UMD to digital converting for PSP Go is a no go @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on September 25, 2009

News: Sony shoots down a UMD-to-digital version conversion service.

Kotaku recently got in touch with a Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokesman to discuss the possibly of UMD-to-digital conversions of PSP games. If you'll recall, during this year's E3 Expo, Sony expressed a desire to have a conversion program in place for the PSP Go's launch.

Sadly, it appears that program will be a no go as Sony told Kotaku there are just too many hurdles to overcome:

"We were evaluating a UMD conversion program, but due to legal and technical reasons we will not be offering the program at this time," a Sony Computer Entertainment of America spokesman told Kotaku.

Due to the lack of a UMD drive on the PSP Go, current PSP owners were hoping for some kind of conversion program that would allow them to transfer their current PSP game library to the Go. While it won't be in place for the system's October 1 launch, Sony is not giving up on the idea:

"We are looking into programs for owners who have previously purchased UMD titles and want to exchange them for digital versions," Sony Computer Entertainment's Brian Keltner told Kotaku at the time. "It's something we are still hammering out the details. As soon as we have solid plans in place we will make an announcement."

Sony has said in the past that they are striving to add every PSP game to the PlayStation Store, but the current online catalog only includes about 90 games. More than 500 games have been released for the PSP since its launch in 2005. Sony executives have confirmed that "nearly every" game released after the Go's launch will be added to the PlayStation Store in the same week the UMD is released.

We'll have more on all of Sony's PSP Go plans soon.