PlayStation 3 (PS3) video games can be purchased digitally and downloaded directly to the console from the PlayStation Store. The purchase can be made using a special code or using funds from your PlayStation Network (PSN) account. After completing the purchase you will be guided through the download process of the game on the console.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Downloading a Game
Step 1. Check that the PS3 is connected to the internet
In order to purchase and download games in digital format directly from the console, it must be connected to the web so that it can access the PlayStation Store.
Select the "Settings" item in the main console menu, then choose the "Network Settings" item to connect the PS3 to the local network via Wi-Fi connection. If you love to play multiplayer with friends and users around the world, it may be better to connect the PS3 directly to the network router via an Ethernet cable, in order to ensure a faster and more stable connection
Step 2. Turn on the console and use the controller to select "PlayStation Network" from the main menu
Step 3. Scroll through the appeared list to locate and select the "PlayStation Store" option
Step 4. At this point, press the "Login" button, then log in using your personal login credentials
To be able to download free games or purchase paid games, you must have a PlayStation Network account. If you don't have one yet, follow these instructions to create it now.
Step 5. Go to the "Games" section of the PlayStation Store
It is visible inside the left sidebar of the interface. A list of all games that can be downloaded for free or can be purchased from PlayStation Store will be displayed.
Step 6. Browse the list of available titles using the controller or search using the name of the game you want
Choose the "Redeem Code" option located inside the left sidebar of the interface to download a game that you have already purchased digitally and that you simply need to install on the console. In this case you will be guided through the process of entering the purchase code and downloading the video game
Step 7. Select the name of any game present to get more information, for example regarding the type of video game, the price or the space occupied on the disc
Some PS3 titles can be downloaded for free.
Step 8. Press the "Add to Cart" button, then choose the "Cart" option
Step 9. Press the "Proceed to Checkout" button, then choose the "Confirm Purchase" option
The cost of the selected game will be deducted from your PSN account wallet balance and a confirmation email will be sent to you with all the details of the purchase made.
Choose the "Add Funds" item located within the purchase confirmation screen, if your PSN wallet balance is insufficient to complete the transaction. At this point, follow the instructions that will appear on the screen to add more funds to your PSN account using a credit card or a PSN prepaid card
Step 10. Choose where to download the game within the PS3
You can choose to save it directly to the console's internal hard drive or to external storage media. At this point the chosen title will be downloaded and installed on the PS3.
Step 11. Wait for the download to finish
When fully installed, the selected game will be available for use within the PS3 "Games" menu.
Part 2 of 2: Troubleshooting
Step 1. If the game download is slow or freezes, try switching from a Wi-Fi network connection to a wired one using an Ethernet cable
In most cases, a wired connection is faster and more stable than a wireless connection when downloading and installing a game from the PlayStation Store.
Step 2. If the new game does not download completely to your console, try deleting the data related to old titles that you no longer use
Sony itself suggests having an amount of free disk space equal to double the size of the installation file before proceeding with the download. The amount of free space required to install the game on the PS3 is shown in the PlayStation Store screen for the detailed information of the chosen title.
Go to the 'Game' tab of the console's main menu, then choose the 'Saved Data Utility' option. At this point, delete all the data present and related to video games that you no longer use. This way you will free up valuable space on the console disk, without running the risk of losing important information (for example, save games)
Step 3. If the download of your chosen title installation file continues to stop or fails to complete, try logging into the PlayStation Store at a later time
The problem could be related to the Sony servers that manage the PlayStation Store, a temporary network congestion or an abnormally slow internet connection.
Step 4. If you are still having trouble downloading your chosen game, try installing all available PS3 firmware updates
This way you can be sure that the console is running the latest version of the operating system available, which could be a prerequisite to be able to download and install the game in question or the most modern titles.
