Big games missing from PSP to Vita UMD Passport list

By Robert Purchese Published 1 December, 2011

No Monster Hunter, no MGS Peace Walker.

There are big names missing from the list of PSP games that can be downloaded for Vita at a discounted price.

Among them, Monster Hunter and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.

The entire Capcom, Konami, Square Enix and Namco Bandai catalogues are missing.

As it stands, 262 PSP games support the UMD Passport system. This list is in Japanese, and Google's translation service not accurate enough for us to reproduce it here.

While 262 sounds like a lot, Siliconera pointed out that there are 606 PSP games currently available digitally from the Japanese PlayStation Store.

The UMD Passport system links owned PSP games with PSN accounts, then makes the games available to download for between £4 and £12 - based on official Japanese pricing.

The Japanese PS Vita launch of 17th December is still weeks away. That Capcom et al should stay absent from the UMD Passport list would indeed be a shock. As shocking as those "discount" prices, you could say.

There's no Vita Monster Hunter game announced. MH4 is currently a 3DS exclusive.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 6 months ago

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  • MattEdWithCheese #1 6 months ago

    well you can get freedom unite as part of the "PSP Essentials Programme" on PSN for £7.99 which falls within the bounds of the Passport prices. The bigger problem is games like Crisis Core and Birth By Sleep not being available on PSN at all...

  • StolenGlory #2 6 months ago

    Between £4 and £12...

    I ALREADY OWN THEM. THEY SHOULD BE FREE.

  • eightbit #3 6 months ago

    The big games have a better chance of being made available at some point, you would think. Probably not much hope for the lower tier sadly. =/

  • Dr_Cowley #4 6 months ago

    They are charging £4-£12 for a digital version of a game you already own? Surely with a PSP its very easy to find digital versions of all games for alot less than that, which was the PSP's main problem... for sony not us.

    It just seems as though its those 4 publishers are either late to the game or would rather users have to buy the game again at full price

  • Markitron #5 6 months ago

    @StolenGlory

    Its not exactly like Sony have come over to your house and smashed your UMDs, Its an entirely new platform. Maybe its just me but after seeing that launch lineup I have no great desire to play any PSP games on the Vita
    Edited by Markitron at 01/12/11 @ 10:54

  • myiagros #6 6 months ago

    Sony say they can uniquely identify UMD discs to prevent them being used for the UMD Passport scheme multiple times.
    If they can uniquely identify the disc then surely i can prove i own it, so why should i have to pay for the same thing again.

    As StolenGlory said "I ALREADY OWN THEM. THEY SHOULD BE FREE."

  • landlock #7 6 months ago

    I plan just you know to keep my original PSP around until I'm finish with the games it's not like it's huge and takes up a lot of room.

  • asphaltcowboy #8 6 months ago

    You think it's shocking that the price-gouging Capcom of new is not going to put their games on a discount list? Why would they do that?

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #9 6 months ago

    @Myiagros & Stolen Glory

    Do you demand from MS they give you all the games they release on GoD for free when you have the disk version?

    There are bandwidth costs associated with the digital version, so no they shouldn't be free, possibly a little cheaper, but how many games do you actually plan on upgrading?

  • StolenGlory #10 6 months ago

    Post deleted at 09:50:49 12-12-2011

  • uiruki #11 6 months ago

    Since the prices for these are clearly set by the publishers I'm sure Capcom and Namco will be taking some interesting liberties.

  • JohnnyHeaven #12 6 months ago

    i'm not sure if i agree that they should be free. its not as if they were handing out DVDs to replace your VHS system.

    what i do think is a shame though is that there not concentrating on getting as much of the PSP back catalogue online and straight up lowering the price point to no higher than 10.00 a game

  • jonfon #13 6 months ago

    @GamesProgrammer
    This is true.

    Mind you if I was a marketing person (I'm not but I did marry one so I might have caught something) who was trying to sell what is a rather expensive (but lovely) bit of kit in recession times at a pretty poor time of the year I'd probably weight up the good PR allowing people to freely transfer at least some of the games they'd bought in the past for the previous model as a gesture of goodwill over the chance to make some extra bucks off them.

    Sweeten the deal, Sony. Give people "2 free goes" or something so they can port their absolute favourite game across.

  • jablonski #14 6 months ago

    "As it stands, 262 PSP games support the UMD Passport system. This list is in Japanese, and Google's translation service not accurate enough for us to reproduce it here."

    We can't copy and paste the list - we would actually have to type some of them out to correct them, but we can't be bothered.

  • EvilAspirin #15 6 months ago

    Luckily it seems my decision to buy games for the PSP on the PlayStation Store towards the end of its life has paid off. When I eventually get a Vita I can still play the Disgaea games, Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, Dissidia 012, and a number of others which other than Crisis Core are the only games I really play on my PSP now.

    Either way if I had a Vita I'd be more interested in playing new games rather than forking out again for some old ones. As some have pointed out sometimes you can get the games cheaper on the Store than what they're charging to convert them...

  • eightbit #16 6 months ago

    What bothers me is that at the moment the JAP/US/EU PSN services are so varying, with titles scattered across the board. If I wanted to download Castlevania Dracula X Chronicles right now, I couldn't do that through the EU PSN, but I see it's available in the US.

    It just seems like a lengthy and frustrating process to cater for all, and I certainly don't have much faith in PSN providing this service. But hey, they may suprise me.

  • spielorg #17 6 months ago

    This isn't the final list though is it? I recall reading a thread where the guy from Andriasang pointed out what Siliconera did was a massive assumption. Considering that those 4 companies have also promised support. Not to mention there were far fewer games on that list yesterday than there is today. So it's probably just slow addition most likely.
    Plus http://andriasang.com/comyxo/

    "While companies like Square Enix, Falcom, Capcom, Konami and Sega haven't announced titles, they are on board with the program, Sony says."

    So it shouldn't be surprising, it must be issues of finalising and optimising. They're not going to say no to extra money since the process doesn't sound too expensive, probably just looking at which ones are worth it quickly.

  • dennett316 #18 6 months ago

    @Stolen Glory...they are free, you still have them, play them on your PSP. Who wants to pay £250 plus to play games from the previous gen? If there are some PSP games that are so good you can't bear to let them go, then keep your damn PSP and play them on that.
    I think gamers are spoiled nowadays in regards to backwards compatibility, it only very rarely happened in the past.

  • StolenGlory #19 6 months ago

    @GamesProgrammer

    "Do you demand from MS they give you all the games they release on GoD for free when you have the disk version?"

    Nope, because there is actually a relatively sizeable chunk of original disc-based Xbox titles that will work on the 360. With the Vita there is no such option, due to the lack of the UMD drive.

    So kinda different.

    "There are bandwidth costs associated with the digital version, so no they shouldn't be free, possibly a little cheaper, but how many games do you actually plan on upgrading?"

    Good point. Ironically, the ones I am interesting in upgrading either don't exist on the service (Kingdom Hearts) or would be cheaper to re-buy seperately (Crisis Core) than pay such retarded fees.

    And also - Bandwidth Costs? Which ones? These games are already available on the service for the most part and have been for a while now.

    They haven't seen any need to monetise it before now.

  • TopKatt #20 6 months ago

    I ALREADY OWN THEM. THEY SHOULD BE FREE.

    Too right! And I've already bought the Star Wars movies on VHS once AND paid to see them at the cinema, I want the blu-rays for nothing, nothing do you hear me!!!

  • StolenGlory #21 6 months ago

    @TopKatt

    Yeah, brilliant.

  • nickthegun #22 6 months ago

    The missing games AKA 'the ones people will rebuy'

  • Markitron #23 6 months ago

    @lollage

    TopKatts analogy may be a little extreme, but its essentially the same thing. Consumer buys product on one device a certain format, consumer then gets another device with a new format and wants the product on that device/format. Like I said before I personally have no interest but a month after launch I doubt anyone will care

  • Bigglesworth #24 6 months ago

    This list is in Japanese, and Google's translation service not accurate enough for us to reproduce it here.

    Perish the thought that you have a Japanese-speaking employee or contributor when two of your three primary news sources originate in Japan =)

  • coolbritannia #25 6 months ago

    Just like M$, they're making cash off of backwards compatibility that should come as standard.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #26 6 months ago

    Theres a bandwidth cost every time you download a title, not just for storing it on a server.

    There is clearly a sense of entitlement by some people that you should get the digital version of a disk game for free, even tho no company has ever offered this in the past, even when format has changed, Ninty didnt give me all my NES, SNES, and N64 games for free download on my wii, they didnt even offer me an upgrade discount.

    So what Sony is offering is a pretty good option, for those that still want to play some of there PSP games on the Vita, i doubt ill use it tho, as ill be using my Vita to play Vita games.

  • Zozzilla #27 6 months ago

    *glances at my two still immaculate, functional PSP Slims*

  • fongy #28 6 months ago

    I honestly don't understand this "I've paid for it once, why again" mentality..

    Vita is a new console, a better one, similar to PS3 which played certain PS2 games - not all... and nobody bought a PS3 to play PS2 games - did they?! (I hope not!)

    If you want to play PSP games - keep your PSP - and enjoy them on that... to think that you'll be able to play every PSP game on Vita, even if not released digitally and the fact it's on a different format is just crazy... and isn't a 'right' like some people think it is...

    The Vita is going to be AMAZING - adding PSP functionality is just a bonus...
    I for one can't wait and I suspect many of the PSP classics will be getting an extreme makeover anyway, so just enjoy it for what it is...
    Edited by fongy at 01/12/11 @ 12:48

  • TopKatt #29 6 months ago

    @lollage

    Actually it's your sense of entitlement that's silly. If you've paid for the games originally then of course you owns those games. No-one is forcing you to get rid your PSP, you can keep the device and the games as long as you want. But you expect to be able to play those same games on the next generations devices totally free of charge? Or is it just the next generation? Why stop there? Should you be able to get free version of all the PSP games you own for every handheld Sony release in future?
    Edited by TopKatt at 01/12/11 @ 12:50

  • NotSoSlim #30 6 months ago

    Keep your PSP it is that simple. If you really want to play your games on Vita either pay the fee or look for sale on store.

    Also dont remember Sony saying back compat was essential as if it was then device would have UMD drive

  • hiscore #31 6 months ago

    Those companies are probably preparing some Vita-esque update for some of their psp-titles. Would make sence in this era of remakes. Sony did it with PS2-games, so why not from psp to Vita.

  • eightbit #32 6 months ago

    I'm curious; has Sony mentioned whether the Vita will upscale/smoothen PSP titles?

  • Pocketgrandpa #33 6 months ago

    I've put my PSP and games etc on eBay now. Will make a nice xmas present for some kid and stick some much-needed funds in the bank to help buy a Vita. Personally, I've never really felt the need to play old games on a new system - I'm too busy playing the new ones. Apart from the old classic Marios, Sonics etc but then that's why they invented the Dingoo.

  • uiruki #34 6 months ago

    eightbit: They're just doubling the pixels, with an optional bilinear filter to smooth it out. Nothing about increasing colour depth or anything like that.

  • ShortRound77 #35 6 months ago

    Buy new hardware = Buy new software.
    If you want to play old titles, break out your psp.

    If you want to complain: no soup for you!

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #36 6 months ago

    I think a reasonable charge for bandwidth, admin and storage costs would be fine.

    Not sure £12 meets the term 'reasonable'...

    My cynical hat also makes me think that some of the top games may be off the list because they'll soon be sold as downloads to anyone who wants them.

    I think the big three are starting to realise that there's more money to be made by re-selling old games, remaking them or selling a next gen sequel than allowing people to play their old versions for free.

  • Feanor #37 6 months ago

    @StolenGlory You do not own a digital license to a PSP game just because you own the UMD, anymore than you own a digital license to Final Fantasy VII because you own the original PS1 game on CD. Publishers are under no obligation to give away digital license to their games for free, and Sony have no power to force them to do so.

    And bitching like an entitled internet baby will not help.

  • chessboxer #38 6 months ago

    Isn't Peace Walker part of the Metal Gear Solid HD Collection which Kojima confirmed (live on stage) is currently in development for the Vita?

  • Shikasama #39 6 months ago

    Funny to see apologists talking about not owning licenses and bandwidth costs (with apparantly the most expensive bandwidth provider in existance) like this is all a good and logical thing.

    Honestly, PSP owners should be grateful that Sony has so generously given them an oportunity to buy all of their stuff back.

  • cawley1 #40 6 months ago

    Christ what a fuss over nothing! Just keep your PSP and your UMD's and play them that way. Backwards compatability is a nice 'feature' but who ever really uses it over playing new games, anyway - plus they usually look and control better on the hardware they were designed to run on.

    And if you really are that bothered, when this sucker gets hacked you will be able to port all your games across (including Capcom, Konami and any other random title you can think of!) just like the PSone emulator on the PSP!

  • TheLastProphet #41 6 months ago

    People who think these charges are unreasonable I assume are those who have invested a lot of money into their PSP games library. I'll also assume people who think these charges are reasonable have invested little or no money into PSP games, which makes this bitter pill easy for them to swallow. I cannot fathom how anyone can claim they are happy to pay for exactly the same game multiple times, just to have a digital copy. We're not talking about improved visuals, sound, or anything-they're exactly the same games as people have already paid for and own - so where on Earth is the justification to make people pay for them again? The only thing this scheme will achieve is it will further encourage piracy on the Vita, as Sony's pricing for the device, memory cards, and games is completely ridiculous.

  • TheBusterMan #42 6 months ago

    @TopKatt You don't seriously want the blu-rays after what Lucas has done to them,do you? Even free?

  • Toothball #43 6 months ago

    I ALREADY OWN THEM. THEY SHOULD BE FREE.
    You already own them, you don't need to pay for them again. Just keep playing them on UMD and it won't cost you any extra.

    I started buying digital a while back to avoid this sort of thing.

    Edit: Oh, I was beaten to it six or seven times. May as well leave it to balance out the opinions.
    Edited by Toothball at 01/12/11 @ 14:38

  • Nazo #44 6 months ago

    Firstly, Sony does not own the rights to all these games and therefore can't give them away even if it wants to. And I really doubt the publishers would allow it, there was probably a lot of arm twisting involved to get a discount.

    Secondly, no-one is forcing anyone to buy anything.
    If Vita had a UMD drive I could understand the fuss, but that's not the case. Personally I doubt I'll be buying any of my PSP games again as I have a PSP to play them on.

  • GamesConnoisseur #45 6 months ago

    What the point of backward compatibility for existing PSP owners?

    A) cannot bung in UMD of the PSP games
    B) asked to buy again in full OR a surcharge to the companies u already supported first time around?
    C) might as well discard full compatibility and just run enhanced emulations of digital PSP for the price?!

    Think on this, consider people who NEVER owned PSP buying Vita, seem to be much more worthwhile as could buy the best of PSP (those that are available digitally) and Vita titles for an one time cost.

    As PSP owners who supported Sony in difficult portable period, the only sensible option seem to keep PSP for the UMD games and forget the idea of transferring games, just play damn Vita games on the Vita!

  • RodHull #46 6 months ago

    The SNES couldn't play NES games out of the box, nobody cared.
    The N64 couldn't play SNES games, nobody cared.
    The GameCube couldn't play N64 games, nobody cared.

    If the Vita used UMD's and didn't play PSP games then I could see why folks are getting annoyed, but it uses an entirely different format. The only console that I can think of that could play legacy formats without an adaptor were the GameBoy Advanced and the DS/DS Lite (and of course the PS2, 360 and PS3, but the discs were at least the same size and used similar tech). A lot of the cost of the hardware and R&D for the Vita is being subsidised via software purchases, and personally I'd rather have a cheaper Vita over the convenience of not having to lug a PSP around just to be able to play previous gen games.

  • kwospecialk #47 6 months ago

    Surely at the prices Sony charging with this whole passport thing you would be better off not selling your PSP. Sony should do a one per a PSN account thing and make it free. Why should we have to pay for a game we already own twice?

  • djreplay #48 6 months ago

    @GamesConnoisseur Just get the games copied onto Vita for a fiver or whatever it is then tradre the UMD into game. Doesn't cost you a penny then.

  • Torkin #49 6 months ago

    Next time I buy a game for, say, my PS3, I will buy two copies. Wait... I will go to the shop and will get every copy they have for free, because, you know, I already paid for it once, why on earth would anyone make me pay again for the same product I already own?

    And if someone thinks this example is extreme and is not valid, well, it's more valid than any other. At least here I'm talking about the same product, the same disc, the same functionality, and it will only work on a PS3.

    But if you have an UMD game... and you want the digital version for free, think about it, it's not the same product, it's in a different format, and not only it will work on a PSP console, but on a Vita as well.

    Portal 2 PS3 lets you download to your PC the same game for free. But that's a BONUS, it's not a consumer right.
    Edited by Torkin at 01/12/11 @ 20:31

  • Turfschipper #50 6 months ago

    So, i have to buy pacman again?

    Come on guys, get over it. This device is beautifull, dont moan about a few games you are not gonne play anyway.