Update #11 (Dec. 26, 10:05 PM Eastern): Ubisoft's uPlay platform appears to be having trouble. A number of readers are reporting to us that the system's inoperability is preventing access to some parts of Assassin's Creed IV, namely the Kenway's Fleet aspects of the single-player game.
Additionally, Nintendo has delayed the release of the Pokémon Bank and Poké Transporter applications for the 3DS that were scheduled to go live in the west tomorrow. Nintendo continues to suffer from eShop outages, which is putting a damper on sales.
Sony also hasn't yet brought friends and profile browsing back online. The PlayStation Store worked when last we logged in via PS4 and the web portal. We'll update as we know more.
Update #10 (Dec. 26, 5:25 PM Eastern): Multiple reports and our own tests evidence that PlayStation Network is currently having problems. We are unable to view friends lists, with error CE-34861-2 reporting back upon attempts. The same "cannot connect to server" message appears when trying to access profiles via the console and mobile app.
Additionally, we have no good news to report about the Nintendo eShop status. It continues to be down across platforms.
Update #9 (Dec. 26, 6:25 AM Eastern): At this time, Steam, PSN, and Xbox Live are all working normally (with the exception of Kinect Nat Geo on Xbox Live). Unfortunately, Nintendo's services across all four of its platforms (Wii U, 3DS, Wii, DSi) are still experiencing some problems. This appears to be related still to the eShop. We'll continue to monitor throughout the day.
Update #8: The light at the end of the tunnel grows brighter. Here's an update on Steam. We've been able to progress further through the purchasing process, but it's not clear if everything is back to normal just yet.
The good news is that the last four games in the flash sale (Kingdoms Rise, Guncraft, King of Fighters XIII, and Dungeon Defenders) have had their discounts extended by another 16 hours. You have not missed your chance. Just search for them in the store.
Update #7: We spoke too soon. While the Steam storefront is now viewable and items can be added to the cart, purchases are still down. We'll keep an eye on it and let you know when you can open your wallet for Valve again.
Update #6: Good news! Steam appears to be back up. Now, if you'll just form an orderly line to get your free copy of Left 4 Dead 2...
Update #5: Add Microsoft to the watch list. Xbox Live services on Xbox One are now diminished.
On the Xbox Live service page, Microsoft notes that social and gaming aspects on the Xbox One are "limited. You can keep track of Xbox Live status here.
Update #4: The PlayStation Network seems to fairing better. We've had some reports that Xbox Live stumbled, but it appears to be functioning as normal right now. The Wii U experience has improved a bit, with the status upgraded a bit, and only some online services suffering.
Update #3: Add Steam to the list of services having problems today. Valve is offering Left 4 Dead 2 for free today, and the demand has ground the Steam storefront to a halt. We're adding this to our watch list.
Update #2: The PlayStation Network continues to limp along. Despite the PSN status page proclaiming that the network is up, we're experiencing difficulty connecting to the store via the PlayStation 4. Other users report similar problems.
If you happen to catch the service when its operational, get what you need to quickly. There's no guarantee it will remain stable.
Update #1: We've got good news and bad news. Sony seems to have repaired the problems to PlayStation Network. We've had no problems accessing the PlayStation Store via the PS4. The web portal seems to be done entirely, though.
On the Nintendo front, the formerly online Wii and DSi services have now been downgrade. Some parts of those services are currently experiencing "technical difficulties."
Original Story:
Both Sony and Nintendo are having trouble keeping up with the families unwrapping new PlayStation 4, Wii U, and 3DS units. We’ve tested the PlayStation Store, the eShop, and the Xbox One Marketplace. The latter is the only that seems to be stable right now.
Logging in is possible on the PlayStation Network, but attempting to access the store reports back error code E-820001F7 and a note that “the service is currently undergoing maintenance.” Past instances of this error code have also been paired with an inability to play online using the PlayStation Network, so be aware that your multiplayer experience may be affected.
You can keep tabs on the PlayStation Network via Sony's PSN status page. Right now, the entire PlayStation Network is being reported as "Offline."
Accessing the Wii U eShop results in error 107-3058. Searching for that error code on the Nintendo website (with and without the hyphen) comes up with a note that this specific code isn’t in the database. Readers also report similar problems on 3DS.
Nintendo, too, has a service status page that you can visit for updates. Right now, the Wii U online services are down entirely. The 3DS is also experiencing problems.
We’ll keep an eye on the PlayStation Network and Wii U eShop and update as more information is available. For those of you just unwrapping a new console, please let us know what your experiencing, especially since the PS4 requires an update to access all of its features.
Our Take
This is not a good look for Sony and Nintendo. The first experience new owners are having with their consoles is likely to be one of frustration. Here’s hoping this gets settled quickly and families can carry on with their holidays.