Sony has reset a number of PlayStation Network and Sony Entertainment Network passwords in recent days, attributing the precaution to "irregular activity" detected by its security team. Two staff members at The Verge today received the below email, in which Sony says it "routinely monitors for any irregular activity, and if such activity is detected, we may sometimes reset passwords of affected accounts to protect consumers and their account information." The message also encourages customers to use strong passwords that are unique to Sony's services. "As always, we also encourage you to keep a close eye on your account for any unusual activity including emails about transactions you did not perform," the company says.

Such security measures aren't uncommon in an era when breaches and hacks are commonplace. However, seeing Sony take them is sure to raise eyebrows, as the 2011 PlayStation Network hack — now regarded as among the worst on record — remains fresh in the minds of many gamers. We reached out to Sony for more information on these password resets, but the company offered few details. A spokesperson told The Verge, "We routinely monitor for irregular activity, and if such activity is detected, we may sometimes reset passwords of affected Sony Entertainment Network accounts to protect consumers and their account information." That statement echoes the email itself, which we've included below.

Dear valued customer,
The Sony Entertainment Network team routinely monitors for any irregular activity, and if such activity is detected, we may sometimes reset passwords of affected accounts to protect consumers and their account information. Your account password was recently reset as part of this process and you will need to create a new password the next time you access your account using the "Forgot Your Password" option on the Sign in screen.
We encourage you to create a complex unique password that you have not used before or isn't the same password as those associated with other online services. As always, we also encourage you to keep a close eye on your account for any unusual activity including emails about transactions you did not perform. Please click here if you need help in changing your password, or to contact us for additional assistance.
Also, remember that Sony will never ask you for your password or any personal or account information in an email. Please use caution if you receive any emails or phone calls from anyone asking for personal information or directing you to a website where you are asked to provide personal information.
Thank you, The Sony Entertainment Network Team

Of note, two major hacks may be fueling Sony's decision. Adobe recently suffered a security breach that affected tens of millions of customer accounts. Another incident compelled Facebook, Twitter, and other services to issue password resets of their own after a hacker made off with 2 million passwords. Sony may well be trying to shield impacted users from further trouble after these massive breaches, though the company isn't yet confirming as much.