UPDATED: Welcome Back Program Available Now – Details Inside

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UPDATED: Welcome Back Program Available Now – Details Inside

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.

Welcome Back

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!

Comments are closed.

5,171 Comments

  • @ 485 I assume you’re talking to me( I was # 471), I did follow the instructions, but I don’t think they took in to account getting an error code when trying to download the game…it took away my free game 1 option and never gave me a game because i got an error code while trying to download..It’s the same error code that I was told that PSN is overloaded right now….

  • @PrinceXSwaggah Thank you, I was getting a little worried, I think I accidently downloaded the full game unlock first. Is that ok?

  • 460, read what they wrote carefully, they said that welcome package will be available till JULY 3, and today is JUNE 3….u will have a whole month to download this free stuff…

  • Now no free games for me shows up only PSP.

    SEE POST 454

  • im getting an error and cant access the playstation store and why do we have to wait for the cod black ops map pack until june 10 when they were supposed to be released june1 can you add it to the free downloads for the extreme wait THANK YOU

  • i went to download it said “not available at this time” and now disappeared wtf sony

  • after all the money Sony lost due to the outage and repairs made that they would do this is awesome , thank you Sony *bows*

  • i keep getting “an error has occurred (80710D36) is that bcuz of the mass amount of ppl trying to use the store?

  • Okay here’s a serious question and not whining about the welcome back stuff.

    Is this the store update for today? or is more stuff coming later?

  • MAKE MEDIA GO WORK.

  • @MizzouBulley Yep, it doesnt matter what order you downloaded it in.

  • what up with this error error and then you get in and half way down loads then it goes away? where my dead nation game

  • Ignore my previous question. Thanks to reading through other replies, I found the fix & it works:

    ” + Disturbed23232 on June 3rd, 2011 at 11:15 am said:
    + SHOR73RM on June 3rd, 2011 at 11:04 am said:

    PlayStation Network > Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List>SCEA Promotions

    You may get errors, just go back and try again
    It works….i did that and im in the middle of d/ling Little Big Planet….”

  • Hahaha @ 466 & 467 – str8 comedy!

  • @456 same here but it didnt let me download any of the games it doesnt even show me the option for downloading “game 1, game 2” etc……..anymore :(

  • Everyone have to give a little bit of time for the download to work due to the high traffic of everyone trying to download the games the error comes up. You just have to be patient and check back at Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List>SCEA Promotions I had the problem like everyone else but after a couple minutes of waiting I chacked back and its now downloading the first game for me. So hope this works for you guys good luck

  • @420 Well, at least they’re offering it to you. People like me got screwed by this network outage and don’t get anything. And now the store is so flooded with traffic that I can’t even access it to actually buy something. I have really wanted to enjoy my PS3 but so far its been a month of suck, and I’ve been very patient with Sony but this service is no good. I’m probably going to look at selling it, anyone want a 320GB PS3 Slim for $200.

  • I cant find my PS3 games after i purchased both games vouchers but i still cant find little big planet or infamous in the PSN store PLEASE HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • And now the option for the first game is completely gone. No option to download a game or anything, so does that mean I have lost the option to download the first game? I didnt even get to start a download.

  • now it says can not downloads content at this time them leave off the page!?

  • @498 check for it in account management> transaction management>services list>SCEA promotions. Dont worry you can still get your free stuff. : )

  • 468
    + mrcinsc on June 3rd, 2011 at 11:18 am said:

    Considering that Sony doesn’t need to give any free games away in the first place. No they can’t win. No matter what they do, they won’t do right to the greedy. YES I think NO ONE should recieve any free games, cause no one lost games during the outtage. You didn’t just mysteriously lose your copy of COD or Crysis2. So why would anyone be entitled to ANY free games?? It was a token of appreciation that Sony DID NOT have to do. BUT, still complain. That is greedy. Be lucky Sony is doing all that they have.

  • thats what happened to me i only hot super start dust and nothing else no psn pluss or my second game.

  • @Klokateer1986 if it say u have 0 left then try in you downloads section. that’s how it worked for me.

    I have one more question/problem tho. for those of us that are already subscribing to Playstation Plus, is the extra time just added to our account automatically? I see no way of adding it myself

  • i didn’t get my first free game can any one help me?

  • I BOUGHT THE GET THE FIRST GAME FREE FOR LITTLE BIG PLANET AND THE SECOND GAME FOR FREE FOR LITTLE BIG PLANET AS WELL…………..IT WAS AN ACCIDENT AND I WOULD BE SATISFIED IF YOU COULD HELP ME GET ONE OF THOSE GAMES BACK

    THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME,

    SUAVE209

  • Thanks everyone they’re are loading now although my Playstation Plus never worked

  • @456 same here but it didnt let me download any of the games it doesnt even show me the option for downloading “game 1, game 2″ etc……..anymore :(

    SEE POST 454

  • check for it in account management> transaction management>services list>SCEA promotions. Dont worry you can still get your free stuff. : )

  • Thanks for the help i got it downloading now.

  • @MissKitty_13:

    Yeah, enjoy your free content :)

  • read the comments all answers are in here you just have to read!

  • thanks it worked now im going for psn plus

  • Everyone is on at once and the results is the code being shown. Everyone go outside for a bit OK?

  • ok i have a problem, i clicked on free ps3 game 1 aND 2 and got an error of some kind now i cant see where to actually download the game….the options are gone and all i see is psp and the theme

  • It’s saying error 80710D36 what is this error?

  • @531 check for it in account management> transaction management>services list>SCEA promotions. Dont worry you can still get your free stuff. : )

  • ok i have a problem, i clicked on free ps3 game 1 aND 2 and got an error of some kind now i cant see where to actually download the game….the options are gone and all i see is psp and the theme

    SEE POST 454

  • This thing work so bad that I got screwed out of a game. You get many error message and if you exit the free game 1 screen before you manage to get the download screen it totally disappear.

  • I got my welcome back free game 1 an i went to get my game then a error message came up so i backed out and now the welcome back game 1 is gone and i did not get my game either please help.

  • Alright I went to the store, and I guess I did it wrong, I downloaded both free game packs, and then went to go download them, and the option isnt there. Why is this?

  • lol sony never fails to dissapoint

  • I was able to choose my first game after experiencing a lot of error messages. Then while my first game is still downloading, I go back into the store to choose and download my second game but when I do, I don’t see anymore options. All it’s showing me is PSP 1 free game, and PSP 2 free game. What happened to my second PS3 free game?!

  • How do I play WipEout? All I got was a unlock and the DLC, but no actual game.

  • Read the previous comments for help instead of just posting saying you didnt get your free games. A ton of people gave out suggestions out to help you guys.

  • Something happened and i couldnt get my 2nd free ps3 game :( !!!!

  • i went to download one of the first games and it said i have to download the welcome back free game number 1 and i did and now its not there and i cant download it. i only got one game…?

  • PlayStation Network > Account Management>Transaction Management>Services List>SCEA Promotions

    You may get errors, just go back and try again

  • Okay forget my previous comment about it not working DLing my 2 PS3 games now. But it’s basically impossible to get on the store on my PSP for my 2 games for that, is there a way I can download them to my PS3 or a SD card in my PS3 and transfer them to my PSP?

  • an error has occurred wtf

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