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!
I have tried to get the free games and It keeps telling me that I cant because I have already bought and got them. But they are no where to be found on my account. Any guesses on what to do about this?
Then just wait a couple days. I GUARANTEE it will fix itself when traffic dies down.
It’s like everyone from the Superbowl is trying to get into your High School gym right now.
I downloaded the wipeout HD bundle but it’s not showing up in my games section, but the fury add-on is in my save data folder. Is it not the full game? Help please!
can i download the games through pc
I am happy for all those that got the games, but disappointed that Sony made it only for accounts before the 20th. It probably for the loyal Sony fans, but people like me have been fans a while, just never needed to make an account due to the fact that they had no online games. I hope Sony changes this…
sss how come i diidnt get my free two games i downloaded bhut they not showing that i did bhut my transcition says i purchase them bhut wwont download them plz help me i want infmaous 1 because i preorderd infamous 2 and i want 2 be able 2 get infamous 2 story line so plz help me i think i did it wrong because it not showing at the welcome back program
i whent to the service list and i see no SCEA Promotions
I accidentally selected the same PS3 game for both game 1 and game 2 is there any way to correct that mistake?
I have a small problem: I followed the instructions for going through the XMB and manually downloading, and I was successfully able to add WipEout to the queue. But when I tried to use the second code to download Little Big Planet, it told me I didn’t have enough hard disk space left. My fault for not checking, of course. I deleted some things and returned to redeem the code, but now it tells me I have 0 remaining and acts like I’ve already downloaded the game when I definitely haven’t. Am I just out of luck?
On the welcome back package I only downloaded 1 game for my psp and 1 game for my ps3, and then for some reason it erased my other free game downloads and now I can’t get them back what do I do??
Poor implementation for a poorly thought out “buy off” package by Sony. Pretty much exactly how I thought it would turn out, to be honest.
bahiyyah725 you have to download the wipeout hd demo all you get when you pick wipout hd bundle is the unlock for the demo and the fury add on
I just got my two free games. Wipeout HD and Superstar Dust HD. There goes 2GB of Data. In fact one of them worked from the PS Store while the other i had to go to transaction management to get. There was still tons of errors and i had to try about 5 or 6 times before it actually worked.
@ Lost_Wolf24
They are only protecting themselves. What is preventing billions of people saying the same thing as you, trying to take advantage of the situation. … not saying you are.
They have to make some kind of cut off.
Sony I bought my PS3 a few days before PSN went down, should I not also receive the welcome back package??? I was unable to create an account for over a month and had to wait to play just as everyone else did. If you would like I can send you a receipt for my playstation with a date of when I bought it. It is very unfair that i would be excluded from this package.
um… this is off topic but on the PSN what do you do if someone sends you a nude photo?
@Mr_Frogasm
its not just that. You were not a member long. Plus its rules and policy. Plus it was originally you had to have at least 1 purchase.
Check for your missing games here:
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.
or
On your “Download List” from the top right of the main store page.
If those don’t work, you will just have to wait. High traffic is high traffic. You will get your free games.
sony why in hell did all my slots to download my two games of choice (infamous and little big planet) dissapear and never come back even though i dont have them downloaded AND they arent coming back either. Now ive been patient waiting for the network to come back online and finally the store but im feeling played here ive been just as patient as everyone else on this network and think i deserve the same reward. please respond to me soon and PLEASE tell me how i can get my downloaded game PROTOTYPE back because i want that ish back also
Wow, I bought Infamous and Dead Nation, but I looked at the download time and my jaw dropped… Dead Nation has 280 minutes left and is constantly growing and Infamous has over 2,000 minutes left… Is this normal? I play on wireless, If I get wired will this improve?
@winzlow23
if you read the F.A.Q you would know.
@ccrogers15
If you enjoy the picture, say thank you.
If you are offended, report them.
Hit triangle for options when on message.
I’ve gotten the free games, but I can’t find the 30 days of Playstation Plus anywhere, is it only available to those on PS3s?
and how do i stop my games from expiring just because i purchased them on another syatem under another one of my profiles?? i kinda think i should be able to have my games
I clicked on the purchase “Free game 1” but didn’t click “download” after and now the slot is gone! and the instructions for how to get the games after you leave shop “Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List” I don’t have the option to select “services list” it is simple not there to select! HELP?!?! please sony….
Wow! Thanks Sony! The games are GREAT! This is all great!! But can anyone tell me where to get the Playstation Home items??
I dowloaded my first game and when i tried to go back i got an error message and now i cant download my second game!!! what do i do?
Anyone else not surprised that even after a month of testing, the store STILL wont work properly? Youre in last place, Sony, dont be stupid (Well, at least not as stupid as youre being now.)
Ok Sony, I tried to download my welcome back ps3 game 1 and it took me through a series of screens and at last i seletced the get it button.. but nothing happened after that… ur update says to go from XMB-account managmanet- -transcation managment – services list.. but when i go there i dont see any services list listed there to select .. when i go back to PSN and select the welcome backselection i dont see my game 1 there …. how do i proceed …..help us we are lost …….
@ccrogers15: Did someone send you a nude photo? If so, delete, report sender to Sony.
@winzlow23
Read the blog post for the 1000th time on here it explains what to do.
I wish I was getting some Call of Duty Escalation map pack discounts,but oh well… thanks anyways, Sony
btw, Should I get Dead Nation or WipeOut? Is there any trophy support and good online play for these games? :/
@ccrogers15 i HAVE read the same thing over and over and over again. do i need to add another over again? and ive tried many times. none of it is working i just want my games man i dont care about the playstation plus and music ish
@jakub23777
It is because millions of people are doing the same thing as you!
With that many people eating off of the same plate, not everyone will get fed quickly.
@winzlow23
If you download from another system you can download to 4 others.
Okay, after waiting half an hour, the second game I tried to download did finally get added to my downloads list. Whew!
thats wht i thought too but i downloaded it to my new system today and it expired an hour later and now its not under my downloaded list in the store
Yess! Finally got into the store! Wait where’s Game #2? GONE?!?!?! Already got Game 1.
@Dominatedude
its called traffic. do you drive a car? do you posses the skills that could determine what would happen if a bunch of people all try to get to the same place at once?
If you do, you answered your own question.
If you don’t, then continue your idiotic #itching
Also for a heads up to everyone who didn’t read the questions and answers and recieve the free 30 days for Playstation Plus since they were not suscribers if you download anything that is free with having the Playstation Plus and a month goes by and you let it expire and not suscribe to the PS+ then the games that you recieved for FREE will not be playable unless you suscribe. Those you recieve at a discount you get to keep without having PS+
Yesterday I tried to get two of the free games that you are giving for free but I don’t know what happened and I did’nt got any game, so I went to my XMB>PlayStation Network>Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List>SCEA Promotions to complete the process, and on times used on both says 0 and on times left on both says 1, so I pressed X to see if I can get the games and nothing happened. What can I do to get both of the games because I never got the games?
Hi, I started downloading inFAMOUS as my free game #1, went to bed so I could start playing this morning but I got an error message, game did not download successfully and now I don’t have the option to download #1 again. What can be done? (I failed to write down the error code, unfortunately). Thank you.
Oh CRAP! Just locked out my themes E-J!
Tinkerstar86
thats wrong.
The free downloads disappeared from my list after i was getting error messages… the download icons gone now, so i cant select a game… i wasn’t able to get to the download screen. So i was not even able to choose, this is very annoying. the store may be up again, but it is not functional…
There goes P-S and T-Z too. *sigh*
Add me to the list of people who used the XMB method and successfully downloaded game 1, but the game 2 slot thinks I’ve already used it up. I’m just gonna wait and hope they get it cleared up.
Also never in my life have I seen such a large group of people who didn’t/can’t read instructions. Don’t get me wrong, I know they’re out there. I’ve just never seem then condensed into one place before. heh
meanboy279
read post 16!!
it happened with me too!!
im using media go ad i cant do nothin it keeps on saying an error has ocured
Hey Sony, I just wanted to ask you: Why did you give us the free 30-day subscription to Playstation Plus if we couldn’t keep the free things we downloaded? I mean, I assumed that we could keep whatever we got from Playstation Plus forever, but I was wrong, wasn’t I? What kind of “welcome back program” is this? Also, the errors that I found with the Playstation Store are completely unacceptable for a company as big as yours and it was a stupid mistake on your part to bring back the Playstation Store with so many unfixed bugs and errors. This is honestly some of the WORST customer service I’ve ever seen.