When Sony started restoring its PlayStation network this weekend, it promised a welcome-back consolation package for users who have been patiently waiting for its return since it went dark on April 20.
This afternoon, the company provided some details on what returning users will receive, including free games, movie rentals, and virtual items.
"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!" Patrick Seybold, senior director of corporate communications and social media, wrote in a blog post. "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."
What do you get? All PlayStation Network customers can choose two of five PS3 games: Dead Nation; inFAMOUS; LittleBigPlanet; Super Stardust HD; or Wipeout HD + Fury. PSP owners can select two of four games: LittleBigPlanet; ModNation Racers; Pursuit Force; or Killzone Liberation. All games will be available for 30 days after the store is restored and can be kept forever.
Sony is also offering up a few other freebies, including:
- A selection of free "On Us" movie rentals for PlayStation Network customers over the course of one weekend; movie titles will be announced soon.
- Non-PlayStation subscribers will get a free, 30-day PlayStation Plus membership.
- Existing PlayStation Plus members will get 30 extra days free.
- Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscribers will get free access for 30 days, plus time lost.
- PlayStation Home will offer 100 virtual items.
Sony promised more free content, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag's Alien Casino, an exclusive game. More specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live.
"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," Seybold wrote.
Sony worked with 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 on the welcome-back deals.
While Sony is restoring its online services in the U.S. and Europe, Japanese regulators have not allowed Sony to resume the networks in Japan because they are not convinced the networks have been properly secured. Sony was forced to shut down the PlayStation Network for half an hour early Monday morning after its networks were inundated by customers trying to reset their passwords.
Sony Online Entertainment, which was also hit in the attack, is offering up freebies as well, including gaming perks and ID theft protection.