As soon as the UMD-less PSPGo was announced, owners of existing PSPs, and, by extension, UMD-based games, started to sweat.  Without a drive for the proprietary disc format, anyone who upgrades to the PSPgo will essentially be left with a bunch of useless games that can’t be played on their shiny, expensive, single-analog (still bitter about it) handheld system.   Many gamers expected to be completely left out in the cold, while others figured that Sony would do the right thing, and allow gamers to download digital versions of their collection.  It appears that in Europe, at least, Sony will be splitting the difference by offering 3 free downloads for those who upgrade from the PSP to the PSPgo.

The “PSPgo Rewards” program allows players to register their PSPgo, then sign into the PSN with their original PSP, and download a voucher for the three games.  Sadly, players won’t be able to download just any game. Instead, they’ll be able to choose from 17 titles, including some classics, like Killzone Liberation, LocoRoco,  Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters, and Wipeout Pure, along with …less classic titles, like Buzz Master Quiz, Medievil, and Everybody’s Golf.

It’s not exactly a perfect system; it rewards players who own 1 UMD the same as those who own 50, and it hasn’t been announced for this side of the planet yet, but it seems like a half-decent way to placate customers who feel ripped off.  Let’s hope it comes to the US soon, and with an expanded game list that includes God of War: Chains of Olympus, which is about 70% of the reason to own a PSP in the first place.

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