By Sagar V. Mankar 
Sony’s PlayStation Network (PSN) is gradually coming back online after a nearly 20-hour outage that left users worldwide unable to access online gaming and other services.
The outage began unexpectedly on Friday evening, February 7, 2025, around 6 PM ET, disrupting online multiplayer games, the PlayStation Store, and other PSN features. Users reported widespread issues, including an inability to sign in, launch digital titles, or connect with friends online. Sony initially acknowledged the problem through its @AskPlayStation account on X (formerly Twitter), but details about the cause remained unclear.
Widespread Impact on PlayStation Users
According to reports from The Verge and The Sun, the outage affected millions of PlayStation users across multiple regions, including North America and Europe. Many players were locked out of online-only games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, with no offline alternatives available. Frustration grew as Sony provided minimal updates throughout the disruption.
Although some users have regained access to their accounts and online services, reports indicate that PSN is not yet fully operational. Players are still encountering issues with matchmaking, party chats, and accessing digital purchases. Some who can log in find that certain games remain unplayable, even when the network appears to be back online.
Sony’s Response and Compensation for Users
After hours of silence, Sony finally issued a brief statement confirming that PSN services were recovering from an “operational issue.” While the company apologized for the inconvenience, it did not provide further details about what caused the outage or how it was resolved.
As compensation, PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an automatic five-day extension to their membership. This gesture is meant to acknowledge the frustration experienced by paying users who were unable to access the service.
One of the Longest PSN Outages in History
The February 7 outage now ranks as one of the longest in PSN’s history, second only to the infamous 2011 breach that shut down the network for nearly a month. That incident compromised the personal data of over 70 million users, prompting Sony to introduce security upgrades and compensation packages.
While there is no indication that the 2025 outage was caused by a security breach, the lack of transparency has left many players demanding answers. As of now, Sony has not provided a detailed explanation, and users are advised to follow official PlayStation channels for further updates.