount for PSN members will get underway 9:00am on January 23rd, 2015 Pacific standard time through 9:00am January 26th, 2015 Pacific standard time.
As pointed out in the brief blog post...
“Use the discount on hundreds of thousands of items including blockbuster new releases, award winning indie games, game add-ons and season passes, pre orders, and an enormous selection of TV and Movies to own. You can find the code on PlayStation Store and via @PlayStation.”
Under the impression that everything is discounted and up for the taking? That's not quite the case.
The blog points out that things such as the PlayStation Plus subscription, the Music Unlimited, the PlayStation Now and video rental services are excluded from the 10% discount.
The discount definitely would have been nice for those looking to extend their PS Plus membership, but alas you'll just have to renew it the old fashioned way: without a discount.
Some of you might be wondering why Sony is throwing up a discount on some of their digital products this weekend, and for those of you wondering about that you were either living under a rock, were on vacation or just got introduced to the internet. Basically, some scoundrels decided to DDoS attack the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live over the Christmas holiday break. This prevented core gamers from logging in and playing the games they paid for on the services they pay to play on.
The attacks did not go unnoticed by national security agencies. Allegedly, one of the individuals involved in the attacks have been arrested, although further details on the arrest are sketchy.
The hackers who have repeatedly attacked PSN and Xbox Live have been doing so since the summer of 2014. They took down Battle.net, Xbox Live and PSN, while also preventing gamers from enjoying Call of Duty and Destiny.
Things ratcheted up in seriousness when a bomb threat went out on a plane carrying Sony Online Entertainment president, John Smedley. The FBI began investigating after the threats went out.
The reign of terror against gamers has been going on for quite some time and the recent arrest may signal a change in direction for the DDoS script users.
In the meantime, Sony is giving out the 10% discount to help appease some individuals who were frustrated that Christmas was ruined because PSN was down. And even though you can't actually use the discount to buy some extra multiplayer play time from the online service, you can use it to buy any number of games or products you've been desperately waiting to get your hands on.
For more info be sure to pay a visit to the official PlayStation blog.
