View source for Universal Media Disc

{{Short description|Optical disc medium for PlayStation Portable}}
{{Infobox media
| name = Universal Media Disc
| logo = Universal Media Disc logo.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
| image = [[Image:Universal Media Disc, an optical disc medium developed by Sony for use on the PlayStation Portable.jpg|200px]]
| type = [[Optical disc]]
| encoding =
| capacity = 900&nbsp;[[megabyte|MB]] (single layer), 1.8&nbsp;[[gigabyte|GB]] (dual layer)
| read =
| write =
| standard =
| owner = [[Sony]]
| use = [[Video game|Game]]s, [[Film|movie]]s, [[music]]
| released = {{start date and age|2004|12|12}}
| discontinued = 2017<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sonydadc.co.jp/products/index.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190707164946/https://www.sonydadc.co.jp/products/index.html | archive-date=7 July 2019 | title=株式会社ソニー・ミュージックソリューションズ（旧株式会社ソニーDadcジャパン） }}</ref>
}}
{{Optical disc authoring}}
[[File:UMD front.JPG|thumb|UMD disc front]]

The '''Universal Media Disc''' ('''UMD''') is a discontinued [[optical disc]] medium developed by [[Sony]] for use on its [[PlayStation Portable]] handheld [[video game|gaming]] and [[multimedia]] platform. It can hold up to 1.8&nbsp;[[gigabyte]]s of data and is capable of storing video games, feature-length films, and music. UMD is the [[trademark]] of [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|Sony Computer Entertainment]] for their optical disk cartridge (ODC).<ref name="UMD-spec"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Trademark Status & Document Retrieval |url=https://tsdr.uspto.gov/#caseNumber=76514359&caseSearchType=US_APPLICATION&caseType=DEFAULT&searchType=statusSearch |website=tsdr.uspto.gov |publisher=United States Patent and Trademark Office |access-date=15 December 2023 |ref=USPTO}}</ref>

==Video storage format==
While the primary application for UMD discs is as a storage medium for PSP games, the format is also used for the storage of [[film|motion pictures]] and, to a lesser degree, [[television show]]s for playback on the PSP. The video is encoded in the [[Advanced Video Coding|H.264/MPEG-4 AVC]] format, with the audio in [[ATRAC#ATRAC3plus|ATRAC3plus]] or [[pulse-code modulation|PCM]]. Video stored on UMD is typically encoded in 720×480 resolution, but is scaled down when displayed on the PSP. To date, there are around 1,500 films released on UMD (around 1,000 are common for all [[DVD region code|regions]] and around 500 are [[DVD region code|region]] exclusives).
The American punk rock band [[The Offspring]] released their ''[[The Offspring: Complete Music Video Collection|Complete Music Video Collection]]'' on the format.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.amazon.com/Offspring-Complete-Music-Video-Collection/dp/B000B8QFHS |title=The Offspring: Complete Music Video Collection [UMD for PSP] (2005) |website=Amazon |date=8 November 2005 |access-date=July 8, 2013}}</ref> The [[BBC]] released a number of its programmes on UMD in the UK, including ''[[The Office (British TV series)|The Office]]'', ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]'', ''[[Doctor Who]]'' and ''[[Little Britain (sketch show)|Little Britain]]''. [[WWE]] also released some wrestler highlights and documentary content on UMD format, such as the ''[[Monday Night War]]'', ''[[Jake Roberts|Jake "The Snake" Roberts]]: Pick Your Poison'', and ''[[WWE Raw Homecoming]]'' (a special episode of ''[[WWE Raw]]'' celebrating the return to [[USA Network]]); the only WWE [[pay-per-view]] released on UMD format was [[WrestleMania XXIV]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://wrestlecrap.com/sbt/someone-bought-this-wwe-umd-psp-not-for-me/ |title= Someone Bought This: WWE + UMD + PSP = Not for me! |work=[[WrestleCrap]] |date = 28 June 2015|access-date= May 7, 2020 }}</ref>

[[Tupac Shakur|Tupac]]'s performance, ''[[Live at the House of Blues (Tupac Shakur album)|Live at the House of Blues]]'', was also released on the UMD, which also included several music videos, including ''Hit 'Em Up''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tupac-Live-At-The-House-Of-Blues/release/3055617|title=Tupac* - Live At The House Of Blues|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://dvdloc8.com/viewdvd_33373.html|title=Tupac - Live at the House of Blues (UMD Mini For PSP) (UMD, Region 1) - dvdloc8.com|website=dvdloc8.com|access-date=2020-02-21}}</ref>

Some [[pornographic film|adult film]]s have been released on UMD in Japan.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.gamespot.com/articles/psp-procures-porn-in-japan/1100-6126863/ | title = PSP procures porn in Japan | publisher = GameSpot.com | date=June 2, 2005 | access-date=2017-11-19}}</ref> Sony reportedly took offence at adult film studios publishing pornography on the medium, but claimed that they were unable to restrict films on UMD like with games and other software for the PSP.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/C25BD059-CD15-485F-A2F6-DFA5EF61277C.htm|title=Sony Computer Entertainment Frowns On PSP UMD Porn, Can't Stop Sales|publisher= [[Game Informer]]|date=June 17, 2005|access-date=2009-01-06 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080731191816/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/C25BD059-CD15-485F-A2F6-DFA5EF61277C.htm |archive-date = 2008-07-31 |url-status=dead|author=Chris Cook}}</ref>

==Specifications==
[[Ecma International|ECMA]]-365: Data Interchange on 60&nbsp;mm Read-Only ODC – Capacity: 1.8&nbsp;GB (UMD)<ref name="UMD-spec">{{cite web
| url = https://ecma-international.org/wp-content/uploads/ECMA-365_1st_edition_june_2005.pdf | title = Data Interchange on 60 mm Read-Only ODC&mdash;Capacity: 1,8 Gbytes (UMD) | author = Ecma International | author-link = Ecma International |date=June 2005 }}</ref>
* Dimensions: approx. 64&nbsp;mm (diameter) × 4.2&nbsp;mm (thickness)
* Maximum capacity: 1.80&nbsp;GB (dual layer), 900&nbsp;MB (single-layer)
* Laser [[wavelength]]: 660&nbsp;[[nanometre|nm]] (red [[laser]])
* Numerical aperture: 0.64
* Track pitch: 0.70&nbsp;μm
* Minimum pit length: 0.1384&nbsp;μm
* Modulation: 8-to-16 RLL(2,10)
* [[Encryption]]: [[Advanced Encryption Standard|AES]] 128-bit{{not in source|date=January 2021}}

The case dimensions for UMD discs are 177×104×14mm.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.computertechreviews.com/definition/umd/|title=What is UMD Software? - Definition, Specifications, and More|date=2019-11-10|website=Computer Tech Reviews|language=en-US|access-date=2020-02-27}}</ref>

===Provisions===
According to the official ECMA specification Sony designed the UMD to support two possible future enhancements and products.<ref name="UMD-spec"/>

#Protective Shutter: Similar to the MiniDisc and 3{{frac|1|2}}-inch [[floppy disk]], this protective shutter would shield the inner disc from accidental contact.
#Auto-Loading: UMDs were designed for possible future slot loading devices with Auto-Loading mechanisms.

=== Region coding ===
[[DVD region code|DVD region coding]] has been applied to most UMD movies and music. However, all PSP games are region-free, although some require pay-to-continue.{{Clarify|date=July 2024}}

*Region ALL: Worldwide (region-free)
*Region 1: North America, Central America, Latin America
*Region 2: Europe (without Russia or Belarus), Japan, Middle East, South Africa,  Greenland
*Region 3: Southeast Asia, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong
*Region 4: Oceania, South America
*Region 5: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, India, Pakistan, Africa (without Egypt or South Africa), North Korea, Mongolia
*Region 6: China

==Availability and support==
UMD offers 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 Pictures|Universal]] and [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]] to rescind their support.<ref name="hwoodreporter">{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002274591 |title=UMD losing H'wood game |last=Arnold |first=Thomas K. |date=2006-03-30 |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=2010-02-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401022459/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002274591 |archive-date=April 1, 2009 }}</ref><ref name="pspworld-sony">{{cite web|url=http://www.pspworld.com/sony-psp/accessories/-sony-continues-to-support-umd-format-with-new-pricing-009164.php|title=Sony Continues to Support UMD Format with New Pricing|first=Kris|last=Erickson|date=2008-08-15|publisher=GameFlavor|access-date=2010-02-11|archive-date=2012-10-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121030142912/http://www.pspworld.com/sony-psp/accessories/-sony-continues-to-support-umd-format-with-new-pricing-009164.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> Retail support of the format experienced similar troubles, and in 2006, [[walmart|Wal-Mart]] began phasing out shelf space devoted to UMD movies.<ref name=":0" />

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 [[PlayStation Portable#PSP Go (N1000)|PSP Go]], which was the first (and only) PSP model to not include a UMD drive.<ref name=":0">{{cite web
| url = http://www.businessinsider.com/2008/12/exclusive-sony-psp2-rumors-bogus-no-new-handheld-gaming-gadget-coming-sne | title = Sony PSP2 Rumors Bogus | publisher = The Business Insider | date=December 17, 2008 |access-date=2009-10-27}}</ref> However, the system experienced lackluster sales compared to previous models, with most consumers still choosing the UMD-compatible [[PlayStation Portable#PSP-3000|PSP-3000]] model, which continued to be sold alongside the PSP Go.<ref name="age-pspgo">{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/digital-life/games/psp-go-a-nogo-as-sony-struggles-for-sales-20091020-h5wn.html|title=PSP Go a no-go as Sony struggles for sales|first=Asher|last=Moses|date=2009-10-20|publisher=Fairfax Digital|access-date=2010-02-11}}</ref><ref name="andriasang-enterbrain">{{cite web|url=http://www.andriasang.com/e/blog/2009/11/02/psp_go_first_day_sales/|title=Enterbrain Shares PSP go First Day Sales|first=Anoop|last=Gantayat|publisher=andriasang.com|date=2009-11-02|access-date=2010-02-11}}</ref> 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]]''. There have been a few PlayStation Network exclusive releases since the PSP Go's launch, such as ''[[LocoRoco Midnight Carnival]]''. Still, most new games continued to be distributed via UMD, and, aside from those published by [[Sony Interactive Entertainment|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 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 ([[optical disc image|.iso]] or .cso), using a [[PlayStation Portable homebrew|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.

==See also==
* [[List of optical disc manufacturers]]
* [[MiniDisc]]—a similar Sony format

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
<!-- 
* [http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/umdguide/ The Digital Bits Guide to UMD Movies] including a list of movies available on UMD
* {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20071006113618/http://www.umdtalk.co.uk/ UMD Talk]}} contains UMD articles, news, resources & technical details. 
-->
* [http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/5002/umd.html Sony PSP Movie Sales Strong] Article on the early success of movie sales on UMD from [[MP3 Newswire]]
* [https://www.engadget.com/2006/02/16/breaking-news-sonys-umds-arent-selling-well Breaking news: Sony's UMDs aren't selling well] News story about the disappointing UMD sales.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080423202242/http://www.umddb.net/ UMD Movie Database]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20200806071931/https://films.discogs.com/browse/release?format=UMD Partial archive of film releases on UMD]

{{PlayStation Portable}}
{{Homevid}}
{{Ecma International Standards}}
{{Sony Corp}}

[[Category:Audiovisual introductions in 2004]]
[[Category:Audio storage]]
[[Category:Discontinued media formats]]
[[Category:Ecma standards]]
[[Category:Japanese inventions]]
[[Category:PlayStation Portable]]
[[Category:Products and services discontinued in 2016]]
[[Category:Video game distribution]]
[[Category:Video storage]]