Sony loyalists in Europe will get the chance for three free game downloads if they upgrade to the PSP Go, while U.S. gamers are left out in the cold according to a Sony Computer Entertainment America statement.
“SCEA region will not offer a UMD rewards program at this time,” the statement began, when questioned about the “UMD rewards” program offered in Europe by IndustryGamers.
After threatened boycotts by European retailers about the one-sale unit, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe detailed their program allowing upgrading PSP owners to download to their PSP Go three games they already own, gratis.
“We have a dual platform strategy,” the SCEA statement read, “PSPgo is the latest offering in our portable entertainment products targeted for the digitally savvy and early adopters who are looking for an easy way to experience entertainment and a wide variety of digital content.”
“We will continue to be committed to our existing PSP users by offering over 16,000 pieces of digital content including games, minis, movies, television shows and SensMe, the new music application as well as UMDs,” the short statement ended there.
Customers in Europe only need to register for their three free games by accessing the PlayStation Network with their older PSPs with the UMD game they want to download already in the drive and then repeat the process for the other two games.
The SCEA statement indicates that future games will be available both for download and on UMD format, giving players the choice. Despite the gradual removal of some, then all of the backwards compatibility in the Playstation 3, Sony has a good track record of legacy platform support, with the Playstation 2 being produced to this very day (now retailing for $99.99).
Whether game developers and publishers latch onto this “dual strategy” remains to be seen.
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