Availability and support
UMD offered large capacity and the capability to store quality audio/video content; however, the format's proprietary nature, the lack of writers and accompanying blank media, made adoption difficult. The UMD format never saw implementation on any device other than the PlayStation Portable, and as a result the market was very limited compared to those of other optical media formats. The high price of UMD movie releases were another contributing factor: they often retailed at comparable prices to DVD, but lacked extra content. Poor sales of UMD movies early in the format's life caused major studios like Universal and Paramount to rescind their support.[11][12] Retail support of the format experienced similar troubles, and in 2006, Wal-Mart began phasing out shelf space devoted to UMD movies.
In late 2009, Sony began pushing developers away from the UMD format and towards digital distribution on the PlayStation Network in preparation for the launch of the digital-download-only PSP Go, which was the first (and only) PSP model to not include a UMD drive.[13] However, the system experienced lackluster sales compared to previous models, with most consumers still choosing the UMD-compatible PSP-3000 model, which continued to be sold alongside the PSP Go.[14][15] Despite the earlier push for PlayStation Network releases around the PSP Go's launch, over half of the PSP's library was only made available in UMD format including Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, as well as the US releases of Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II. There have been a few PlayStation Network exclusive releases since the PSP Go's launch, such as LocoRoco Midnight Carnival and the international release of Final Fantasy III. Still, most new games continued to be distributed via UMD, and, aside from those published by SCE, not all have been released on PlayStation Network.
The successor of the PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation Vita, did not include UMD support, nor was it added throughout its lifespan. In a move similar to the PSP Go, Sony focused on digital downloads and opted for low-profile flash-based cartridges as the system's main media format. UMD releases of films ended in 2011. Games were published on UMD up until 2013. Production of UMDs ended when the last Japanese factory producing them closed in late 2016.
UMD can be dumped into disc image files (.iso or .cso), using a modified PSP. This file can be loaded by a modified PSP through the Memory Stick, similar to titles that were distributed through the PlayStation Network.
