UMD Passport PSP-to-Vita service not available in the U.S.

Sony has admitted that its UMD Passport program, which allows consumers to bring their previously-purchased UMD games to the upcoming PS Vita handheld, will not be available in the U.S.. UMD Passport allows Japanese PSP owners to download a UMD Registration Application from the PlayStation Store to their PSP, and register old UMD games with the application. Once registered, digital versions of these games can then be bought from the PlayStation Store for a cut price, ranging from ¥400 ($5.17) to ¥2400 ($31.03). However, the scheme will not be available to North American PS Vita owners, nor will the UMD Registration Application be available in the North American PSN store, according to a report from Kotaku. [Update: A spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has told Gamasutra, "We haven't made any announcements regarding the UMD Passport program for SCEE."]