After close on a month of downtime caused by a hacking breach that saw around 100 million user account details stolen, the PSN has groaned back to life in phase one of the planned restoration.
PSN account password resets have been taking place for anyone who wants to get back online, and online gaming services have been restored. If you’ve had any trouble resetting your password, be sure to check out this article for details.
In phase 2 of the restoration, the PlayStation Store and PlayStation Plus services will be switched back on. It is during this phase that affected users will be able to claim their free games and free PlayStation Plus subscriptions as part of Sony’s Welcome Back plan to say ‘sorry for the downtime that was caused by our appalling network security.’ A time frame for phase 2 has not yet been given.
Nick Caplin, Sony head of communications, provides the details on 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,” said Caplin.
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
• Dead Nation
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
• Killzone Liberation
– 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,” said Caplin.
For eligibility for the welcome back programme users 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.
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 exclusive discounts, dynamic themes and premium avatars are yours to keep forever.
Do you think Sony’s Welcome Back programme is good enough? << Share your thoughts on the MyGaming forum.
Source: EU PlayStation Blog
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