Microsoft has restored a limited service to Xbox Live users after the online gaming platform was allegedly taken down by hackers.

A group named Lizard Squad has claimed responsibility for the disruption, which is still affecting Sony's Playstation Networks.

The outages come just over a week after threats by hackers forced Sony to cancel public screenings of a satirical film.

The film has since been released online.

Both companies expected heavy use as people who received Microsoft Xboxes or Sony PlayStations on Christmas Day tried to hook up.

I think Playstation's twitter said it was partially back up as well.

I can download updates on PS4 again for games, but nothing else works for me <_<

Sony's PlayStation reported that its network was back online and claimed that it had been attacked, three days after it and Microsoft's Xbox went down in an outage.

An allegedly coordinated Christmas Day hack brought down the gaming consoles, both popular presents, although Xbox has been working at near full capacity since Friday.

"PlayStation Network and some other gaming services were attacked over the holidays with artificially high levels of traffic designed to disrupt connectivity and online gameplay," Catherine Jensen, vice president of consumer experience for Sony's California-based US division, said in a blog post late yesterday.

"PlayStation Network is back online," she added.

Meanwhile all except three of Xbox's applications have been up and running since Friday.

Hacker group Lizard Squad took credit for the disruption and has targeted Sony in the past.

Sony had earlier this month been hit by a sophisticated hacking attack that stole massive amounts of data from its servers.

The US has blamed North Korea for the attack, with the reclusive state furious at the release of Sony film ‘The Interview’, which features a fictional plot to kill its leader, Kim Jong-un.

However, analysts said a direct connection between the Sony PlayStation and Sony Pictures attacks was unlikely, and that the latest hack was probably the work of fame-seeking amateurs.