We've talked a lot here about Sony's UMD Passport program, which provides cheap digital PSP purchases in the PSN -- now SEN -- Store for those who register their old UMD games. It's the hardware maker's solution to the PlayStation Vita's lack of backwards compatible support for the PSP's UMD-based titles.
Unfortunately, PS Vita owners in the U.S. won't have access to those cheaper prices. Sony officially confirms in a statement to GiantBomb that the UMD Passport program will not be available in North America, with the confirmation coming shortly after Kotaku first reported the news yesterday. No reason is given for the move; instead, the paragraph-long statement shifts gears after the first sentence to talk about how awesome it is that the PS Vita can play upscaled PSP games.
Read the full statement after the jump. I warn you though: it's just going to make you angrier.
"SCEA will not be offering the UMD Passport program. U.S. consumers who already own digital versions of select PSP titles will be able to seamlessly transfer those games to their PS Vita system. What's great for PS Vita owners is that they can enjoy PSP games with upscaled video quality that's ideal for the system's 5-inch OLED screen, along with controls that are optimized for its features such as the dual analog sticks. More than 250 PSP titles (including minis) will be available at the launch of PS Vita, and hundreds of additional titles will be available post-launch."
In fairness, the UMD Passport has been the subject of criticism because of its inconsistent pricing. No one wants to pay twice for a game that they picked up in the last five or so years, but some kind of discount is better than no discount at all.
There might be perfectly legitimate reasons for Sony not offering the program to its U.S. customers, but that statement serves as little more than a terse official confirmation of the news followed by a shameless plug for full-priced PSP digital products. We almost certainly haven't heard the last of this, as Sony execs will soon be facing the U.S. press in the yearly gauntlet of trade shows.
Source: GiantBomb
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Alexeai
There shouldnt even be a need to firmwire the platforms. I can tell you now though I highly doubt that the UMDs' will be sold for very much longer anyway. Not to mention the fact that the Go series was like a jump that totally excluded some of the really good games. The playstation network wont make too much money if they wont even give you the choice of downloading the games you already have. improving the system itself wont do crap for you. You actually have to work on the the Playstation network to even consider making the gameplay better. Other wise your just stuck with the crappy 1st stage any platform takes before they release a single good game.
AnonymousSuperhero751
Can I ask who the hell cares?
I custom firmware'd my Go so I could just load iso's onto it anyway. If I buy a game once, I've done my damned duty to the developers, and they won't squeeze any more cash out of me without making it genuinely worth it.
cptpain
Why has this suddenly become NEW News?
I seem to remember that this was mentioned some time ago.......... unless I'm clairvoyant....
Slacker_RB
Basically the same thing happened when the PSPgo came out. Why this would be a surprise to anyone is beyond me. I don't really plan on playing too much of my PSP games that I have on UMD anymore anyways but plan to keep my old PSP just in case.
Even if the passport program came to the US, I could trade in my PSP (1000 model) and get what, maybe $20-$30 dollars towards the Vita, re-buy the UMD games for download at a discount, then try to dump off the UMDs that no one will want for hardly any credit. I'd still be spending a bunch of money I don't need to and not really saving much.
Also, does anyone know if the program did well in Japan? If it didn't get used a lot, then implementing it here could very well be cost prohibitive and hurt the company financially which would be in no one's best interest.
Alexeai
This is totally getting out of hand....not only does it seem like these forgein games are screwing us over but now the whole system. I could understand that there are some special rewards given out in games or systems that the lucky few who happen to live where it was created can enjoy, but when the product is tampered with or cut off about 25% because we are in a different country thats just not right. Though the fact that there is a discount is relieving but the fact that we would have to rebuy the game at all is rediculous.
I am a currect owner of the PSP GO series and I was amazed by the graphics level. And I was willing to sacrifice re-buying the games over for a more portable, higher level graphics system. However when I came to find out that the playstation store did not even contain 70% of the (newer) titles I had I was furious...
Tell me Im not the only one seeing this corruption... I mean we pay the same damn price that others have and what we end up with is some pos knockoff.
fantasticfink
i don't really care about psp games as long as you can transfer ps3 games to vita
ckthecerealkiller
How does this program even work? How do they track what game gets switched to digital? There are no keys involved and no digital signature built in (that I know of) for each PSP game. What would prevent someone from loading theirs and giving the game to all of their friends to load the game, too? Maybe it's the massive used game market US, Or it's SCEA, or the developers, being dicks.
We've been spoiled with backwards compatibility IMO. In the old days you had to buy an adapter (Atari) or you couldn't play them at all. Nintendo was the first manufacturer to include backwards compatibility with the Gameboy. Sony was the first to do it right with the home console. They may have tried but most likely it was impossible or would drive the price of the VITA too high to include it. Imagine paying another 50 just to play your old PSP games.
bknygamer
It's all good. This won't be a problem once the hackers come in and create a CFW to solve this problem. Good Job Sony.
Bloodthr0e
And how is this really different from Nintendo phasing out the gameboy cartridge slot on the DS? It's the same thing with Sony phasing out the UMD slot. The difference is that Sony allows you to buy at least most PSP titles digitally if you still want to play them. You guys are spoiled for complaining about not getting a discount also.
Bloodthr0e
There were only like 5 games that were kind of popular in the U.S. that were even a part of the passport program. Most developers chose not to be part of the passport program and I'm sure that's why it isn't supported in the U.S. more than anything.
gateman21
Sony just doesn't like the U.S. Why should we safer with higher prices than other countries! Them know our economy is bad right now. Its a bad move that will alienate U.S. sales for the ps vita. Makes me wonder that they don't care about the hand held market in the U.S Might be a good move seeing that our hand held market is not as big as Japan's. I still don't like it though.
ImpurestCrowd
You know as much as I love Sony products this is one thing that Microsoft has all over Sony. They wont offer something to the 360 in another country and then tell the US players NO, that I've seen anyway. It seems like when they do launch something the US gets it first. I know MS is a US company, just saying.
EliteOp11
I LOVE PAYING TWICE FOR A GAME I OWN ALL READY! SONY FTW
/Sarcasm
Shuklar
G4 comments are itching to have some 'first world problems' meme treatment.
nighthawk282
Ugh, fine. I was always buying the Vita for the Vita, but the prospect of being able to perhaps try some PSP titles that I missed out on because I never owned a PSP was nice. That pipe dream seems to have gone up in smoke, though. I like you Sony, but boy, you do make it hard sometimes.
DaMan6021
Here's an idea, keep the PSP and the games. Don't see spending more money on the same game, to change the media formats from physical UMD to a digital download for use on another system. I like backwards compatability, but this is a different issue. Hollywood did not have to offer a trade in program for VHS to DVD or DVD to BluRay upgrading. If you like the Vita games, then buy the Vita for the Vita games. If you like the PSP games, keep the PSP for the PSP games. Simple.
Frank101me
wow....dick move Sony, dick move.
WhiteWolfAssassin
Even though I never owned a PSP, it's still disappointing the UMD Passport Program is not making it to North America. I know there is probably some legal reason why this is happening, but it still seems unfair.
Budace
Once again Sony shows how utterly out of touch they are with their fanbase. I haven't bought a Sony gaming product since the PS2 and will not buy another until this changes.
camaro72toy
Waiting for Microsofts handheld.....
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