GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Sony details Vita game transfer fees

Sony details Passport Program, offering discount digital download prices for those wanting to play games they already own on the new platform.

487 Comments

The PlayStation Vita's Japanese launch is rapidly approaching, and Sony has finally offered some details on the program that will allow PSP owners to transfer their games and saves to their new Vita handhelds. All games will have to be repurchased to be played on the Vita, Sony said, but those who can prove via UMD that they already own games will get a discount when repurchasing the same content digitally.

The Vita will be released in Japan later this year.
The Vita will be released in Japan later this year.

Many full-price games will command a fee of ¥1,000 ($13, £8); titles confirmed to be in this price range include Dirt 2, Gran Turismo, Dead or Alive Paradise, and Patapon 3. While some other titles will cost less to transfer, some will cost considerably more. One Pachi-slot title from Daito has a fee of ¥2,400 ($31) attached to it.

More titles from third parties will also be available to transfer once the Vita hits the streets, Sony has said, with approximately 200 promised. The firm specifically called out Square Enix, Capcom, Konami, and others as having titles that would come to the program at some point but did not offer further details.

The PlayStation Vita is due to launch in Japan on December 17, in some other Asian territories on December 23, and finally in Europe and North America on February 22, 2012. It features two analog sticks, a 5-inch touch screen, and a rear touch pad. Two versions of the handheld will be released; one with 3G network access, as well as Wi-Fi capabilities, and another that can only connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi. The 3G version will retail for ¥29,980, €299, $299, and £279 in Japan, the eurozone, the USA, and the UK, respectively. In those regions the Wi-Fi version will sell for ¥24,980, €249, $249, and £229.

Full details on the program can be found (in Japanese) on Sony's website or (in English) via Andriasang.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

Join the conversation
There are 487 comments about this story
487 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for moviequest14
moviequest14

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@blue_francis14 : But we don't know that is the root cause for ALL hackings...it isn't over-radical to say that most technologically advanced people feel that they are considered 'nerdy' (I'm not calling it true or not but they do feel that way) and have a 'bad boy' complex and thus feel that they need to do the closest thing possible to illegal activity without much real danger so they can think that they are 'bad'.Perhaps some of them just like to ''Watch the world burn''.There could be any number of reasons and while I'm sure what you listed is one of the main ones I strongly doubt it is the only one and taking down the security walls and leaving it open for even 1 hacker that doesn't have that as his main cause could be chaotic...could you imagine the pr doomsday Sony/MS/Nintendo would face for doing such (especially if it didn't work)?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for blue_francis14
blue_francis14

288

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@caryslan2 Sony just milked 1.2 million people in the world. I am one of them. I should've listened to you and kept my fandom to Nintendo...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for blue_francis14
blue_francis14

288

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@moviequest14 Well, to answer that question, we need a root cause analysis. What's the reason why hackers do what they do? Because they like it and probably they like the challenge. Well, that's what I read anyway. But what if we remove that challenge?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Moegitto
Moegitto

471

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

I have no PSP, I have no problem. If I want a PSP title, I'll get it off of PSN.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for freedom01
freedom01

3699

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 109

User Lists: 0

freedom01  Moderator

Well this is no problem if you have the UMD games that means that you also have your PSP, so just don't trade in your PSP, easy as that. and transferring downloaded PSP games to the Vita are free.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Coolyfett
Coolyfett

6277

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 36

User Lists: 0

This is why Coolyfett loves america!! The Playstation Vita will make it a better country.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shadowhunter0
shadowhunter0

2120

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@redpandafire actually you can transfer your digital psp games to the vita for free like I said in my other post this website has gotten it wrong

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shadowhunter0
shadowhunter0

2120

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

this website got the passport program wrong it is actually called UMD Passport and what it actually is that you get a discount for digital version of games that you already own on UMD and transferring digital psp games to the vita will be FREE

Upvote • 
Avatar image for FLOWZMENTAL
FLOWZMENTAL

91

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

And this is why I don't buy handhelds.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Jehuty08
Jehuty08

1950

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

so, it was my understanding that games you bought off of the psn were already compatible. Its the UMDs that you have to pay to transfer. Am I mistaken?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Solamon
Solamon

204

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

Not a huge deal. If you already own PSP games, you probably also have a PSP so it's not like you are losing the ability to play your games.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ticklemonster1
ticklemonster1

78

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 7

User Lists: 0

mabee a digital download voucher from retailers if you bring in your umd? or a mail in program?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for ggregd
ggregd

850

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

So transfer your UMD game then sell it on EBay or GameStop to get your money back.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for varunvikram1
varunvikram1

289

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

this is where sony really pisses me off, if i own a game why the hell cant i play it on the next console i get. they did it for ps2/ps3 and now its this.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Lhomity
Lhomity

508

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 9

User Lists: 0

@Dominic_18 The Playstation and Playstation 2 are the 2 highest selling consoles in history and the Playstation 3 sales are only a tad short of the 360 (about 3m) this gen, though arguably better technologically speaking. So how exactly has Sony failed making consoles?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shadow655
shadow655

197

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 3

User Lists: 0

Dominic_18 how is this a fail? Paying for a Downloadable game?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for megakick
megakick

1931

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Maybe a 3rd part will make a umd drive for the psp vita?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for papi-blanco
papi-blanco

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

If the games were bought from PSN then you can re download them, and play them on the Vita. If you have a UMD, Sony will give you a discount on the digital version. The only problem is that many third party developers have not permitted Sony to redistribute and sell their games digitally due to bureaucratic bull$h!t, or technical issues. (PlayStation Blog) NGP will be able to play PSP titles, minis, PS one classics, video and comics from the PlayStation Store.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for BlackBaldwin
BlackBaldwin

1245

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 17

User Lists: 0

So if I like brought persona 2 for my psp go this month I wont beable to dl it on to my vita three months from now? I'm pretty confused about this whole deal I guess I'm just gonna have to keep my go even through the lack of that left thumbstick just kills me everytime I pick up the darn thing...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JETS-JETS-JETS
JETS-JETS-JETS

225

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Don't understand the problem here did anyone see the NEW games PS Vita is coming out with and we are stuck on psp games lol. Yea becuz I buy a PS3 to play ps2 games I buy a 360 to play xbox games lol come on people get real here your not buying the Vita slapping in Uncharted Golden Abyss and say man I wonder how that psp game is doing lol. ppppllllllzzzzz

Upvote • 
Avatar image for CreepingDeath73
CreepingDeath73

61

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Dominic they might fail at the handheld scene, but the ps3 is not a fail.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for digi-demon
digi-demon

803

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

Sticking with my trusty PSP 1000 - sorry Sonny :P

Upvote • 
Avatar image for blade113355
blade113355

54

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I have about 25+ psp games...No sony I refuse to play your game.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for redpandafire
redpandafire

65

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

fuk that, that's a dealbreaker right there. i have dozens of digital games and was really looking forward to playing MY games on the vita. someone please hack sony again just to show these as#holes their dam place.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Dominic_18
Dominic_18

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

sony failed in making consoles , portables and tvs got owned by samsung i dont know why they are still here making new crap useless stuff

Upvote • 
Avatar image for sephiroth1386
sephiroth1386

28

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

'eff that. I'm pretty sure I'll just wait till our PSP hacker buddies have a final say so about all this, just like last time. I won't, and will not ever buy the same game twice. I mean hell, I ALREADY beat it, and don't NEED to play it again.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for starfox15
starfox15

3988

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 15

User Lists: 0

Wouldn't it be cool if Sony rewarded early adopters of its previous tech with the ability to play their games for free on the new system? Guess we're going with the punishment route instead...

Upvote • 
Avatar image for zinoalex
zinoalex

1057

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 8

User Lists: 0

There is the PSP and then there is the Vita. As long as gamers realize that both systems are meant to be used differently and act differently, things will be fine.but I for one am not giving up my PSP 2000.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for grand17
grand17

2079

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 23

User Lists: 0

the digital age has a hand in your pocket

Upvote • 
Avatar image for praack
praack

30

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

repurchase - this was the reason for the removal of the software support for PS2 in the PS3, this allowed for PS2's to have minor code adjustments and be resold- and for a decent price too

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-59d6d551e5364
deactivated-59d6d551e5364

374

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

Sony always wants to milk the customers.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for cdragon_88
cdragon_88

1848

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

This is the problem with no BC. You got blu-ray drives playing DVDs but on the gaming world Vita doesn't play UMDs having you pay extra for what you already got. PSN DD PSP games are a rebuy as well? If thats the case, looks like its psp in one pocket and vita in another.So much for BC not being a big deal.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Shadow_Fire41
Shadow_Fire41

1314

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 32

User Lists: 0

or you could just keep your original sodding PSP and not pay anything for transfers......by playing the PSP games on your PSP.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for jma1024x
jma1024x

168

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I will wait for "a 3rd party solution" *ahem* rather than paying $$$ to dL games I already freaking own!

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JOKER677
JOKER677

700

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

This should be a damn phone, take this over ANY phone in the market

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shadowhunter0
shadowhunter0

2120

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@JtAgentX I agree hell I don't even have a smart phone because I don't want one the phone I have know works great for what I want to use it for and when I want to play games I use my psp (soon to be a vita)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for JtAgentX
JtAgentX

88

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 16

User Lists: 0

I prefer a dedicated handheld gaming console to some smartphone. Thank you.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shadowhunter0
shadowhunter0

2120

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@Plr01 if they make it for free then allot of people will abuse it just like they did with game sharing because all you have to do is borrow the umd from someone and then use this program and get the game for free and just because you bought a game on umd doesn't entitle you to get the digital version for free

Upvote • 
Avatar image for SANDMAN201
SANDMAN201

563

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 13

User Lists: 0

Socom: Fireteam Bravo 3 I'm downloading. Excellent multiplayer.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for tom79806
tom79806

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@PIr01 some of the digital copies are far more expensive than the UMD versions fifa is a good example the 2010 version is still at £31 on PSN while you can pick up the same game as a hard copy for around £20 they should do the transfer in retailers so that you can go to a gaming retailer and get a digi version on a memory stick that only works for your PSN id

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Plr01
Plr01

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@GTA-Like_Fan I agree that getting rid of UMDs is a good thing. What I'm saying is that it isn't a good idea to treat digital copies of the same game better than the UMDs since the UMD is something that's been bought for sure while the digital copy could have been hacked or something. But even if what I just said isn't right for some reason then at the least the UMD owner should be getting the digital version for free because people pay for the UMD as well and probably more than those who bought the digital copy. Simply put having digital copies transfered for free and making the UMD owners having to re-buy their games to transfer them is not equal treating to the customers.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shadowhunter0
shadowhunter0

2120

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@rbrignoni first off it isn't a fee what it actually is a discount for buying digital games that you already own on umd and to play digital psp games on the vita will be free and the reason why they are doing this is because there isn't a umd drive on the vita and the games you get on a smart phone can't compete with the games that will be available on the vita games like uncharted: golden abyess and Resistance: burning skies plus tons of other great games just one of these games is way better that all the games on smart phones and just because some guy are Target said that doesn't make it true all it actually is is his opinion

Upvote • 
Avatar image for rbrignoni
rbrignoni

77

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

This is why the Vita and 3DS are d00med. While Sony is worrying about repurchase fees to play the game on the Vita, iPhone and Android users are happier buying $.99 games. I was at Target the other day buying a Kindle Fire and I asked the electronics guy about the 3DS and he said wait till Black Friday cause it'll be selling at $99. I asked why and he said it's not selling. I brought up the smartphones and he said yup they have changed portable gaming.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for anthonycg
anthonycg

2017

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

I don't think PSP owners can even consider the Vita unless they're willing to treat it as a separate system with separate games.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for GTA-Like_Fan
GTA-Like_Fan

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

@Plr01 You will still be able to buy games on the vita, they will be both on some kind of new cards and downloadable.They just droped UMDs cause its outdated and couldnt support the weight of the new games for Vita

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Plr01
Plr01

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@shadowhunter0 Thanks for the clarification pal. I think this is a wrong move by sony though, cause having a UMD is way more solid proof for buying the game than owning a digital copy. At the least both should be treated equally if nothing.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Plr01
Plr01

66

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

[This message was deleted at the request of the original poster]

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shadowhunter0
shadowhunter0

2120

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

@The_Mercenary pretty much it should be just like transferring stuff on to the psp unless they are going to change that which I doubt they will

Upvote • 
Avatar image for shani_boy101
shani_boy101

5423

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 0

What a joke. If there was ever going to be a fee for this it should be a singular $10 or so payment and work for all games.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for The_Mercenary
The_Mercenary

25

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

So if you buy them through the PSN Store then you will not have to go through this process and will be able to just install them and play on the Vita right?

Upvote •