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!
bad boys is good just kinda old
@1974 Ok that’s why slow down and read post next time yes call Sony is best option
/The welcome games are yours to keep same goes for any thing you pay for. norman55/
But the free playstation plus items like themes games ect are inaccessible after the time limit.
@1984 Yeah I just logged on to the store and saw the Welcome Back option was up so I jumped right in, I didn’t know there was a blog about it yet.
jmhamblin420 piease read
If this happened, go to the XMB and under the PlayStation Network column, go to Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List>SCEA Promotions to download the game for that first slot.
Hello Sony I have a question on the welcome back package. I bought my ps3 on the same day that the psn was down not knowing that it was down and I couldn’t get the welcome back package I waited as long as everybody else and it’s not fair that I can’t receive the welcome back package aswel I also came on this blog to check every day on news of the restoration. And I would also like 2 games and everything else the package has. Please consider this and I would like very much to get this package. When I first got the ps3 i was so exided to play online but I couldn’t.
@ 1903 Thanks it worked.
I’ll repost just incase others are having this problem
FIX FOR inFAMOUS NOT SHOWING:
Got to your download list for the free trail you downloaded with ps plus. Redownload it, let the 60 minutes expire. Then Go back to store and it will then show for download.
You have to let the trail expire before the game to show.
Worked for me.
Ccan someone answer me about the error code I mentioned a few posts back? It’s not the same code that has been posted many times.
All well and good, but when are you going to address the bricking of consoles after the latest firmware update?
so wat about the ppl that cant get the welcome back free thingy cuzz of so many ppl are on and the 30 day trial ends
Well I downloaded Dead Nation,Super Stardust HD & for PSP I got KillZone,LilBigPlanet; Thanks Sony, I didnt find the WB Program confusing at all ppl are just in too much of a rush & are not reading w/their eyeballs…So hopefully Within a year Sony will find exactly what happened to our Personal “info” , cause after that whats gonna happen?. Thanks again Sony (for the free games+ +)…. Dizzle OUT! ;-)….. Ohh yea… First….lol
after getting the 2 free psp games im actually thinking about buying one. not sure yet
@1990 go to the support page they help ypu with errors not the palce to ask
Sony sony sony… Why are you making this difficult for everyone? Im pretty sure this is not how to welcome people back look at these problems and issues. Particularly the guy who had his credit card charged… Im pretty sure he doesnt feel welcome. And lilo and stitch? Really sony? That game is for kids and isnt really good…. You would think they would learn
@1994 It is when everyone is getting errors because of the flooded servers. That’s all this was too. I got bored of waiting and pressed it a few more times and it let me on. I can’t wait until this dies down in a few days. I’m out.
norman55
yes i did all that and the games downloaded but i cant seem to find wipeout if i go to play it dead nations up there should i try n redownload wipeout?
I really do not agree with the ”before the outage (April 20, 2011) ” rule. I bought my psp alittle bit after April 20th, and i had to suffer like everybody else who couldn’t access the Playstation store during the outage. I think playstation should reconsider that rule because i have been waiting a VERY long time just like everybody else to redeem my free ”welcome back” games. :(
Lol nvm, i just have a 2000 item download list so i did not see inFamous there. xP
Can someone PLEASE explain how PSP-only users are supposed to activate the PSN+ trial?
I’m not seeing it on the Welcome Back section… and no, this isn’t another complaint about the free games, I’m not seeing the PSN+ trial at all.
ummm..I don’t mean to be rude but why the hell am I not included in this program??? I bought my PS3 for my birthday while the network was hacked. I knew it but since I love everything sony just like my PS1 and PS2, I chose not to return it for a 360 but instead keep it because I heard that there will be a appreciation pack. So incase you haven’t noticed I also missed out on PSN for a whole month and yet I am not eligible to get my part of the deal just because I didn’t have a PS3 and couldn’t sign up a few days earlier??? Can someone please tell me why I am left out of this great deal when I stayed loyal to Sony and didn’t trade my PS3 for a 360 even though I was missing out on one of the most important aspect of my console and I lent Sony like $350! :’(
the home items arent working well for me. where “add to shopping cart” is supposed to be it says error on everything. im sure its just all the people trying to get them though.
So I did this: “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.” But it won’t let me go back to Free Game 1. And it definitely didn’t download Dead Nation even though it has the red tag that says I chose it. When I click on Free PS3 Game 1 it says it’s expired, and Remaining 0. Help?
i keep getting a message saying i cant get it on this acc why is that?
@2005 you are having the same issue as me and it needs to be fixed asap….I mean we suffered through the outage too >.<
you are 2005 Spider
@2004 I’m guessing your not in the welcome back package then because that did not happen to me there. I have no idea then .
Hey Sony, I have almost finished downloading all of my stuff and since not enough people here seem to be saying it I suppose I will: Thank you, this is an awesome program and at least I APPRECIATE it.
As for people having issues with downloads, just be patient servers are overloaded as hell tonight. If you find an issue like you downloaded the free game voucher but now you can’t get your games, simply access the voucher again from: Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List>SCEA Promotions. Its frustrating but it will work if you stick to it.
(Or heaven forbid you try it tomorrow)…
@2006/boondox30 weird, u show up as 2007 and he shows up as 2005 and I show up as 2006 to me xD
It seems there’s a bug, we can’t download PSP welcome back games when we already have downloaded PS3 welcome back games. Could you tell that to Sony so they can repair this ?
@2001 If you bought your PS3 after April 20th, the day Sony took down the PSN, and did not have a PSN account prior to April 20th, you don’t qualify for the Welcome Back program. The rational is you bought your system knowing full well the network was down, so your weren’t inconvencied like people who had it prior to the hack. Therefore your not entitled since you basically chose to buy a system that did not fully work.
lol ok. i was confused
1928 i agree,it wasnt enough for the free games,and a month sub on ps plus,and the 100 free avi items,cmon people be happy with what u get
i could only get 1 ps3 game! :-(
is this Little Big Planet – Game of the Year Edition or the old one?
https://blog.playstation.com/2009/08/17/announcing-littlebigplanet-%E2%80%93-game-of-the-year-edition/
@2011/Mercer31 we suffered the so called “inconvience too” and full free online features was still advertised on my box so idk how I bought a unfunctional system.
there should had been a larger variety of movies to pick from instead of only 3
Can someone PLEASE explain how PSP-only users are supposed to activate the PSN+ trial?
I’m not seeing it on the Welcome Back section… and no, this isn’t another complaint about the free games, I’m not seeing the PSN+ trial at all.
Thank you Sony, I’ll always be your loyal customer! I believe in you!
@2015/Spider Yes you were inconvencied. But Sony’s stance is, you bought a PS3, knowing that the PSN and the PS Store were not working. They had been taken down. By doing so, you chose to inconveince yourself. I really can’t think of an analogy or comparision since this whole hack thing is unique.
Hey Sony!
What happens if a person already has 5 or more of the games offered in the Welcome Back Program? Then what?, they’re out in the cold? This is my situation.
I agree with you number 2016
PEOPLE DON’T DO ANYTHING JUST YET, WAIT. I TRY TO DOWNLOAD ONE OF THE FREE GAMES AND THEN IT THROW ME THE ERROR CODE. NOW I HAVE LOST ONE OF THE FREE GAMES. I CAN’T ACCESS IT AGAIN, AND I DIDN’T EVEN START TO DOWNLOAD THE GAME.
@2017 we don’t get the plus option.
Of the PS3 choices of games which are say the two best choices?
So let me get this straight… I am locked out of my PS3 for a month. The same PS3 I paid $700 for at launch. Then, a two days after I leave the country the PSN network is restored fully and a welcome back program is initiated. But because I won’t return until after July 3rd I won’t get any of the perks? Isn’t their someway I can get around this? Anybody have any ideas?
i’m trying to download a game,but even when i delete everything in my memory stick on my psp,it says i don’t have enough space for that game
Question!
I play on the same PS3 with my friend, He gets games for his PSN account too right? or is it per PS3. D:
@1995 I’m not exactly a Welcome Back. I never left, I’ve had my PS3 for nearly a year and absolutely love it, I stood by Sony during this debacle, and even though I couldn’t log in to do it here, I defended them with my friends while everyone else trashed Sony for being hacked like it was their fault or something. I don’t want to imply that Sony is charging me and hoping I didn’t notice it, but I clearly have been charged and can easily get a statement from my bank proving so. This Welcome Back plan was incredibly nice and certainly not called for, but Sony did it to reward customer loyalty. I can respect that. It’s like when Nintendo offered a free NES game download to people who purchased the Internet Browser before they made it free for download so those who bought it didn’t feel ripped off. That’s wonderful, and it shows a company who cares about its customers. In this package, however, I feel they didn’t clearly explain how to do what, and of course the multi million customer server overload probably didn’t help much. I’m willing to argue the fact I was charged for Arcana Heart was the result of a glitch created in a super stressed server system.
I now also know that I downloaded Infamous incorrectly, but again, the correct method of doing so wasn’t exactly spelled out for me, but i did click the free game voucher icon and assumed that would cover the charge. A mistake was made, please fix it. I haven’t had the chance to talk to Sony yet about getting my charges removed, so they haven’t really had the chance to tell me no. I’m not going to be angry until after my conversation with them tomorrow, and then only if it turns out against my favor. The bottom line is, Infamous was supposed to be free, and Arcana Heart was never meant to be purchased. I don’t know if anyone else is having issues of wrongfully purchased software, I’m just posting what happened to me so others can be aware and check for themselves before they potentially rack up an overdraft charge or something.
got it DLing infamous and buying dlc for other games….my wallet isn’t happy with me at the moment =/