Ars Technica is reporting that they have insider information stating that Patapon 2, the followup to Sony's PSP hit, will not be shipping in America. It will be released, but boxed copies will not actually contain a UMD. Instead, a voucher for download through the PlayStation store will be included. This isn't the first time this approach has been taken (Lost & Damned followed a similar release), but it lends a huge amount of support to claims of a UMDless PSP in the near future. If true, Patapon 2 will join Echochrome, Super Stardust HD Portable, and several other downloadable titles available exclusively through download on the portable.

Further substantiation comes from online rental site Gamefly, which lists Patapon 2 as unrentable. This shouldn’t be taken as proof, since they falsely reported on the cancellation of The Agency a few months ago, but it does lend credence to the rumor. The idea of a digital future for Sony's handheld has many people excited, so I'm sure that I'm not the only one interested in this development. Anyone else liking Sony's slow transformation of their handheld away from UMDs as much as I am?

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Patapon Budget Price: $19.99