Players report PS3/Vita download error when trying to download games purchased from the PS Store. It’s a widespread issue that apparently affected downloads on both consoles for a few weeks.
The PS3/Vita download error is apparently related to the PSN licensing system
Several threads have appeared on Reddit (via ResetEra) exploring the issue in detail. Some users have speculated that the problem occurs with games with expired licenses that need to be reactivated.
“An error occurred during the install operation – (80029509),” reads one such error message.
Last Tuesday, February 28, Sony released a firmware update for the PS3 that came with the standard patch notes “improves system performance” (or note, rather). While some users believe the firmware update is what caused PS Store downloads to “break”, feedback from multiple players suggests the issue predates the update. Additionally, since the PS Vita is also affected, a PS3 firmware update could not have been responsible for the download issues.
Some players have had luck making multiple attempts to download their games. Others said they had to wait a few hours before trying again or trying to download another day.
It’s unclear when/if Sony will fix the issue.