Sony: No UMD Passport Program for the PS Vita in North America

Sony has toldKotakuthat there will not be a North American version of the UMD Passport program, which would allow PlayStation Vita users to transfer their PSP discs to the upcoming handheld.

Sony debuted the UMD Passport program in Japan last Decemberalongside the release of the Vita. Japanese gamers can insert their game discs into their PSPs, register them on their PlayStation Network accounts, and pay a small fee to re-download their games on the Vita.

Unless Sony changes its mind or announces some sort of alternative option, North American PSP owners will have no way to play their UMDs on the Vita, though they will be able to access any PSP games they purchased digitally.

I've asked Sony why it won't bring the UMD Passport program to North American customers and will update with any further news or explanation.Kotaku

Good going, Sony. Good going.

SOURCE

There's already a topic about this here:

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/topic/29015867/umd-games......stay-on-umds-and-not-on-vita

But I'll say here what I said on that thread:

Japan has a UMD Passport program, so why won't the U.S. have it?

This is a move done only out of sheer greed by Sony.

There's already a topic about this here:

But I'll say here what I said on that thread:

Japan has a UMD Passport program, so why won't the U.S. have it?

This is a move done out only out of sheer greed by Sony.

peterw007

lol, sony execs are dancing a jig and salivating over the thought of that sweet sweet psp to vita remake money.

lol, sony execs are dancing a jig and salivating over the thought of that sweet sweet psp to vita remake money.

Riverwolf007

[QUOTE="Riverwolf007"]

lol, sony execs are dancing a jig and salivating over the thought of that sweet sweet psp to vita remake money.

DrTrafalgarLaw

Well that kinda like Sony giving the finger to NA gamers. Is there not going to be one for Europe too?

what's up with that Sony..

Hardly surprising, but seems like a missed opportunity to engender some good will towards a new system that could use anything that might get gamers to give it another look.

I'm going to assume Europe has the same deal, that sucks.fabz_95

seems like nintendo is the only ones thats do BC anymore:(

This decision just seems so strange, especially when backwards compatibility of any kind is something that some purchasers would want. If its licesning that than really stinks for them, however if not than this decision just doesn't make any sense. Having it would only make them a little money due to the fees that are requried when users transfer their games.

There's already a topic about this here:

http://www.gamespot.com/forums/topic/29015867/umd-games......stay-on-umds-and-not-on-vita

But I'll say here what I said on that thread:

Japan has a UMD Passport program, so why won't the U.S. have it?

This is a move done only out of sheer greed by Sony.

peterw007

Unfortunate, but I'm indifferent. I owned a PSP back when and have a few titles I wouldn't mind playing again, but nothing I'm dying over. The reason I own a superior platform isn't to play my old games but the new ones being developed specifically for it.

Awesome. Another reason why I'm not buying Sony's newest overpriced handheld.

Good, I was hoping they would implement this policy. Heil68

They literally couldn't be handling the Vita much worsebonesawisready5

I was thinking the same thing.

It's like they're trying to push people away from buying it at launch.

[QUOTE="Heil68"]Good, I was hoping they would implement this policy. Frostbite24

[QUOTE="Frostbite24"][QUOTE="Heil68"]Good, I was hoping they would implement this policy. todd2r

Good, I was hoping they would implement this policy. Heil68

Doesn't surprise me. The PSP wasn't nearly as popular in NA as is was in Japan and even Europe.

Unfortunate, but I'm indifferent. I owned a PSP back when and have a few titles I wouldn't mind playing again, but nothing I'm dying over. The reason I own a superior platform isn't to play my old games but the new ones being developed specifically for it.

Basinboy

but what about this, the ds has many excellent games that came out and when the ds is discontinued how else will you play the ds games you missed? with the 3ds since it will still be selling and healthy.

BC is a really good thing for consumers.

i think sony dropped the ball here

Now cows have to take both their PSP and Vita to play their UMD games and Vita games.

Japan is roughly the size of CA and it would be much easier to implement something like this over there. Putting Kiosks all over the United States just probably isn't worth it. Especially when most US PSP owners probably don't actually buy their games.

That's a pretty harsh move from Sony. No PSP BC support, now this.

if you wanna play your games so bad get a psp, i downloaded most of my games from the psn store and i wanna download all my vita games online, so i'm not tripping on it but of course people who have no interest in the vita will take this chance to take shots at it.

if you wanna play your games so bad get a psp, i downloaded most of my games from the psn store and i wanna download all my vita games online, so i'm not tripping on it but of course people who have no interest in the vita will take this chance to take shots at it.

infinite884

Thats a deal breaker if you have a good collection of games on UMD. Fortunately, most of my PSP games are DD.djsifer01

I am just not trading in my PSP in the very slim chance I want to go back and play some of the older games. Chances are I will be to busy with Vita games with the little time I get to play games to ever go back.

I have a BC PS3 and have only ever played 2 of the 50+ PS2 games I own on it in the 5 years I have had the system.

I buy new systems to play new games, not to play older games.

[QUOTE="infinite884"]

if you wanna play your games so bad get a psp, i downloaded most of my games from the psn store and i wanna download all my vita games online, so i'm not tripping on it but of course people who have no interest in the vita will take this chance to take shots at it.

charizard1605

[QUOTE="infinite884"]

if you wanna play your games so bad get a psp, i downloaded most of my games from the psn store and i wanna download all my vita games online, so i'm not tripping on it but of course people who have no interest in the vita will take this chance to take shots at it.

charizard1605

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="infinite884"]

if you wanna play your games so bad get a psp, i downloaded most of my games from the psn store and i wanna download all my vita games online, so i'm not tripping on it but of course people who have no interest in the vita will take this chance to take shots at it.

CajunShooter

[QUOTE="charizard1605"][QUOTE="infinite884"]

if you wanna play your games so bad get a psp, i downloaded most of my games from the psn store and i wanna download all my vita games online, so i'm not tripping on it but of course people who have no interest in the vita will take this chance to take shots at it.

infinite884