Sony has started with a phased restoration by region of PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. As a thank you to its users, SCEA has launched a "welcome Back" program giving fans free PSP/PSN games.

Sony president Kazuo Hirai announced that it has begun the phased restoration by region of some of the services, starting with online multiplayer functionality.

PSN has been down for several weeks now, and while some limited functionality has been restored it has now confirmed that "Regarding the aim of  the full restoration of PSN services by the 31st May. Restoration of Online Gamplay is the FIRST phase of the plan to restore the PSN," blaming the attack on SOE servers, for the delay.

Sony Computer Entertainment will provide complimentary enrollment in an identity theft protection program for PlayStation Network and Qriocity account holders in the United States only, while details on other territories are forthcoming but not available as of yet.

Earlier today SOE issued a short statement that its servers had been breached/hacked and as a precaution it had taken down its services until it could determine the damage caused. After initially stating that no customer data had been stolen, but now Sony Online confirmed that thousands of SOE's 24.6 million customers had their credit card information compromised.

Not only is Sony having issues with the PS3's Playstation Network, but Sony Online Entertainment seems to have been invaded as well, issuing the following statement, "We have had to take the SOE service down temporarily. In the course of our investigation into the intrusion into our systems we have discovered an issue that warrants enough concern for us to take the service down effective immediately. We will provide an update later today (Monday)."

When Sony issued its statement yesterday confirmed the PlayStation Network has been hacked and personal information as a result of this "illegal intrusion" has been compromised, a lot of people had many more questions so SCEA issued a Q&A revealing more details.

Sony has issued a statement confirming rumors that have been floating around the past week, the PlayStation Network has been hacked and personal information as a result of this "illegal intrusion" has been compromised. PSN has been down for a week, and Sony confirmed it will be down for probably another week until they rebuild the system and ramp up security.

The Agency is a pick-up-and-play experience where players assume the role of elite agents in a modern-day world. Both solo players and groups will enjoy a wide variety of cooperative and competitive story-driven missions set in exotic locales across the globe.

SCEA announced the development of PlayStation Home’s core client version 1.5, which will introduce a suite of new technology for developers to create real-time multiplayer, an improved physics engine and refined animations and graphics within PlayStation Home.

Epic Games announced Unreal Engine 3 support for the next generation portable entertainment system from Sony Computer Entertainment.

With the recent public unveiling of certain system keys that allowed hackers to breach the PS3's security, Sony issues a warning to all users that these "Unauthorized circumvention devices" are illegal and could results in service termination.

Sony Computer Entertainment America announced the PlayStation Network Gamers’ Choice Awards 2011, designed to recognize the best games on PlayStation Network across four game categories.

Sony Computer Entertainment unveiled "PlayStation Suite", delivering the PlayStation experience to Android based portable devices, allowing users to enjoy PlayStation content on an open operating system for the first time in PlayStation history.

The rumors about Sony working on a follow-up to its handheld PSP console have been floating around for years, but over the past few weeks, the chatter has intensified with everybody expecting an official unveiling at the PlayStation Meeting 2011 in Japan. Sony did not disappoint as the NGP, Next Generation Portable, was unveiled.

Sony Online Entertainment is gearing up for winter by spreading holiday cheer across its online gaming catalog with festive in-game events, activities and more in Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, Free Realms, EverQuest, EverQuest II, and Star Wars Galaxies.

Not to be outdone by Microsoft's Kinect announcement, Sony Computer Entertainment announced that the sales of PlayStation Move motion controller for the PS3 reached over 4.1 million units worldwide.

UPDATE: Sony admit that this number is units shipped to stores, not actually units "sold" to customers.

Sony Online Entertainment will be summoning the spirits, spooks and skeletons with the upcoming Halloween-themed activities and in-game events taking place in several of its  online titles including, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, Free Realms, EverQuest, EverQuest II and Star Wars Galaxies.

Sony has released a new v3.50 PS3 firmware, that includes Facebook Integration, and the ability for users to send claim reports directly from the XMB for inappropriate behavior.

Sony has released a new v3.42 PS3 firmware, that includes additional security features (most likely to block the recent to Jailbreak mod chip). No other details were provided...

Sony Computer Entertainment announced its video game lineup for GamesCom, August 18-22, where it will show off Gran Turismo 5, LittleBigPLanet 2, InFamous 2, newly announced titles Ratchet & Clank : All 4 One and Resistance 3, as well as several others.

Sony Online Entertainment announced its lineup of activities for the weekend of San Diego Comic-Con, July 22-25, where it will show off DC Universe Online, Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures and Magic: The Gathering – Tactics.

Dire Wolf Digital announced the formation of its new game development studio in Denver, Colorado, founded by Scott Martins, previously founder of Worlds Apart Productions, and studio head of Sony Online Entertainment Denver.

Sony's E3 2010 Lineup - Screens Check out the following new screens from Sony's E3 2010 lineup:

• 'PlayStation Move' (PS3) - Facts & Screens
• 'Dead Nation' (PS3) - Features & Screens
• 'Eat Them!' (PS3) Announced - Screens
• 'echochrome ii' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'Fat Princess' (PS3) Upcoming v1.06 Patch - Screens
• 'God of War: Ghost of Sparta' (PSP) - Features & Screens
• 'Gran Turismo 5' - Features & Screens
• 'Gravity Crash' (PSP) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'Hot Shots Tennis: Get a Grip' (PSP) - Screens
• 'inFAMOUS 2' (PS3) - Screens
• 'Invizimals' (PSP) - Features & Screens
• 'Journey' (PSN) Announced - Screens
• 'Killzone 3' (PS3) - Screens
• 'Kung Fu Rider' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'LittleBigPlanet 2' (PS3) - Facts & Screens
• 'Motorstorm: Apocalypse' (PS3) Announced - Screens
• 'Patapon 3' (PSP) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'PixelJunk Shooter 2' (PS3) - Features & Screens
• 'Piyotama' (PSP) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'SingStar Dance' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'SOCOM 4' (PS3) - New Screens
• 'Sorcery' (PS3) Announced - Screens
• 'Sports Champions' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'Start the Party!' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'The Fight: Lights Out' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'The Shoot' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'The Sly Collection' (PS3) - Features & Screens
• 'Tumble' (PS3) Announced - Screens
• 'TV Superstars' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens
• 'Twisted Metal' (PS3) Announced - Features & Screens

During its annual E3 press conference SCEA announced new products and services such as 3D technology, introduction of PlayStation Move games, and blockbuster games such as inFAMOUS 2, Twisted Metal, Gran Turismo 5, LittleBigPlanet 2, and Killzone 3.