Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox Live and Sony Corp.'s PlayStation Network, Internet services that video gamers use to play online, were hit by connection failures Christmas Day, with the hackers Lizard Squad claiming responsibility.
The group, which took credit for an attack on Sony earlier this year, said on its Twitter account that it was behind the incidents. The group said it would "stop hitting" the services if users called attention to the hack by retweeting its statements.
The latest incident is an annoyance for Sony compared with the attack on its TV and film unit last month.