Sony extends PSN Welcome Back offer

By Robert Purchese Published 4 July, 2011

Have you downloaded your freebies yet?

Sony has extended the PlayStation Network Welcome Back offer to tomorrow afternoon.

You have until 9am PST (5pm UK time) on Tuesday, 5th July to download your freebies.

Sony ended the Welcome Back offer yesterday, 3rd July, 30 days after the promotion began. Many people assumed they would have all of yesterday to choose and download their free games, but this wasn't the case - Sony pulled the Welcome Back offer at 0.01 am.

The Welcome Back offer grants two free PS3 games from a choice of Dead Nation, Infamous, Littlebigplanet, Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty and Wipeout HD + Fury.

PSP owners get to choose two games from Littlebigplanet PSP, Modnation Racers, Pursuit Force and Killzone Liberation.

To claim your freebies, access the PlayStation Store from your XMB, click on the Welcome Back banner, select "PlayStation 3 free games", hit "Get now" and then make your choices.

If you own both systems, yes, you can claim four games in total.

You'll also be able to activate your 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership from the same menu.

Wipeout HD Fury.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (56) Latest comment 11 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • gablaxian #1 11 months ago

    Has anyone managed to get 2 free PS3 games from it? Once I downloaded my first, the option was removed from the list.

  • MikkyX #2 11 months ago

    I got R+C: QFB and Wipeout HD through it, so yeah, it worked.

  • JayArr #3 11 months ago

    I saw them on my store when they were first made available, but they disappeared when I went back to download them and there's been no sign of them since. Utter scam.

    And it looks like I can't connect to the network this morning.

  • cloud_ix #4 11 months ago

    there is some trickery to accessing the list...
    look here http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/s...

  • Ryze #5 11 months ago

    ^ I managed to get one game ages ago. Since then the options have been 'unclickable'.

    I'm not hugely surprised, somehow.

  • sfp_noodle #6 11 months ago

    @gablaxian

    When you sign in, go to account management, then transaction management and then services list. Your free game voucher will be listed there along with how many games you can still download. Click on that and you should be good to go.

    It still baffles me how there are still so many people on my friends list that still haven't downloaded their free stuff or PSN Plus yet.

  • berelain #7 11 months ago

    Don't forget, if you have a US account you can get 2 free games (per system) from that, too! Not that I would do anything of the sort, of course, nosireebob.

  • Smudge1983 #8 11 months ago

    Even free games cant get me to use my Playstation other then the blu-ray. Bring on Unchartered 3.

  • A_Nonny #9 11 months ago

    You can get another 30 days of PS+ for free if you activated it right away and it runs out while the offer is still on. On a US account anyway, don't know about EU.

  • Kazama74 #10 11 months ago

    Guess I'll give PSN+ a whirl then. Couldn't be bothered until now.

    @Smudge: Unchartered.. lol

  • RodHull #11 11 months ago

    Downloaded my free games a few weeks ago, ta Sony! You're still not getting my credit card details back though, natch.

  • omisnad #12 11 months ago

    Its still not there - i still have to dl the free 1 month + membership. The welcome package has completely disappeared as of yesterday.

  • fongy #13 11 months ago

    I got 2 x PS3 games and 2 x PSP games - worked perfectly, if anyone has any issues, there are guides online on how to go through the account management / services menu system to access these...

    I'm surprised that all the people complaining about not getting them haven't even done a basic Google search...

  • varsas #14 11 months ago

    @galaxian: Go to account management on the XMB and the Services List. You can then see the welcome back offer and select your 2nd game.

  • cloud_ix #15 11 months ago

    This seems to be US only ! :(

  • Zombie-Hamster #16 11 months ago

    Rather than claiming it's a scam or saying you're unsurprised that you've only been able to get one game, maybe use some initiative to try and find out what's happened - like having a look on the FAQ that was released on the official PS Blog the day the welcome back package went live! It tells you exactly what you need to know... Not saying it isn't a bit odd to remove the option if you navigate away after downloading only one game (it isn't a great way of doing this at all) but the answers are out there if you take a look.

    [link url=http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2011/06/03/welcome-back-content-is-available-now-frequently-asked-questions-answered/
    ]http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2011/06/0...[/link]

    It's also worth noting that if you haven't gone for the PS Plus bit yet, it should be free for 30 days from now. Worth a pop just to give Burnout Paradise, a couple of minis, and Magic: The Gathering a go (assuming you don't have all that already of course!).

  • PixelPirate #17 11 months ago

    I got all the ps3 game. Just downloaded them on different profiles. All the games are accessible to each profile so no problem.

  • DAN.E.B #18 11 months ago

    "I'm surprised that all the people complaining about not getting them haven't even done a basic Google search..."

    Should people have to search the net to find out how to get them
    Sony should have made them easier to find!

  • JayArr #19 11 months ago

    Ok, followed some of the posts here and did manage to find the free games via the account management bit (when my PS3 finally managed to sign in to PSN, that is). That was when I remembered I already had a couple of them and didn't really want the others.

    Anyone else looking forward to everyone's free PSN+ accounts expiring? Burnout Paradise's online mode is just flooded with people who have no idea how to take part in the challenges (or mute their microphones), it's really frustrating.

  • Fillem #20 11 months ago

    Managed to get my free games quite awhile ago (yay) forgot to do the PLUS.
    Can't seem to find it anymore now which might even be a good thing because it will probably just make me spend more money :)

  • Smudge1983 #21 11 months ago

    @Kazama.

    Nicely spotted. 10 points to you :)

  • omisnad #22 11 months ago

    Whats the point of EG printing this story when its only applicable to US ?!?!?
    Edited by omisnad at 04/07/11 @ 10:20

  • Segnit #23 11 months ago

    I'm in Cyprus. People in Cyprus are not welcomed for this offer unfortunately. I'm not a fan of Sony as a result.

  • StooMonster #24 11 months ago

    Trying to log-in this morning to claim free games, and it's giving me "server too busy" errors. Apparently I am not alone.

  • Xboxfanuk #25 11 months ago

    I could never download the welcome back gifts from my PSP. It just kept saying empty after downloading the welcome back file or whatever it was you needed. Anyway it was bugged, I sold my PSP and good riddance. I will never buy another Sony console as long as I live. And it's not just because they were hacked, but because THEY ARE HACKS! Worst software ever!

    Xbox might not have as much Euro-centric programming as PS3 but it's still one awesome box. And Xbox Live parties and other easy as pie tools makes what they do have amazing.

  • Master09 #26 11 months ago

    Really wanted Infamous, but the huge file size put me off.

    Not fast enough internet plus would have used up almost half my download limit!

  • davisorle #27 11 months ago

    Post deleted at 15:13:16 09-05-2012

  • kangarootoo #28 11 months ago

    I got Infamous and Dead Nation, plus KZL and Pursuit Somethingorother for PSP.

  • kojak71 #29 11 months ago

    Well according to UK PSN customer support, they have no knowledge about this extension, as far as they are concerned the welcome back offer finished yesterday. Did EG bother to corroborate this story before posting it?

  • Jolly_Armadillo #30 11 months ago

    Got all except littlebigplanet for free from uk offer.

  • gablaxian #31 11 months ago

    Thanks for the help, people. You're all swell. Super swell, even.

  • mr2ange #32 11 months ago

    I'm amazed at how many people dont seem to be able to figure out such a simple system,

    Go to the welcome back section, download, done.

    Did mine on day one, for UK and US account, and for PSP too...

  • Pacman8MyGhostkart #33 11 months ago

    I must say I've been very impressed with the whole Welcome Back scheme. I got 2 free Ps3 games for both my UK and US accounts so I'm looking at LBP, Deadnation, Infamous and Wipeout :) . My UK plus account expires this week on Wednesday and so I'll extend it with my US one and when that's off I'll be using the free plus on my Japanese account (not to mention those 2 free games!).
    Edited by Pacman8MyGhostkart at 04/07/11 @ 11:42

  • Doctor_What #34 11 months ago

    I did it all with no problems whatsoever.

    I made sure I read the huge unmissable warning saying 'if you don't download both games at once then you'll have to go through these steps to get your second one'. That, to me, was a clue that I should line up both games for download at once, otherwise I would have to go through several steps to download the second one.

    I read the huge unmissable warning because it was huge and unmissable, therefore I thought that Sony probably considered that it was important that I read it before blindly pressing X to skip it and then complaining that I didn't understand what to do.

    rant/
    ... Christ, this kind of thing almost makes me miss the days before the internet when you actually had to read instructions for things rather than knowing you'd be able to Google for fixes afterwards and/or whinge about it publicly when you cocked it up through your own stupid fault for not reading the bloody instructions that appear on your screen. It's not rocket science.
    /rant

    I was impressed with Dead Nation, although it did get rather repetitive towards the end. I hope they build on it for a sequel.

  • Womble9 #35 11 months ago

    Hmmm no welcome back banner for me and nothing when going through the account management, then transaction management and then services list either. Anyone actually had the free stuff today (in the UK that is)?
    Edited by Womble9 at 04/07/11 @ 12:58

  • ballshock #36 11 months ago

    I have a USA account and UK account 4 games!

  • crickson #37 11 months ago

    I seem to be in the minority. I downloaded my PS3 games fine, but unable to pick up my free PSP games. When I enter the Welcome Back section of the store on my PSP it just says "content not found".

    Am I the only person with this problem?

  • Iain815 #38 11 months ago

    I want to log in, but can't remember my password. Any time I try to reset it it's 'under maintenance'.

    So fuck that.

  • ZaammK #39 11 months ago

    I can't find this anywhere, but I got my free games a while ago and was waiting until the last day to get my playstation plus, but now I can't seem to find it, even following the steps in the linked posts. Does anyone know where I could find it?

  • omisnad #40 11 months ago

    @ZaammK

    Same boat as you m8 - no, you cant redeem the 1 month + now it expired yesterday 12:01am. Ignore this EG story, its unresearched BS as usual.

  • Schiraman #41 11 months ago

    Either this story is wrong, or there are some issues with Sony's system. There was no 'welcome back' banner in the Playstation Store when I went there this afternoon, so there's no way for me to download any free games. I've also looked in the account management section, and there's nothing there either.

    There seem to be a lot of people in this thread negging people or outright insulting them for saying they're having problems with this offer, but actually there are genuine problems, and slagging people off won't change that.

    I second Womble9: has anyone actually managed to access this offer today in the UK? If so, was there any trick to it?
    Edited by Schiraman at 04/07/11 @ 17:54

  • DigitalDelay #42 11 months ago

    Sneaky buggers. I thought it was running until end of July (probably my foggy memory). I got my 2 games but was waiting to activate ps+ until there was perhaps something worth getting. I better get a move on I s'pose...

  • Arijan #43 11 months ago

    The story is partially true. Seems the extend is only for the US.
    Can't find the "welcome back" banner anywhere, only in the "what's new" list.. and it does nothing when i click it. I tried creating a US account and the "welcome back" thingies are there.. but i cannot download anything since it's a new account and i'm not eligible for the offer. So from my european account, here in greece, the offer does not seem available anymore.
    nice one Sony..

  • Lobotomyftw #44 11 months ago

    Just great. I only got my PS3 back last night after over a month being repaired by a friend. Logged onto the PSN for first time and saw this Welcome back offer but because it was so late in the day I thought I'd leave it til next day. Now the next day is already here I can't see the offer anywhere. Nice one Sony.

  • Kaminari #45 11 months ago

    I didn't download anything because I already own all that sh!t. My loss, I suppose?

  • DigitalDelay #46 11 months ago

    Yeah I've missed out on the plus offer now. I waited because I thought they might put more stuff on the store with everyones free trial running out. Thanks for the heads up sony. Asshats.

  • RoninStorm #47 11 months ago

    After some fairly extensive Googling, seems that it really is only the US that benefits from this extension. No Europeans seem to have the Welcome Back option in the Playstation Store any longer, me included. Disappointing, really.

  • dahsif #48 11 months ago

    I didn't.
    I don't care about the free games that I already own (or don't want anyway), but I should really get the PS+.

  • DigitalDelay #49 11 months ago

    So come on Eurogamer, are you going to correct this much misinformed article? All you had to do was turn your ps3 on to check if the info is correct. Piss poor reporting!

  • mintycabbage #50 11 months ago

    Thanks a ton eurogamer you made me miss the offer. I have been moving house, so I haven't really had time to claim it, so I look at this article and think I'll just do it tomorrow. Oh wait there is no banner.

  • DEMONOUS #51 11 months ago

    Fantastic offer, plus don't forget you had access to burnout paradise, streets of rage and 2d octopus aswell as that dodgy home furniture and outfits.
    Dont see what the problem is with downloading,I got all four easily, I had two accounts and can access all four free titles from both accounts.

  • darc #52 11 months ago

    PS Welcome back offer: an opportunity to be reminded why you never bother trying to use the utterly bonkers Playstation Store.

  • Thecunce #53 11 months ago

    Why does only the u.s get an extention, bit unfair ain't it

  • Rack #54 11 months ago

    Damn I downloaded Wipeout then the option was deleted, I never got round to mailing them about it.

  • Rack #55 11 months ago

    Damn I downloaded Wipeout then the option was deleted, I never got round to mailing them about it.

  • cyber_nicco #56 11 months ago

    Yeah, but to activate your "free" 30 days of Playstation Plus, you have to give them your credit card details...

    I think not!