PlayStation Network to Get Two-Factor Authentication

Sony plans to add two-factor authentication to its PlayStation Network.

Following Tuesday's PlayStation 3 firmware update (version 4.80), some eagle-eyed users spotted a mention of two-step verification, which is not currently supported on PSN accounts. Sony told PCMag that "in order to further safeguard our users and their accounts, we are preparing to offer a 2-step verification feature." 

The widely offered but often unused function adds an extra layer of security by requiring you to identify yourself in at least two ways: something you know (a password) plus something you own (a smartphone) or have (a fingerprint). By signing in with a username, password, and second code—often one generated by a mobile app or received via text message—users can rest assured that their personal details are protected.

As Polygon points out, this week's news comes exactly five years after a major PlayStation Network hack compromised millions of accounts and left the service offline for nearly a month.

Console rival Microsoft, meanwhile, rolled out the option to add two-factor authentication across its services three years ago, including Xbox Live (which requires an app-generated password).

Sony is rumored to be giving its PlayStation 4 an upgrade: The "PS4.5," internally known as NEO, will reportedly feature higher clock speed, improved GPU, and higher bandwidth—for $399. Come October, developers will ship games with a "base mode" and "NEO mode," which taps into the updated console's specs.