Coming back online - welcome news for PlayStation fans

Sony has tweeted that the online network for its PlayStation consoles is gradually coming back online after being down for almost three days.

The service - along with Microsoft's Xbox Live network - stopped working on Christmas Day following a suspected cyber attack.

The Xbox service has also been restored.

Update: PS4, PS3, and Vita network services are gradually coming back online - thanks for your patience

— Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) December 27, 2014

Credit for the disruptions was claimed on Twitter by a group of self-proclaimed hackers called Lizard Squad, or someone purporting to speak for the group. But many video game enthusiasts and other hacker groups quickly condemned their actions.