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!
@2025 do you have anyone at home that could go into your ps and do the downloads for you?
@2017 go to page 13 on this blog and read line 650
I used the passes to buy my games. Can I download them after Welcome Back expires?
@2027 it’s per account so if you share the account then you only get the 2 games.
My card was charged $14.99 for Dead Nation! WTF! Sounds like other people got charged too. How do we get reimbursed for “free” game? Kinda not cool, Sony.
for those with this problem, Credits to fijski8
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.
@bigbaddoom31 – I left the PS3 at my mother’s house for safe keeping. The idea of walking her through this is nightmarish. It’s all boxed up and she has trouble navigating netflix on the Wii my brother bought her. Thanks for the suggestion. It may be my only hope.
to my fellow psp users, it looks like you will have to go through your psp at this time to download the welcome back games. They do go into the store after you finish so you can delete them and download on your pc.
Can I activate the free PlayStation Plus 30-day service in September ?
I got Dead Nation downloaded and installed but when i play online, i get disconnect the moment round started… Anyone else this problem? Also does Little Big planet have multiplayer ?
@2036 your welcome and I know how my mother is with technology as well, good luck.
So I was already an existing psn plus user on my main account Vannward, and now that I try to access the 30 days free psn plus from the welcome back program it says ” This content cannot be accessed on your account.” So i’m just wondering what am I supposed to do?
i downloaded game 1 wipeout package and i tried again and i cant get a part of the bundle and installed it and now i cant find it anywhere and i cant get it back then i tried game 2 i got infamous it said error try again so i did and its loading so please respond and tell me wat to do
@2028 a lot of people blame sony…but it isn’t their fault either they don’t know a lot about network security…and the fact that 90% of companies in the US have been hacked also no one has any privacy in this country so get over it…(loosely quoted an employee of sun micro)…but let people complain no reason to let them get to you…though I am guilty of arguing with trolls on here….*shrugs*
Hi, I started a download of inFAMOUS, and I pressed the Download in Background button to browse the store a little bit. When I came back to the download page, the downloaded percentage has decreased back to 0 and the time has increased from 200 minutes to over 1000 and the download is not going anywhere. Can I fix this?
@2034 Thank you! So it’s not just me!!!
@Redeemer512
Nope, only till July 3 I think
In response to my 2025 question….
What if I have a friend log into my account on his machine and purchase them with the vouchers? Would I be able to download them when I got back into the country?
@2044 probably not since there are so many people online the best bet is to let it run or shut it off and try again.
It was a bit glitchy, but after numerous button-pushes, I got everything I wanted, including this sexay LEON avatar! Only 99 cents with my trial Playstation Plus subscription. Do I get to keep him when the 30 days are over? PLEEEEZ! LEEE-ONNNN!
Haven’t gone into Home yet, though. It’s getting late; I’ll do that tomorrow.
Not sure if this was asked yet.
I have 2 PSP’s, will I be able to install the free games on each system with the same account?
its impossible to download that game
y is it when something really cool that is free gets put out it glitches and steals the link so you cant download even one of the free games…. come on guys i know you the power fix this please cause im actually willing to wait for like 6 hours to talk to a service rep on this problem has any one else had this happen.
@2019/Mercer, not everybody knew the outage, and those who bought a ps3 EVEN seeing this hacking problem, wich DIDN’T happened on xbox live, were customeers who TRUSTED on sony, even when they could had choosen another gaming plataform with almost all same games (excluding just a FEW exclusives).
And, think about it: those who have a ps3 for a long time now, already have lotsa content on the ps3, maybe more than 5 games and such. Someone who just bought the console, will have something like 1 or 2 games and not any other content (wich includes dlcs)… so, who had less options during the outage?
And sony is doing that just to prevent ppl creating lots of accounts just to get all the sutff, but I already know some ppl who had 2+ accounts BEFORE april 20, and are being able by now to download ALL the free games!
So now things states like this:
Anybody with 1 account before april 20 – 2 free games
Anybody with 2+ accounts before april 20 – 4+ free games
anybody with 1 account AFTER april 20 – 0 free games
Is this REALLY fair?
@2047 that is a good question and I’m not sure if you could or not.
Can someone answer this please :)
I am out of country… I left two days before welcome back went live. Can my brother log in to my account on his PS3 and use the vouchers to buy my games so I can download when I get back to the US after July 3rd?
when I try to purchase the welcome back free content 1 and 2 for the ps3 it said that it is ok but when i try to check my cart or view downloads it’s not there.. what the hell! and now i cannot re enter the free content 1 and 2 of the ps3.. Sony please fix this.. i even see my transaction history for the free content..
Transaction Number: 2277535778
Date: 06/03/2011
Transaction Number: 2280198815
Date: 06/03/2011
And when i try to check the game I’ve try to obtain for free (Super Stardust HD) it show for $9.99.. it suppose to be free not with a price.. any action on this??
@2043 I know. I don’t blame Sony. I liken them to a rape victim. A rape victim to which a lot of people (trolls), are pretty much telling to stop that F***ing crying, clean your self off, and get back to work! They act like SOny wanted to be hacked and lose millions while rebuilding. It’s sickening.
@2042
i believe you have to download the whole bundle its has it to where u can press download all i had the same problem cuz i didnt download the demo and i couldnt ever find it to download it but now im downloadin the demo now becauase u have to have them demo then u get the full game UNLOCK so im hoping this works
for those having trouble downloading the free titles do the following: select title one and two that you would like. if you have already picked a title it will have a little red box by it. Then go to the psn home page. In the top right corner of the screen are some small icons for the psn, they are search, redeem codes, view downloads and view cart. You need to go to view downloads and actually download your game. This can be done as a background download. The welcome back game 1 & 2 icons only unlock the games so they will be free, you must still download all the data that would be on the disk if u bought a copy of the game.
Hope that helps some, now help me, where the hell do u get to the free movie weekend, i want to enjoy this before it is gone.
P.S. Playstation, you rock, any major company could be hacked and be in the same spot, and in the future it will happen to major companies all the time, so thank you for the welcome back program and showing that we do matter to you, and that were not just another dollar sign.
for those with this problem here’s how to solve, Credits to fijski8
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.
when i try to play killzone on my psp online or any other game,noone is online
@2053 Yes it is fair. You signed up for a network that was down. Therefore you did not experience an interruption of service. The program rewarded existing users who experienced an interruption in service not those who signed up after the fact.
@2055 can your brother get your ps from your mother and just download it to yours?
Thanks again bigbaddoom!
So happy, that the store is back, and the welcome back program just started, gonna download my games later on, theres a lot of lag and bugs that i dont want to fight with atm, so anyway Thanks a lot sony, hoping theres a sale of the SSF4 DLC costumes for PS+ so i can claim the 30 day trial :D
Hey does anyone know why I dont have an option to download Infamous?
I agree with #2062. It is fair, besides when would the cutoff be acceptable? The program is about rewarding loyal users as a thanks.
Nope he is in California… my PS is in WA. I bet my left nut that I will be on the phone with my mom for 8 hours trying to figure this out :) That’s what I get for going to Russia for a month.
@2058/ thanks ill try that that will really help tell me if you have progress
Oh well… Good luck to everyone and enjoy your free games!!
lmao ok so ive been pissed at this all day…well yesterday (its about 2:30 here in georgia) and up until now i didnt know that you had to use your master account to download the games…thanks alot #1956 : oh and i think thats something worth mentioning, sony -_-
@2031
I just saw the message… I feel sick now.
PlayStation Plus “not for PSP”? Then what’s with all the PSP-compatible content with Plus-exclusive discounts/free availability? You guys didn’t think of anyone who might have a PSP but not PS3? Seriously? SERIOUSLY?!?
**** you, Sony. You cretins just keep finding new ways to piss all over the consumers.
@2068 before you walk your mother through the steps I would email customer support and see if they can tell you if it can be done or not from another ps with a different IP.
Hi all,
I’m rather worried for I can’t find any options to download the Plus membership…
I’ve gone through the whole ‘Account Settings’ malarky to get my free game, but I don’t know how to access this. Any thoughts?
I’m so happy! I finally get inFAMOUS without paying! WOOT!
I got stardust too… sounds like a good game.
Sent an email a few days ago… will see if they respond. Thanks buddy :)
@2072 yeah it ticks me off as well. I say for psp users just give us a small credit worth one month. They should say at the top plus not available for psp. And I think the reason for the differnce is with minis they can be used by both systems.
I tried to download it and when I did an error from the server occurred and now I can’t download it !!! and it is not in my purchases or my cart ! did I lost it ?
please answer me because I em really frustrated !
SO I GO TO GET INFAMOUS BUT IT IS NOT LISTED IN THE STORE FOR THE WELCOME BACK SECTION? WTH
…I’m going to need a bigger HDD….