PlayStation Network “Welcome Back” Programme Detailed

After what seemed like an absolute age the PlayStation Network finally started trickling back to life late last night. Since then people have started to make their way back online and, once they’d played a few games and vented their frustrations a little, they started asking questions about the “Welcome Back Programme” that Sony promised us a few weeks ago.

Sony has released some of the details of that programme tonight.

I must warn you though, before you read the press release that will follow, don’t be expecting the world. We’ll leave you to decide whether what’s been offered is good enough or whether you were expecting more. Our forums will always be open for you to vent your frustrations or screams of joy.

Now that certain PSN services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming, it seems a good time to confirm what is being offered as part of the Welcome Back programme.

Once we restore PlayStation Store, which will be just a little while longer, you will have the opportunity to claim your Welcome Back gifts. Please note that the Welcome Back programme is only available for those countries with access to PlayStation Store*.

All existing PlayStation Network members will be able to access the following from PlayStation Store*:

Two PS3 games from the following list:

• LittleBigPlanet

• Infamous*

• Wipeout HD/Fury

• Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty

• DeadNation*

For those with PSP accounts, you will also be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list:

• LittleBigPlanet PSP

• ModNation PSP

• Pursuit Force

• KillzoneLiberation*

– 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PS Plus subscribers*

– Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will be given 60 days free subscription.

– For existing Music Unlimited subscribers, you will be given 30 days free subscription.

– We are working on a Welcome Back offer in PlayStation Home and will share that when it is confirmed.

I would like to thank all of the developers and publishers involved in this programme for their support in making this happen. We certainly couldn’t have done it without you.

You will be able to access this content once PlayStation Store comes back online and we are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible.

Thank you for your support and keep checking back on the blog for more information.

• For eligibility for the welcome back programme consumers must be an account holder on 20 April 2011. Specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live. All existing PSN registrants have 30 days from when the welcome back programme goes live to redeem their content.

• For the German market, InFamous and Dead Nation will be replace with Super Stardust HD and Hustle Kings in the selection of PS3 games.

• For the German market, Pursuit Force and Killzone Liberation will be replaced with Everybody’s Golf 2 and Buzz Junior Jungle Party in the selection of PSP games. Killzone Liberation will not offer online gameplay functionality.

• Access to the 30 days free PS Plus subscription is only available for those countries where PS Plus is offered. You will have access to the PS Plus content planned for May for 30 days. Access to the free games and exclusive features finishes at the end of the 30-day subscription period. Anything you buy with exclusivediscounts, dynamic themes and premium avatars are yours to keep forever.

Is this enough for you to forgive Sony for what’s happened over the last month? Why don’t you head on over to our forums and let us know what you think. You could also just tell us directly via our Twitter feed.

The above post has since been removed from the Official PlayStation Blog, so maybe Sony have changed their minds on the welcome back programme.