If PSN can’t handle Minecraft, what’s gonna happen when Destiny releases?

With PSN having gone down earlier, likely as a result of Minecraft's launch on PS4, I’m left pondering this question: If PSN can’t handle the release of Minecraft, what’s gonna happen when Destiny releases?

It’s a fair question. Minecraft released on PSN for PlayStation 4 earlier today for $20 ($5 if you owned it on the PS3), and now PSN has gone to hell. Meanwhile, Destiny — the upcoming shooter from Bungie and Activision — is hyped beyond wildest expectations and is releasing next Tuesday, September 9. It has set the game industry record for most pre-orders for a new title. Everyone I know who owns a PlayStation 4 is getting this game. And you expect me to believe PSN won’t buckle under the pressure of Bungie’s AAA heavyweight?

No way. I’m predicting that PSN will crash hard come next Tuesday. We’ve seen this time and time again with multiple online services on multiple platforms; when players flock online to play the next big game, systems crumble, gamers get disgruntled, and online services fail.

And remember when gaming executives wanted the next-gen consoles to be always online? Imagine the nightmares we would have had to deal with. Not only would we not have been able to use online features for games, but we probably wouldn’t have been able to play games offline either.

Seeing as how Destiny is always online, you won’t be able to play it if PSN goes down. This is the age we live in, and these are the consequences. Fingers crossed that PSN gets the gaming stability equivalent of HGH before Destiny releases…

You can follow Editorial Director Lance Liebl on Twitter @Lance_GZ. Or you can email him at LLiebl@GameZone.com.

Note: We've since edited the intro to this article to reflect that PSN was down. Since writing it, PSN is back up.