Sony Europe is shutting down the PlayStation Network late this afternoon between 5.00 and 7.00pm.

“Maintenance” is cited as the reason for the closure, and we’re duly warned that PS3 players will not be able to visit the PlayStation Store or play games online for the duration. A stark holding page is all you’ll see if you even try. So, er, don’t.

But is maintenance the sole reason for the shutdown, we wonder? Ordinarily we’d say yes, however the timing coincides so nicely with Sony’s keynote presentation at GamesCom (which runs from 5.30 to 6.30pm) that something just has to be afoot. We’re thinking some neat new feature for the PSN or a slick redesign to improve legibility and overall usability. Hey, maybe it’ll be a European launch for the PlayStation Video Store. Then again it could just be dull old “maintenance” and nothing more...

Guess we’ll find out one way or another at around 7.00 tonight. We’ll be sure to tell you what’s up, and to report all the juicy bits from Sony’s big show.