PlayStation Network (PSN), launched in November 11, 2006 is a digital media service for entertainment purposes offered by The Sony Interactive Entertainment. PlayStation Network was initially conceived for PlayStation video consoles. It soon extended to encompass tablets, smartphones, high definition televisions and Blu-ray players. By April 2016, more than 110 million users have been put in records with about 65 million of them active each month.PlayStation Network’s services are targeted for the online marketplace (the PlayStation Online Store), a premium user subscription service for enhanced social and gaming features- The PlayStation plus, rentals, purchases and movie streaming. It has a cloud based TV programming service-The PlayStation Vue, a cloud gaming service and music streaming-(PlayStation Now). In history, Sony launched its second home console in the year 2000, the PlayStation 2. This game had rudimentary online features in few selected games through its online network. A network adaptor was required, which was made available via the add-on on original models. It was integrated into the hardware on all simline models. After about five years, during the development stage of its third home console, known as the PlayStation 3, they expressed their intentions of building upon the functionality of PlayStation 2 by coming up with a new interconnected service which kept users constantly in touch with the network.
Sony officially introduced its unified online service in March 2006, named tentatively as The PlayStation network Platform. The company also announced also announced a list of supporting features during the Tokyo Game Show towards the end of the same year. The company launched an affordable optional premium subscription service in addition of the free PlayStation Network services in June 2010. The system was known as The PlayStation Plus and provides exclusive access to complimentary games, regular store discounts content and earlier access to games forthcoming than other players using the free service. In april 20, 2011, there was a security intrusion that affected about 77 million registered accounts leading to suspension of operation for 23 days. This was the longest time the PSN had gone offline since launching its operation in 2006. Sony later launched a “Welcome Back Program” that brought the services into operation again. Sony computer entertainment acquired Gaikai, the video game streaming service at $380 million. The PlayStation Network became Sony’s premier service of entertainment in 2015 owing to the much broader Sony’s entertainment network. This unified music, television and gaming. The PlayStation Network had now developed, according to Sony, to become a Comprehensive digital entertainment brand.
The PlayStation Network is available both as a free and subscription based service, referred to as PlayStation Plus. This is a combination of both the premium and free service. It has the following features: A friends’ list that allows for about 100 friends on a PS3 and 2000 friends on the PS4 and PS Vita. It has an instant messaging service. Provides online gaming including competitive and cooperative multiplayer, cross platform playing and matchmaking. It has parental controls, which limits access to all the age restricted shopping cart and content, and a block-list for barring some users from contact. One of the most amazing features is the remote play. Using a Sony Xperia smartphone, PlayStation Vita or Tablet, you can stream video gameplay from PlayStation 4. This allows all supported games to be remotely played around any household or even away from away. Another feature known as Share Play will allow you to invite any online friend to join your game session even when they don’t have their own copy of the game. Visit the PlayStation Network’s website to subscribe to the service online and enjoy the sophisticated games all the time from Sony.