Games blog + Controversy

Richard Wilson of games industry trade body, Tiga. Photograph: Tiga

Keith Stuart: Richard Wilson from games industry trade body Tiga has spent the last few years battling to gain tax credits for UK developers. We discuss the hurdles he still faces and the consequences he sees for every studio in Britain

Diablo III: gamers will be able to sell any valuable in-game items they find on their virtual travels...

Keith Stuart: Blizzard is set to introduce a real-money auction house for Diablo III, allowing players to buy and sell in-game goods. A sensible security measure or a slippery slope?

Call of Duty Elite ... 'a whole host of new, interesting and well-differentiated capabilities'

Keith Stuart: We talk to Activision's CEO about Call of Duty Elite, Nintendo Wii U and Sony Vita

Sony has begun the restoration of its PlayStation Network games service almost a month after a massive security breach of the network forced the company to shut it down. Photograph: Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters

Keith Stuart: Sony's PlayStation Network is back online, albeit in reduced form for now. What has been the reaction from gamers?

A PlayStation exhibition stand at the Gamescom 2010 fair in Cologne. Photograph: Ina Fassbender/REUTERS

[Update: the headline of this story has been altered to stress that the posted user data is NOT from PlayStation Network.]

In another difficult weekend for Sony, the company has admitted that the PlayStation Network is likely to remain switched off for several more days. It has also been forced to take action after another security breach, which saw the stolen details of 2,500 sweepstakes contestants being published on a website.

In a message posted on the Sony blog on Saturday, the company stated:

We're still working to confirm the security of the network infrastructure, as well as working with a variety of outside entities to confirm with them of the security of the system. Verifying the system security is vital for the process of restoration. Additional comprehensive system checks and testing are still required, and we must complete that process before bringing the systems online.

PlayStation Network is the online service that lets console users take part in mutltiplayer games, as well as chat and download videos. Two weeks ago, Sony discovered that hackers had infiltrated one of the network's backend servers, potentially gaining access to the credit card details of 77 million users. At a press event in Tokyo last week, Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kaz Hirai promised that the service would be online within six days.

However, in the latest blog message, Nick Caplin, the head of communications at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe wrote, "when we held the press conference in Japan last week, based on what we knew, we expected to have the services online within a week. We were unaware of the extent of the attack on Sony Online Entertainment servers, and we are taking this opportunity to conduct further testing of the incredibly complex system."
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PlayStation 3 users can expect to be playing games online within a week. Photograph: Cate Gillon/Getty Images

Keith Stuart: Sony president Kaz Hirai apologises for service outage, promises FBI investigation, and confirms elements of PSN online this week

Hackers have accessed the data of millions of Sony PlayStation Network users. Photograph: Julian Stratenschulte/Picture Alliance/Photoshot

Keith Stuart: How have the games and online security industries reacted to the Sony PlayStation Network situation?

Sony's PlayStation Network has been breached by hackers, giving them access to the data of millions of users. Photograph: Julian Stratenschulte/Picture Alliance/Photoshot

Keith Stuart: Sony apologises for 'frustrating' PSN security breach and promises users that the network will be back online within days

The Xbox Live security alert has so far affected only Modern Warfare 2

In the midst of Sony's PlayStation Network security breach, Microsoft has had to issue its own security alert today. On the company's Xbox Live Status page, the following warning has been issued:

"Users may receive potential phishing attempts via title specific messaging while playing Modern Warfare 2.

"We are aware of the problem and are working to resolve the issue. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience."

The problem appears to be restricted to one title, and is centred around the system's matchmaking process, which arranges online multiplayer gaming sessions. It seems to be a reasonably routine problem, but with fears over online security riding high, several industry news sources have picked up on it.

US games blog Kotaku has also reported that dozens of modified Xbox 360 machines previously banned from Xbox Live have been allowed back on to the service – but only for a short time. Users who had 'modded' their machines to run unnofficial applications and pirated games found that they could suddenly sign in to the Xbox Live service – even though they had previously been ejected in one of Microsoft's regular 'banhammer' sessions. However, shortly afterwards all the machines were reportedly banned again.

The speculation is that Microsoft may have been testing its infrastructure in the wake of the PlayStation Network hack, or that it was trialling its new Xbox 360 disc format, which is partially intended to prevent piracy by blocking the DVD firmware hack that's been exploitable on Xbox 360 for several years.

Millions of PlayStation Network users have been warned their personal information, including credit card details, may have been stolen. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA

Keith Stuart: Our comprehensive guide to what's happened and what all PlayStation Network users need to do

Sony's PlayStation Network was hacked in one of the largest internet security break-ins ever. Photograph: Yuriko Nakao/Reuters

Sony's company blog says forensic analysis of the PlayStation Network hack took 'several days' to complete and extent of intrusion wasn't understood until Tuesday. By Keith Stuart and Charles Arthur

PlayStation 3: the PSN network has been down for six days

Update 11.50pm: Sony says that the PlayStation Network has been hacked, and that users should be aware that their credit card details may have been stolen.

More details on the Sony PlayStation blog.

We're into the sixth day of Sony's PSN shutdown and currently there is no firm word on how and when the situation will be resolved. Jemima Kiss has surmised things so far, while a statement on Sony Europe's PlayStation blog reads:

"I know you are waiting for additional information on when PlayStation Network and Qriocity services will be online. Unfortunately, I don't have an update or timeframe to share at this point in time. As we previously noted, this is a time intensive process and we're working to get them back online quickly. Will keep you updated with information as it becomes available. We once again thank you for your patience."

It was initially thought that the network had been infiltrated by hackers acting in solidarity with George Hotz who, last year, gained access to a PS3 root key that could allow users to bypass the machine's built-in security measures. Sony threatened legal action and the two parties subsequently settled out of court.

Yesterday, however, someone claiming to be a moderator at the homebrew coding forum PSX-Scene provided an alternative explanation.
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Duke Nukem Forever ... gun-toting hero or sexist beast?

Nick Cowen: The long-awaited Duke Nukem sequel's Capture the Babe level requires the player to slap a woman around. Should we be outraged?

Reports of 'thousands' of buyers being unhappy with the new Nintendo 3DS appear to have been exaggerated. Photograph: Robin Utrecht/AFP/Getty Images

Keith Stuart: The Sun has reported that 'record' numbers are returning their 3DS consoles after becoming sick while playing. Its claims have been refuted, but is there legal recourse for dizzy gamers?

The Agency: SOE's much-anticipated spy shooter is no more.

Sony Online Entertainment has closed three studios in a major overhaul of its business. The massively-multiplayer online gaming specialist and creator of Everquest, has disbanded development teams in Denver, Tucson and Seattle, with the loss of over 200 jobs.

The closures have resulted in the axing of The Agency, the ambitious massively-multiplayer spy shooter, announced for the PS3 at the beginning of the machine's lifespan. The much-anticipated title promised to feature a globe-trotting espionage narrative and both co-op and competitive play.
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