PSN Down & Offline For Maintenance Today, November 17

Update 2:

Ask PlayStation revealed at 12:50pm PT that “PSN maintenance has completed ahead of schedule. Happy gaming!”

Update:

The PlayStation Support website has updated again to reveal that the maintenance is only going to last the originally planned six hours.

After saying how this maintenance is being done to “continue to deliver you the best online games experience,” the added:

During this maintenance period, you may receive a message that states “Sony Entertainment Network is undergoing maintenance” when attempting to access the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Home. If you have signed in to PSN within 5 days prior to the start of maintenance, you may be able to play games online and enjoy apps such as Netflix, HULU Plus and Music Unlimited during this maintenance period.

PS4 users will not be able to view the What’s New, Live, and Library areas of their console. Share functions will be impacted as well.

The original story has been updated to reflect the timing change.

Original Story:

Running for six hours today so Sony can “deploy a series of back-end improvements to the network,” the PlayStation Network is undergoing maintenance today, meaning that the PlayStation Store, PlayStation Home, and Account Management will be unavailable for everyone, while others may be unable to play online.

Here’s when the PSN maintenance is taking place:

Begins: 9am PT/12pm ET/17:00 GMT
Ends: 3pm PT/6pm ET/23:00 GMT

If you’ve signed in to the PSN at any point since November 13, your details will be cached and you’ll be able to play games online and access apps like Netflix. For those of you who haven’t signed in recently, you won’t be able to sign-in to your account or “begin an online gaming session” during the maintenance.

Although the maintenance is scheduled to end at 3pm PT/6pm ET/23:00 GMT, PlayStation warns: “There may be some additional downtime after the maintenance period for testing purposes.”

[Source: PlayStation Support]

Essential Reading:

PSN Down

Here's What You Can Do When PSN is Down

Even if you’re a PlayStation fan, you have to admit that the PlayStation Network could be a little bit more stable.
Unfortunately, we don’t know if that’s happening anytime soon. And even if finally doesn’t go down as much, there still are the periodic bouts of maintenance that sometimes turn into actual downtime, too.
Well, we here at PlayStation LifeStyle are just like you. We want our consoles online all the time and we get annoyed when it’s not. Fortunately for you, we’ve compiled a list of things you can do while PSN is down, and it should make the wait a lot easier.
Remember to check back the gallery regularly since we’ll be adding more ideas and stuff to do in the near future.
What do you do think of our suggestions? And what do you suggest PlayStation fans do when PSN is down? Sound off in the comments and who knows? Maybe your suggestion will make it into the list!
Arrange Your Physical Game Collection

Unless you've entirely gone the digital route, you're bound to have a few games lying about. Go arrange it in whatever order you see fit, so it won't be a chore to find that particular game when you're looking for it.
[Image source: What Culture]
Clean Your Controllers, Consoles and Other Gaming Stuff

Unless you game with sanitary gloves on, chances are your controllers have a bit of grime on them. Now's the perfect time to clean 'em off, and your consoles, too, while you're at it!
Wipe the dust away, use a safe cleaner and go to town on your gaming babies. If you won't take care of them, who will?
[Image source: Reuters]
Complain Online and Complain to Sony

Possibly everyone's favorite past time when PSN is down; and that's to complain about it on Twitter, Facebook, forums and other sites where people can share in your complaints.
Hey, at least you're moping with other PlayStation fans, right?
Do Some Chores, Homework

Is there something in the house that needs fixing or cleaning? Why not do it now, right?
Mow the lawn, clean your room, do your homework. There's bound to be something...so go do it.
[Image source: LittleHouseInTheSuburbs]
Exercise

Gamers aren't really known to be the most fit group of people in the world, and it's time that's amended.
Go to your nearest gym. Hit the weights, do yoga or just go out for a jog. Heck, worse case? Just grab one of those EyeToy exercise games and go do those. You'll thank us later.
[Image source: Dead-Sport]
Go for a Food Run

Are you the type of person who likes to snack while gaming? Well, if so, now's the perfect time to go out on a food run and stock up on provisions for those marathon gaming sessions.
[Image source: hbclynchburg]
Go Out With Friends

Here's a novel idea: when PSN is down, go out and do something else.
Maybe grab a drink with a friend, do something physically straining or just hang around with your friends in real life.
Mind you, it will mean you need to get dressed and such, but at least that's better than having to wait for something to come online.
Learn Something New

Why not learn something new? If you're not into singing or dancing, maybe a new martial art?
Hey, if cats can do it, you can, too!
[Image source: HD1wallpapers]
Make Your Own List on What to Do If PSN is Down

If you're not satisfied with our suggestions so far, why not make your own list and share it with the rest of us?
Go on...do it!
[Image source: Esquire]
Play a Co-Op Game

No online play? That's not a problem if you have a game with couch co-op.
Why not finish whatever's in your backlog that has split-screen co-op? At least this way, you can form strategy with someone you can actually see.
Play a Single-Player Game/Hunt for Trophies

Now, if you don't have any co-op games or friends near the area, why not go through your single-player backlog and tackle it right NOW!
Remember that game you said you'll eventually finish but haven't done so in months? Well, now's the best time as any.
Sit back, enjoy the games you spent hard earned money on and FINISH them.
Or, go round up those Trophies in past games so you can build your level.
Play Games on Other Consoles

Are you used to playing PlayStation devices only when PSN is up and working? Well, why not *gasp* play on other platforms!?
You don't need to stick to current consoles, either. Dust off your PSone, or SNES and go play some old-school goodness.
[Image source: TriplePundit]
Read a Book

Back in the day, people amused themselves with their imagination by reading. While movies, video games and social media might have made reading a little passe, it's still a solid way to entertain yourself without being arrested.
[Image source: Bestpaperz]
Read PlayStation LifeStyle!

Need we say more? Go read up on our latest news, reviews, features and more. At least this way, you'll also be alerted on what's happening in anything PlayStation-related, and of course, hang out with fellow gamers online.
Spend Time With Your Family, Friends, Relatives

Why not take this time to go out and check up on what your family is doing? Or better yet, if you have a significant other, take them out to a movie.
Spend some time with your loved ones -- and no, that doesn't mean your squadmates.
Take Your Pet Out

Take your dog, cat, gerbil or whatever out for a walk and stretch your legs in the process, too.
Or if you want, maybe train your pet to do some nifty tricks like "chew on DualShock 4, Rusty!" or something a little more constructive.
Untangle and Fix Your Consoles' and Media Center's Cables
Write Down the List of Games You'll be Buying Soon

With games now releasing all throughout the year, why not take this downtime to make a list of the games you plan on purchasing in the future? Keep in mind that you don't need to buy everything in the list, but at least you'll have an idea what to get soon.
[Image source: PinoyPS]