Sony’s Playstation Network, often abbreviated as PSN, will be renamed this week as part of a rebranding of the gaming community which was rocked by a hacking scandal almost a year ago. From Wednesday, the PSN will be no more, replaced with SEN – Sony Entertainment Network.
In a statement Sony details the changeover: “On February 8, 2012, your “PlayStation Network account” will be renamed a “Sony Entertainment Network account” or a “SEN account”’. Gamers should be reasonably unaware of the change as it takes place as this will happen “in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation 3 system software and PlayStation Vita system software updates.”
The SEN was created from Qriocity back in September 2011, and Sony says this is merge with the PSN will provide a “global comprehensive network platform of services” and, of course, there is no mention of this being a move to reinvent the service as we head towards a most unwelcome of anniversaries. One year on from April 2011 when the PSN was pulled for “maintenance” reasons. This was an untruth from Sony to postpone the horrifying truth which was to be revealed a few days later – the gaming network and Sony Online Entertainment had in fact suffered a massive security breach and millions of user’s personal accounts and credit card information had been stolen.
A rebrand could finally put this blunder to bed, as well as bringing the soon to be former Playstation Network up to speed with the multimedia savvy Xbox LIVE community currently benefitting from music and movies services online through the Microsoft console. The name Sony Entertainment Network would suggest this is something that’s on the cards for PS3 owners.
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