UPDATE: Due to high traffic on PlayStation Store, you may encounter error messages or issues. We advise you to check back a little later and try again.
Note: In order to download two games at no cost, you must redeem them from the “Welcome Back” category. The individual titles are still available for purchase outside of the “Welcome Back Program”
If at any point you can’t find the ‘Welcome Back Free Game 1 or 2’ products, the list of available titles or a game you’ve selected, go to your XMB>PlayStation Network>Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List>SCEA Promotions to complete the process.
We’re so excited to welcome you back to PlayStation Network. With the PlayStation Store back online, we’ve been getting all caught up this week, having launched an abundance of amazing content for download on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable devices across games, movies, themes and DLC. Today, we’re excited to launch the Welcome Back program to thank you for your loyalty, and below, we’ve got what you need in order to get access to the included content. So, here’s a list of questions about the program. If you don’t see your question below, mention it in the comments and we’ll do our best to provide an answer. Thanks again for your patience and understanding as we restored the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services – your support has meant a lot to us and is greatly appreciated.
Q: What’s in the Welcome Back Program?
A: To start, all PSN members who had signed up before the outage (April 20, 2011) will be able to select two games for the PS3 system and two games for the PSP system.
For PS3 owners, go to the ‘Welcome Back’ section in the PlayStation Store, and select 2 titles from the following list:
- Dead Nation
- inFAMOUS
- LittleBigPlanet
- Super Stardust HD
- Wipeout HD + Fury
For PSP owners, go to the ‘Welcome Back’ section of PlayStation Store on your PSP system and select 2 titles from the following list:
- LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
- ModNation Racers
- Pursuit Force
- Killzone Liberation
Select your first game from “Game 1”, then return to the Welcome Back page and go to “Game 2” to select your second game out of the remaining choices available. This goes for both PS3 and PSP.
In addition, we’re giving access to our premium subscription service, PlayStation Plus, which includes games, huge discounts, exciting exclusives and added features like online storage and automatic downloads, to all PSN members for 30 days at no charge, requiring no long term commitment. As with the games above, go to the PlayStation Store and under the ‘Welcome Back’ section, select ‘PlayStation Plus: 30 Days Free’, and you’ll be given access to all of the benefits of PlayStation Plus. Note that this will not auto-renew and simply expires 30 days after activation.
Current Plus subscribers receive an extra 60 days added to their existing subscription at no charge. For current Plus subscribers, no action is needed as the 60 days are automatically added to your subscription.
PlayStation Network users will also get 100 virtual items in PlayStation Home as a show of appreciation for your patience while Home was inaccessible. Additional content is coming soon, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game.
A selection of “On Us” movie rentals are currently available to PlayStation Network customers this weekend only, where Video Service is available.
Finally, current Music Unlimited Premium subscription members will receive an additional 30 days of premium subscription plus days lost due to the outage.
Q: When will I have access to the Welcome Back Program?
A: The content offered as part of the Welcome Back Program is available for download today and will be available through July 3.
Q: I have both PS3 and PSP. Does this mean I will get 4 games all together?
A: Yes, as long as you were a PSN member before April 20, 2011, you’ll be able to receive up to 4 games based on the titles listed above; 2 on each platform.
Q: Are there any limitations to the PS3 and PSP games we are receiving as part of the Welcome Back Program?
A: These games are yours to keep.
Q: How long do I have to get into the PlayStation Store and receive my content for Welcome Back?
A: Access to the Welcome Back content will be expiring on July 3. Once this date has passed, the Welcome Back section in the PlayStation Store will be removed.
Q: When does the 30 days of my PlayStation Plus access expire?
A: Your PlayStation Plus 30-day access will expire 30 days from the date you activated it in PlayStation Store.
Q: When will (insert game here) be published?
A: Look forward to posts over the coming days that will show what content will be available at that point, or coming soon. We’re planning frequent store publishes offering lots of new content for everyone to enjoy.
Q: I’m getting 30 days of access to PlayStation Plus; can you refresh my memory on what I get with this service?
A: From the time you activate your 30 days of PlayStation Plus, you’ll be able to download games and game related content, purchase select store items at a discount, and have access to the exclusive features of Plus. You’ll also be able to get early access to any Plus exclusive Demos and priority Beta invitations that might be scheduled during your 30 days.
Q: Do I get to keep the games in PlayStation Plus forever?
A: Content that is free in PlayStation Plus will not be available after your PlayStation Plus time has expired. However, if you decide to join PlayStation Plus, you’ll have access to all of the content you downloaded during your 30 day access for as long as you are a subscriber.
Q: Do I get to keep any games or content I purchased with the PlayStation Plus discount?
A: Yes. Any content you purchase at a discount is yours to keep, regardless of your subscription status.
Q: Aside from the games and discounts; does PlayStation Plus offer anything else?
A: Yes! PlayStation Plus includes the Online Storage for Game Saves feature, allowing you to backup treasured game saves or access them from another PS3 system as long as you are a subscriber. In addition, you get the Automatic Download feature, which automatically updates your 10 most recently played games while the system is in stand-by mode so you don’t have to wait for updates before playing your games.
Q: What content will be in PlayStation Plus when I activate my 30 days?
A: PlayStation Plus content and discounts are regularly updated throughout the month. For up-to-date information on content within PlayStation Plus, please visit the Plus homepage.
Q: Where can I find the Welcome Back content in Home?
A: The 100 virtual items can be found in the kiosk in Home’s Central Plaza along with two personal spaces – Dragon’s Lair and the Mansion Garage. A new game – Ooblag’s Alien Casino – will be released soon (June 2011). This game will be free-to-play. As an added bonus, players that access the Ooblag Alien Casino space will be rewarded an active item version of the Ooblag game that can be played in your personal space(s).
Q: How do I access the content in the Welcome Back Program?
A: Follow the steps below to access the content in the Welcome Back Program:
1. Log on to PlayStation®Store
2. Click on the “Welcome Back” tab in the upper left menu
3. Select “Welcome Back Free PS3™ Game 1”
4. Within the category, click on the “Welcome Back Free PS3™ Game 1” product and “Get Now”
5. Select your free PS3™ game*, and “Download”*
6. Repeat steps 3-5 with “Welcome Back Free PS3™ Game 2”
7. Go to the XMB™ to play your free games.
Q: I clicked on one of the Welcome Back Free PS3/PSP Game 1/2 selections, clicked “Get Now”, but no games showed up. Now that option is no longer selectable in the Store. Where is my game?
A: This is an issue we’re working on resolving, however for the time being, you can still get to that content by going to the XMB and under the PlayStation Network column, go to Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List>SCEA Promotion. You should be able to access the content in the option you selected here.
Q: Why am I getting errors saying I can’t access the Store?
A: Due to the surge of people going to the Store, you may experience some blocks in accessing certain areas of the store. Give it another try, or wait for a small period of time to avoid the rush.
Remember, if you didn’t see your question answered above, drop us a line below and we’ll do our best to answer it. Welcome Back!
omg its letting me download :(
@1042 I did what you said and in the services list it shows SCEA Promotion>Welcome Back Free PS3 Game 1& 2.
When I click on either one it shows the following:
Title:Welcome Back:Free PS3 Game 1
Starts: 06/03/2011
Expires: 06/03/2011
Remaining:0
NEVER MINE I FOUND GAME 1 IT WAS HIDING IN SERVICE LIST :D
Okay, i went in and clicked on Free PS3 game 1, than hit get now, than my ps3 froze up, and i had to restart, when i went back, it was gone and now i can’t get my game. Is there no way to get it back? Please help.
TOO MANY PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO GET IT WHICH FORCES IT TO CRASH WAIT TILL TOMORROW OR SOMETHING IF NOT NOBODY WILL GET THERE DOWNLOADS. IF YOUR FREE GAME OPTION HAS DISSAPEARED GO TO THE FIRST PAGE AND READ THE COMMENTS IT TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO.
SWEET, thank you guys!!! 8)
Cant download my free games because the option is gone. PLEASE FIX THIS!
Hey even the best servers have problems when you got nearly 7 million people downloading stuff all at once on a rebuilt system. give it times its annoying yes but have you ever known anything to be perfect its first time around? BTW I had no problem getting my games so I dont know if this will work but if you downloaded the first game pass (or second) try looking for the game in the store elsewhere not in the welcome back area might work but don’t take this as fact just give it a shot.
even though i did do the manage account etc. it has errors do i wait?
It’s official, no one knows how to read anymore.
if you take part in the online storage for plus, will you be able to access those saved files after the free 30 day trial is over?
Great, now I tried to select the first free ps3 game, then a bunch of errors occurred so I exited and now I can only select the second game. WTF PlayStation!
ok so all the free stuff i download on the 30 day free Psn Plus will expire ok what about the stuff i buy from the discounts and such while on Psn Plus? will still be able to download anytime after i buy content? or will those expire as well?
If inside the store dont let you download try to download from account management>download list (keep trying until you get in. The games you selected should be in there try to download from there I’m downloading Infamous right now (156 minutes left) lol
The store keeps giving me errors, and saying its undergoing maintenance, it lets me download things after a while, but its very difficult, i understand there is going to be some glitches for awhile, just hope you guys can clear these issues up.
i cant enter the store is full of error 800XXD36 or something like that.
@Sighrus99 dude thx so much for that, cuz I was getting mad. At least I still have a chance to get my games, hope it works ^-^
Everytime i go to buy something it says error why does it say that?
Why did you waste this much time instead of just giving ‘real credits’ where we can just choose our game?
Honestly this is not making up for it. I’m going to complain.
I’m canadian and currently in Europe away from my PS3 until July 18. Not having any way to access the Playstation Store but from my system back at home, is there another option available for me to pick up my free games? Thanks
Whenever I try to access the Store or Account Management, it gives me Error Code 80710D36. Please Help!
Sony seriously when i downloaded the key to the first content i kept getting the error crap and when i pressed back i couldnt download dead nation -_- so i only get one free game cuz it doesnt show free game 1 anymore but i did get free game 2. Fix the damn store servers.
SONY!!! because of how this works i was in the middle of getting my 2nd game and then my ps3 froze so i had to restart so now i cant get it . I want my 2nd game. please fix this. please respond.
DO ANY OF YOU IDIOTS ACTUALLY READ?
i was trying to download it and it froze so i turned the ps3 on and off and now i dont have any way to get ps3 downloads anyone have the same problem?
I’m trying to get free item on ps home when I do I get errors
this was really cute, first i do the download free ps game 1 then all the games disappear, i did all of the free download stuff only for everything to totally disappear from the welcome back. this is a complete crock and this needs to be fixed right now! then to top everything off when i look in a different area i am guided to have to pay for the game instead of getting my 2 ps3 games and 2 psp games. so tell me what really gives here Susan.
It isnt workin for me i try going on ps store buh it says an error has occured .
You really need to update the FAQ or make a new post on how to help people with these errors
omg :( when i click it it say an error has occured. (80710d36)
this is BS!, get an error when trying to get game 1 and now the option doesn’t show up anymore!!
@1050 yeah i found it, I was just hangry, thanks :)
can anybody here teach me how to read i have a feeling the directions on wat to do if it doesnt work might help me hmmm
To all the people who keep posting, well when I download this, and that, and where did my game go bla! Your an idiot. Read the comments on here to learn something. I am gonna throw this in your face. “Hey, I got all my games and a few other cool stuff and playing the free games right now :D. How? Because I took peoples advice by reading the comments”
…Must I go on?
I just downloaded the things that said PS3: Game 1 and PS3 Game: 2 but i didn’t know you had to select the game after downloading those. Now I cannot see where these are and I cannot find the free games. What do I do?
i need help do i onley get one game because i clicked on dead nation twice ? it kept giving me error after error and now i cant pick game 2
Hello, every time I get into the PlayStation Store it would come up error and then have these numbers and stuff! It would happen almost every time I go to a different page on the PlayStation Store and sometimes it would not work. I purchased the PSP 1 free game and it keep popping up error and these numbers. I keep [pressing it but it won’t let me download it and so I went back out and it took away one free game. When I go to downloads it says I only have Little Big Planet and nothing else! I am frustrated! Please Help!
Dear Sony,
I apologize for my earlier comments. I was just frustrated. But its working for me now, so i’m happy again.
I just downloaded infamous and getting ready to install. I checked my services and all my remaining free games are there waiting to be redeemed. I will wait until Saturday when all the idiots have stopped crashing the PSN.
@BJtheLegend i would give up too no one is reading the posts lol i read them all and the answer is like on every page muti times but still feel they have to ask. Its funny stuff lol.
Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance. Please finish maintenance.
People away from your systems. Hey dont fret as long as you have internet you can claim your stuff. Go to the playstation store on there website and claim it there hope that works. If not im sure sony will tell you guys something soon.
Hey! I got and error trying to download a free game, and it deleted the option to download that Game #2! Help!
@1082 That doesn’t help the people who use Media Go; I can’t access my wireless network with my PSP, so.
tried to download my 2 free PS3 game vouchers and it froze temporarily and eventually gave me an error. Now they are not even showing up and I can’t select the a game from the list?!?! Also, when I go to the game itself it’s still say I have to pay for it. I understand there is a lot of traffic so I gave up and will come back to it later. But my ultimate questions is now that my voucher doesn’t show up how do I get my free games with the list provided?!?!
So, I went to the Welcome Back icon in the Store and selected the PS3 Game 1 option and selected inFamous. After I confirmed it for download I received an error code (80710D36). I went back and went to the Welcome Back icon again and The Game 1 option is gone and I still don’t have the inFamous game. Has this happened to anyone else?
Hey… I don’t know if this is a noob question, but I tried to select a free PS3 Game 1, and the store froze, I had to turn off my PS3, now, it only gives me Free PS3 Game 2 and 2 PSP Free games… Please don’t tell me I just lost my chance for a PS3 game…
@1091 I feel your pain
Killzone and pursuit force dont show up any help ?
sony what gives ? i couldn’t download my stuff i only got to download one of the 2 for psp and ps3 and i clicked on the other one and they dissapeared?