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!
Anyone able to help. I am able to access the PSS from the XMB. However while trying to access it through the ingame menu of NHL 11 it wont connect. Any help or info would be nice. I know no one cares about NHL
This will likely never be ready by anybody at Sony who cares but, should post it anyway seeing as how you can’t email anyone directly.
Thanks Sony! There was only one game I was able to download of the list really as I already have the rest of them but much appreciated. I don’t really feel you owed your gamers anything. Your biggest fans are right. How can you expect compensation for a service that’s totally free. Never-the-less, its those of us that are most grateful. Goodluck to you in everything! We appreciate ya in everything. Amazing games, a great service and an amazing upcoming year with stellar titles. Can’t wait to view the E3 Press Conference! IN AN ARENA THIS YEAR! Still trying to figure out why, but will find out in a few short days. THANKS AGAIN SONY!
Well done Sony, I downloaded all the games :)
Cosigns NeoMahi
just protect are passwords NO Plain TEXT ..lol
and we are good
Okay. I logged on to the Store on my PSP. It’s a reasonable guess that because traffic was so high, I was being stymied by error messages but I got into the “Welcome Back” menu. I tried going into the redeem Game 1 menu or whatever it was and got an error message and had to go back. When that happened, the 1st Game thing had disappeared along with the menu of free games underneath so I, and please spare me here any obnoxious remarks about how obvious a mistake this was, I tried the same thing with the second free coupon and then that one disappeared. Does anyone know if this is just an issue that will remedy itself in that they’ll probably reappear in a little bit or do I actually have to be all proactive and bug Sony in the naive hope that that will provide any more positive consequences than just waiting around?
And I agree with Neomahi, I also don’t feel you owe anything to anyone. It’s a free service. Plus, you get all these people complaining. Good work.
I got one game so far! (LBP) Haven’t attempted to get another one. yay ^.^
i tryed to get my games and now i cant wtf
Yes Sony most of us love and appreciate everything you have done. You guys were victims in this just like the rest of us. I’ll admit that even I became a little cross at times. I apologize and would like to thank you for your extreme patience with the community. Nothing personal you understand :)
lol my games are downloading. you just gotta ignore the error msgs and FOLLOW SONYS DIRECTIONS.
i tried to download the game and it said to get the welcome back free game 1 and so I did that and then it disapeared and i dont know how to dowload the free game now. PLEASE HELP
nah i would if there were black ops map packs
on my second download…i don’t know if it’s my connection but the downloads are kinda slow…
Do i have to download the wipeout demo to get the full version i downloaded the Full game unlock and im downloading the add on and i cant start the game -.-
Hi There, just wondering about the music service ,is it available and if so where can i find it. Thanks.
Man the system is really bogged down.
Thanks for he freebies sony!!
What’s better lil big planet or dead nation anyone know what better of the two games thanks for your help
How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
I keep getting aan error when trying to access the store…server may be flooded…i’ll keep trying I’m sure stuff will smooth out.
Sony whats up the error message appered when i tried to get my first free ps3 game and than froze so i turned my system off and now i lost my chance for my first free game can you please fix this problem for me thank you sony
@1608 A woodchuck could chuck no amount of wood since a woodchuck couldn’t chuck wood.
Patience is golden. Took a few tries, but finally got all my stuff downloading right now. Thanks Sony!
Same problem as most. Tried to follow the directions provided on the screen. Continued getting error message. Now PS3 Game 1 is no longer an option. My selection wasn’t downloaded, wasn’t still available in my cart, and the store won’t allow me to download it. Will call Sony support if I have to, but with so many people commenting about the exact same problem here on the blog, I’m just hoping Sony can rectify it.
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.
@1386 Yes, Dead Nation has two player online or local coop.
YES!!!! HAHA finally!
Under the services section in my account, it doesnt show the 30 days of playstation plus and it never activated before. How do I get this back?
Only got one game D:
fixed
how do i acess my free games
Anxious to gather a copy of both Dead Nation and inFamous, I tried to use the welcome back program. I keep getting error messages but they go away after several attempts. I kept getting these messages after every attempt and tried to choose dead nation. I think I ended up choosing it twice because those two options are not showing up and I’ve received no prompt to download any media.
I know I may be an idiot for trying to proceed with any transaction after gathering a plethora of error messages, and even more so for not reading the hundreds of comments in the hope of one having my problem, but could you still tell me what I did wrong and what I can do to repair the problem? What can I do to stop the error messages?
@1596 , go to ur account management then into transaction management , then services list and scea promotion. you’ll find everything there
@1614 Thanks! that was just the info I was looking for.
tried to download a free game and it told me it was from the second pack and now the first download is gone, only getting one game????
how do i sign up for PLAYSTATION PLUS!!!! i only own a psp!!
What heppened I thought we were gonna get ratchet and clank : quest for booty ? Whatever happened to that I was really looking forward to get it :(
When I go through the account management steps, I get the Free PSP game 1, I select it and it states my game started 6.3.11 and expired 6.3.11. Am I out of luck on getting ModNation Racers? I was able to download my second game though.
seriously where can i go to sign up for playstation plus
I lost Both vouchers.. and none are in my download history/transaction.. :*(
Question: MAG Map Pack comes free with Plus or do you get it for free because I personally LOVE MAG
i lost both vochers too just like @1628 so that means i wont get free games ??? at all???
I have a problem I’m a college student with a PS3 and no TV so how am I supposed to redeem my games?
Question: I know you guys must get this asked every minute of every day but i am wondering, is there a possibility for cross game chat to be on Playstation 3?
Diosito_1997
I was disappointed that I will be unable to enjoy the Welcome Back Package. I purchased my PS3 on April 19, and that night while setting up my PSN account is when it got shut down. In the original statement placed on the blog
May 16
This package will be made available to all existing registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users in North America (US and Canada), and will be made available shortly after we have fully restored the service. More specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live.
My partner who got their account registered right before the shutdown got the free stuff.
Any suggestions as I have both systems and its not really cool that people who got PS items even though the shutdown was going on are not able to enjoy the welcome back program
I managed to slog through between about 5 and 6 this afternoon. got my two games (infamous, dead nation), the pixel theme, bought and D/Led worms, D/Led the eat them demo. didn’t get to the movie rentals or modnation old west parts, that was about the point where i said “anh, I can do the rest of this later”. those servers are in pain, lol.
did they even prepare for large numbers of people in the store it was down longer than online but its patchy and half done yes call me whatever but if a company says free stuff they better be ready for the flood this has lowered my opinion of sony greatly i no longer trust this company this might destroy sony yes they got hacked yes it was not there fault if it was not ready than the psn store should not have come online sony needs to fire there management and hire someone competent not these idiots
(signed angry red dot)
I think they probably anticipated the load, but to quote tony soprano “what are you gonna do?”. there really would have been no effective way to test what was going to happen when they just turned it on everywhere. just saying, IT is NOT an exact science. things will striaghten out as more and more people succeed, stop hitting the store, and get back to playing games – it was like this when the store went back up on wednesday night (same thing, constant errors), but by around friday i could surf it smoothly. chin up guys. :)
i activated the psn plus service downloaded dead nation , now downloading little big planet for my psp since i already own little big planet for my ps3 and infamous !
im getting an error when I try to start post patch dead nation. when I disconnected my Ethernet and it didn’t patch it worked fine can anyone help cause i want to play it online.
@sonofdrjekyll
the store is ready and working, its the servers taking a hammering from everyone trying to access it all at once. Yes Sony could have gone out and bought more servers to handle the load but that would be stupid and pointless since the new servers wouldn’t be needed in a few days when everything returns to normal.