Sony's PlayStation Network remains unavailable after an attack on the system took it down on Christmas Day, just as recipients of new consoles looked to log online.
Xbox's system appeared to have recovered quickly from the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks launched by a group that calls itself Lizard Squad. DDoS efforts are relatively common and attempt to disrupt systems by overloading them with traffic.
Update: We are working to restore full network services for all platforms - thanks, as always, for your patience!— Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) December 26, 2014
Sony's inability to quickly restore its network, which allows players to compete against each other online, had begun to wear on customers.
Sony fixing PSN like pic.twitter.com/sGeIkNV8kV— Roadrunner (@PAParentflow) December 26, 2014
Meanwhile over at @Sony & @AskPlayStation #psndown #psn pic.twitter.com/1ASTOlW94z— Danny Murray (@danjomurray) December 26, 2014
RIP PSN.— Fútbol Fichajes (@FutboolFichajes) December 26, 2014
The attack seemed to have abated when Internet entrepreneur Kim Dotcom offered the people behind Lizard Squad vouchers for its privacy service. Lizard Squad tweeted earlier on Friday that it had ceased its attacks on PSN and Xbox.
A Christmas Miracle. How @MegaPrivacy saved @Xbox & @PlayStation from the @LizardMafia attack. Enjoy your games! :-) pic.twitter.com/qoaZ33eqCi— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 26, 2014
Confirming again that we are no longer attacking PSN or XBL, nor are any members. We will not be attacking them in the future. Thank MEGA.— Lizard Squad (@LizardMafia) December 26, 2014