Skip to main content

Studios, Retailers Backing Away from UMD

One year after being launched in the United States with the Playstation Portable, Sony’s Universal Media Disk (UMD) is in jeopardy as studios back away from releasing UMD movie titles and mainstream retailers lose interest in stocking UMD movies.

Universal Media Disks are a proprietary technology from Sony capable of storing up to 1.8 GB of data in a form factor similar to Sony’s MiniDisc. UMD is the defacto storage medium for PSP games and movies, and Sony promoted the PSP not only as a game device, but as an entertainment device for movies and other media, and studios responded with a flurry of movie releases in UMD format as the PSP hit the North American market.

Recommended Videos

However, UMD movies were criticized in the marketplace for being just as expensive as movies in DVD format; however, they offered a much lower resolution and could only be used in PSPs. Standard DVDs, conversely, could be used in consumer DVD players and computers.

Now, rumors are circulating (via the Hollywood Reporter) that mass-market giant Wal-Mart is on the verge of dropping UMD-format movies from its shelves. After an aggressive launch, Universal Studios has stopped producing movies for the UMD format entirely, and although Paramount has not officially abandoned the format, insiders say no titles are currently planned for UMD release. Disney’s Buena Vista Home Entertainment and 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment have significantly scaled back their UMD release plans, and several sources indicate Image Entertainment (Chronicles of Narnia) has abandoned UMD.

For its part, Sony seems to believe PSP users are ripping content from computers and traditional video players and watching it on PSPs, although both the digital video and portable gaming communities are skeptical, instead regarding the PSP as primarily a gaming platform with some lightweight wireless Internet capabilities. The Hollywood Reporter quotes Sony’s Benjamin Feingold as saying the PSP would have been more compelling for movie playback had it been able to connect to TVs for big-screen viewing…at which point, we’re wondering why we’d watch low-resolution UMB movies on a big screen?

As long as a retail market remains for developing PSP games, it’s likely the UMD format will stick around as a way to deliver new games to PSP owners; however, the days of seeing movies and other video content released in UMD format for PSP seems to be drawing to a close.

Geoff Duncan
Former Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
The Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the $7,500 tax credit
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5

After a brief and confusing absence, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is once again eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit — and this time, it's sticking around (at least for now). So, what happened? Let’s unpack the ride.

The Ioniq 5, a sleek and tech-savvy electric crossover, initially made headlines not just for its design, but for being built at Hyundai’s brand-new Metaplant in Georgia. That domestic assembly qualified it for the EV tax credit under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which requires vehicles to be made in North America with batteries sourced from trade-friendly countries. But early in 2025, the Ioniq 5 vanished from the list. Why? Likely due to its battery packs, which were then still being sourced from SK On’s Hungarian facility.

Read more
Sebastian Stan lays out Bucky’s future after Thunderbolts
Sebastian Stan in Thunderbolts.

There are some spoilers ahead for the ending of Marvel's Thunderbolts. Stop reading now if you don't want to be spoiled.

Earlier this year, Captain America: Brave New World briefly introduced a new direction for James "Bucky" Barnes, a character Sebastian Stan has been playing since 2011 in Captain America: The First Avenger. In Brave New World, the former Winter Soldier apparently retired from being a reformed hero and went into politics by running for Congress. Thunderbolts reveals that Bucky won his election to the House of Representatives. But his stay in Congress was short.

Read more
Jeep Compass EV breaks cover—but will it come to the U.S.?
jeep compass ev us newjeepcompassfirsteditionhawaii  4

Jeep just pulled the wraps off the all-new Compass EV, and while it’s an exciting leap into the electric future, there's a catch—it might not make it to the U.S. anytime soon.
This is a brand new electric version of the Jeep Compass, and being built on Stellantis' STLA platform—the same architecture underpinning models like the Peugeot E-3008 and E-5008—it looks much slicker and packs a lot more inside than previous versions of the Compass.
Let’s start with what’s cool: the new Compass EV is packing up to 404 miles of range on a single charge, a 74 kWh battery, and fast-charging that gets you from 20% to 80% in about 30 minutes. Not bad for a compact SUV with Jeep's badge on the nose.
There are two versions: a front-wheel-drive model with 213 horsepower and a beefier all-wheel-drive version with 375 horsepower. That AWD setup isn’t just for looks—it can handle 20% inclines even without front traction, and comes with extra ground clearance and better off-road angles. In short, it’s still a Jeep.
The design's been refreshed too, and inside you’ll find the kind of tech and comfort you’d expect in a modern EV—sleek, smart, and ready for both city streets and dirt trails.
But here’s the thing: even though production starts soon in Italy, Jeep hasn’t said whether the Compass EV is coming to America. And the signs aren’t promising.
Plans to build it in Canada were recently put on hold, with production now delayed until at least early 2026. Some of that might have to do with possible U.S. tariffs on Canadian and Mexican vehicles—adding a layer of uncertainty to the whole rollout.
According to Kelley Blue Book, a Stellantis spokesperson confirmed that the company has “temporarily paused work on the next-generation Jeep Compass, including activities at” the Canadian plant that was originally meant to build the model. They added that Stellantis is “reassessing its product strategy in North America” to better match customer needs and demand for different powertrain options.
So while Europe and other markets are gearing up to get the Compass EV soon, American drivers might be left waiting—or miss out entirely.
That’s a shame, because on paper, this electric Jeep hits a lot of sweet spots. Let’s just hope it finds a way over here.

Read more