With the launch of the PlayStation Store on the PSP, Sony's established a milestone in their ongoing journey through the realm of content downloading from the PS3 Store to the PC Store and now, the PSP Store.

Will the previous rumor of seeing all PSP games in 2009 as downloads prove true? If that were the case, then some of you might be worried (for the nth time now) about the UMD format's future.

PocketGamer managed to squeeze a response from SCEE's Zeno Colaco. When he was asked if the PlayStation Store on the PSP marked "the beginning of the end for the UMD format," Colaco answered:

Absolutely not. We've just released the PSP-3000 so we're hardly going to be introducing a piece of hardware at the same time as we're dropping support for UMD. It's a case of recognising that consumers and content creators want the option of both digital distribution and UMD.

So there you have it. As much as they are now starting to support more and more DLC titles, that doesn't necessarily mean Sony can no longer support the UMD format. Who said you can never play for both teams, ya? I suppose it's reasonable. As he said, it's a matter of keeping options for the consumers.

Given that, however, isn't it still a question of which the consumers are most likely going to support? I mean, fine, fine, fine, Sony may still be supporting the UMD format and all... but what if more users support digital content than UMD? Will the UMD eventually bow down to DLC in the same way that HD-DVD bowed down to Blu-ray? Well, Sony may have their own response, but the only people who can ultimately answer that question are the consumers.

Yes, that means you.

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