PLAYSTATION VITA MISSING CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY IN US AND UK

Sony's next-generation portable video game console will not launch in the U.S. until early 2012, Sony Executive Vice President Kazuo Hirai told The Associated Press on Thursday. Sony’s PlayStation Vita will become available later this year in Japan, but it will miss the all-important holiday shopping season here in the U.S. and in Europe as well. Some, such as Daiwa Securities Capital Markets analyst Koki Shiraishi, believe Sony’s sales will take a huge hit as a result. “That’s when you do half your year’s sales,” Shiraishi told the AP. “This is going to prove painful for Sony.” When it finally does launch next year, the PlayStation Vita will start at $249 for a Wi-Fi-only model and a 3G-equipped version will be available for $299.

SONY BEGINS PHASED RESTORATION OF PLAYSTATION NETWORK

After three weeks of waiting, and to many PSN users’ delight, Sony’s PlayStation Network is finally coming back. Sony Computer Entertainment CEO Kazuo Hirai announced on Saturday via video that Sony will begin a phased restoration process of its PSN services. Hirai said the company has been working “around the clock” to bring he services back online.

A mandatory firmware update on PS3 consoles is required to restore PSN service. This update, v3.6.1, will require that users change their passwords, which is understandable seeing as Sony confirmed earlier this month that over 23,000 credit card numbers and bank information had been stolen. Your new password can only be changed on the same PS3 in which your account was activated, or through a validated e-mail confirmation.

Patrick Seybold, Sony’s Senior Director of Corporate Communications and Social Media, said in a blog post that the restoration process has started and some states already have access. He asked users to be patient as the restoration reaches more cities and states. You can visit Sony’s blog to see an updated map with locations in which service has been restored. It will take “several hours” to get the service back online throughout the entire U.S.