When the PlayStation Network went done in the middle of last month the fallout and subsequent backlash from mostly angered Sony fans, online bloggers, and fans of other consoles where on the attack. Government action was taken across the globe and all of the world wanted to know if they where safe if they used PlayStation Network with their personal payment information, next when PSN would return and what would they get in return for their 3 week wait? Yesterday, PSN was restored with Online Play, Trophy Support and the ability to access PlayStation home in the US and Canadian Territories. Patrick Seybold, PS Blog’s Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media had a press release today and it stated the following,
“”Now that some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming and entertainment, we’re happy to provide details about the “Welcome Back” appreciation program for customers in North America. We developed the program as an expression of our gratitude for your patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage. From all of us at PlayStation, thank you and welcome back!
This package will be made available to all existing registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users in North America (US and Canada), and will be made available shortly after we have fully restored the service. More specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live.
All PlayStation Network customers can select two PS3 games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.
•Dead Nation
•inFAMOUS
•LittleBigPlanet
•Super Stardust HD
•Wipeout HD + Fury
For PSP owners, you will be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.
•LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
•ModNation Racers
•Pursuit Force
•Killzone Liberation
•A selection of “On Us” rental movie titles will be available to PlayStation Network customers over one weekend, where Video Service is available. Those titles will be announced soon.
•30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PlayStation Plus subscribers.
•Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an additional 60 days of free subscription.
•Existing Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription members will receive an additional 30 days of free premium subscription.
•Additional 30 days + time lost for existing members of Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription free of charge for existing Premium/Basic members.
•To welcome users Home, PlayStation Home will be offering 100 free virtual items. Additional free content will be released soon, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game.
We’d like to thank all of our publishing and development partners who’ve contributed to the Welcome Back program, including Bigbig Studios, Codeglue, Digital Leisure, Guerilla Games, Heavy Water, Housemarque, Lockwood, Loot, Mass Media, Media Molecule, SCE Cambridge Studios, SCE Studio Liverpool, SCE San Diego Studios, and Sucker Punch Productions. We couldn’t have created such a compelling package without them!
As a reminder, you will be able to access the above content shortly after services are fully restored. We are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible. Please visit the following sites for more information about the Welcome Back program in Europe and Latin America. “”
They made good on their promise and now this year, the stage is set for Sony to make a huge comeback at E3. With all of the rumors and speculation about what Nintendo and Microsoft have down the pipeline, Sony still looks to have a good 2011-2012 year. They have Infamous 2 releasing on the same day as the start of E3, the rumored God of War IV, Twisted Metal, Uncharted 3, Starhawk, The Agent, the Sony Android tablets, Xperia Play, PSP, and NGP, along with 10 unannounced exclusives, and third party support , it will be a real hot summer.
This is a good “Welcome Back” package and certainly more generous than I expected, but man, I’ve seen so many haters complaining because they wanted more.
Have they Announced a date the PSN Store will be back up? I was checking out some of the ps3 games Dead Nation looks pretty sick shame i didnt hear about it till just now.