Could All PlayStation 3s Soon Be Backwards Compatible?

114 Comments

Posted June 30, 2009 - By Jake Gaskill

Could All PlayStation 3s Soon Be Backwards Compatible? Sony’s PlayStation 3 and the issue of backwards compatibility have a long and storied history, despite the fact that the console has only been around for a few years. Between the Emotion Engine chip (the PS2’s CPU) initially being available in some SKUs, to the Emotion Engine chip being pulled from later SKUs, to some models including emulators, it’s just a big mess. Basically, the major point to take away from all this is that currently, Sony is not producing any PS3s with backwards compatibility support (via hardware or software). However, that could be changing sometime soon.

As SilconEra reports, Sony recently filed a patent that would allow the PS3’s Cell processor to emulate the Emotion Engine. If successful, this process would add backwards compatibility to every PS3 on store shelves and in homes. In addition to most likely being built into the rumored PS3 Slim expected to be out sometime later this year, this feature could also be made available via firmware update for all current PS3 owners.

It would be impressive if Sony could pull this off, even though this whole Cell-powered backward compatibility function should have been part of the PS3 from the beginning. But I’m guessing that most PlayStation fans will see it as a “better late than never” scenario, and they’re probably right.

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Tags: PlayStation 3, Tech, Videogames

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Arteska

They need to get this done so that massive back catalog can remain relevant well into the future. It will speed up my decision to finally get one if I know my PS2 games can come along.

Posted: June 30, 2009 3:01 PM
BloodKnight86

FIGNUTZ

Posted: June 30, 2009 2:54 PM
Brandon721

Thank god i mean i was going to buy a ps3 but if they do this i going to buy one even faster

Posted: June 30, 2009 2:45 PM
crocodilius

i bought mine as soon as i found one in a store January 07 i think it was and it plays every Playstation game i have (which is alot of 1,2,3s) so i dont get it??

Posted: June 30, 2009 2:25 PM
imdave

The would be good for me, a 80GB PS3 owner. There are a few PS2 games that I'd like to get as I had a Xbox and GCube last gen. Ico, Shadow of Colossus etc.

Posted: June 30, 2009 2:21 PM
ultra man 38

fun my ps320g. play all my ps1 and ps2 games.

Posted: June 30, 2009 2:05 PM
kashmoney623

holy shiz, if that works, I'll have to go back to GameStop and get GoW 1&2. traded them in with my PS2 because there was no point in keeping them with a incapable backwards compatible PS3

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:56 PM
Tman88

Well see as how I Still have my PS2, my PS3 not being backward compatible wasn't an issue for me. However, if this patent works to where all PS3's would be backward compatible then I do agree that that would be a plus.

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:55 PM
Zmeeds

i already have a backwords compatible ps3, one of the launch systems. the last ps2 game i played was god of war 2. i sold all my ps2 games when i got my ps3. the new games are just so much prettier and bigger. so, really, i don't care.

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:48 PM
Infamous_Bizarro

@yamato

hell na the legacy rules. there gonna be big later

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:30 PM
codered1212

thank god i got the 60 gig and upgraded it to 250 gigs, i can play all my favorite ps2 and ps1 games

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:22 PM
ABXPuPpeT

im not buying another ps3 soo screw that, i already have a ps2 :D

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:16 PM
Donny_Darko

I already got the metal gear 80 gig bundle that has the backwards capability. But this great for my friends that don't have this luxury! i mean there only a hand full of games that are decent on the PS3. Metal GEar 4, resident evil 5, Fall out 3, street fighter 4... and most of these you can get on x box. It's the awsome ps2 library that keeps me playing my ps3 lol. Persona 3 FES, Persona 4, final fantasy 12, Front Mission 4, Dragon Quest, and . hack... not to leave out the ps one games that were sick... Xeno gears anyone?

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:14 PM
TwiztedR3DHead

thank you god

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:08 PM
NotAnEvilDooer

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY I CAN FINALLY PLAY RE4 MGS2 AND 3 AND ALL OF MY OTHER GAMES!!!! my ps2 finally died after 7 and a half years of use.

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:06 PM
KharismaKid

@Bizarro

I like Orton, he's one of the best in the business, the rest of Legacy sucks though! lol

Posted: June 30, 2009 1:02 PM
T_Rexx

Some of the earlier models are BC.
I have the BC 80gig model,and it's great!

Based on mass appeal for BC to return, i think this is a really great move for the rest of loyal SONY PS brothers & Sis. out there.

Posted: June 30, 2009 12:41 PM
Jihad_Joe

@ Redd75

thank you. thank you very much. lol

Posted: June 30, 2009 12:37 PM
Redd75

@Jihad_Joe- I love your name. Funny stuff. Plus, it still fits into the theme song perfectly.

Posted: June 30, 2009 12:30 PM
Jihad_Joe

@ Bookshelf

couldn't they do that now? I mean, they put up PS1 classics. You could play PS1 on PS2. Maybe I'm wrong?

I agree with Killua_Zoldyck about PS2 still being in its life cycle. It's a great starter system for new gamers, parents see it as a bargain as well. I'm sure it's all about not wanting to trip themselves up since they are supporting three systems now. They mentioned in the past that they switched the engine to make the PS3s more cost efficient, but that's irrelevant now if they are going to be working on putting it back in. I have all the systems, so it doesn't matter. It would be nice to condense though.

Posted: June 30, 2009 12:15 PM