In lieu of the PlayStation Network outage, Sony created a 'Welcome Back' customer appreciation program as a way to earn back the trust of its fanbase. Sony promised PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable owners an extensive list of perks, including two free games and a free month of PlayStation Plus. Today, Sony has released further details of this program for North America.

While these goodies are not yet available, PS3 and PSP owners who had registered accounts prior to the outage will have access to them shortly after the PlayStation Network is fully restored. In the meantime, users can think long and hard about which games they'll want to download. PS3 owners will be able to download two of the following five games free of charge:

  • Dead Nation
  • inFAMOUS
  • LittleBigPlanet
  • Super Stardust HD
  • Wipeout HD + Fury

If you own a PSP, you'll be able to grab two of the following games:

  • LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
  • ModNation Racers
  • Pursuit Force
  • Killzone Liberation

All of these titles will be available for 30 days shortly after the PlayStation Store is online. Sony has not provided an estimate of when that will occur. In any case, whatever you choose to download, you'll be able to keep forever, which fans will certainly appreciate. Additionally, Sony plans to give Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game for the PSN, to affected users.

Sony is offering other freebies as well. First, all users who currently do not subscribe to PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days of a PlayStation Plus membership. Sony will provide current subscribers with an additional 60 days of the service.

Second, during a select weekend, PlayStation Network customers will be able to watch designated movies from the PSN Store. No word yet on what those movies will be.

Third, those with an existing Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription will receive an additional 30 days of free premium subscription. Existing members of the Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription will be provided with an additional 30 days plus the time lost due to the outage.

Finally, those PS3 owners who like to adventure through the PlayStation Home landscape will have access to 100 free virtual items. Virtual shopaholics will finally be able to go on a purchasing rampage guilt-free. Sony will also be releasing the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space in the near future.

So Sony fans, what do you think of the "Welcome Back" program? Are you happy with the free game selection? Is it enough to win back your trust (if Sony ever lost it in the first place)?

Source: PlayStation Blog