Latest Sony PS3 firmware update and PS2 backwards compatibility
Filed under: Gaming, Sony Playstation 3 | By: Alan Ng
Posted on: December 4, 2008 | 15 Comments
It has been reported that Sony almost added backwards compatibility to the PS3 via a recent firmware update, but they changed their mind at the last minute.
As things stand at the moment, backwards compatibility of PS2 software is only available on the original 60GB consoles as the chip was later removed from the 40GB versions. The French website where this story originated was told though that this could still come in a future firmware update as Sony wanted to start introducing PS2 titles on its store.
Sounds like a good idea in my opinion, although I’d still prefer Sony to release some decent PS1 classics first, I mean what’s the holdup already. Let us know your thoughts on this guys.
Source: Read
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I think Sony should add this feature as people are paying high prices on eBay for the 60gb model mainly so they don’t have to clutter their living rooms with both a PS2 and PS3. I know people who’ve held off buying a PS3 for this very reason, especially those who have kids who are still playing PS2 games.
I got the 80GB that had the software emulation included just before they decided to discontinue it. At least it’s still possible to play PlayStation 2 games via a software update. My only concern is how well it will run. It probably works great on the original 60GB version of the console because it has the Emotion Engine chip in it, but with mine there are frame rate issues and the voice overs don’t match the scene to the point where the voice over is finished and the scene is still going because of major slow down. If they can fix that, it would be great, and hopefully it will also update my PS3 too. I still have my PlayStation 2, but it doesn’t look great because there’s no smoothing and whatnot. Not all my games have slower performance issues, but it would be great to be able to play Ratchet & Clank with no problems whatsoever. Still, I play more PS3 games on it anyway, but if Sony can do it, that would be awesome!
I picked up the 80GB MGS4-bundled model and have never had any trouble playing any PS2 games. I didn’t even know there was an “issue”…
@ urbanplowboy
It’s not that big of an issue, but you will notice it in some games. Not all the games have problems.
Just go to: http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
You’ll see that there are some differences between the descriptions of the 20/60GB model and the 80GB CECHE01 for some games.
The reason why the 60/20GB PS3 units have full backward, as stated, is because they actually crammed the PS2 into it, reality synthesizer and emotion engine. The first 80GB units had the reality synthesizer(gpu) but didn’t have the emotion engine (cpu)… The cpu was emulated. But people still complained about price and Sony, still losing money, decided to put costs and 86 PS2 harware all together. On a side not, back in 05 Sony said their original intent WAS to have PS2 back compat but the software guys had a hard time so they crammed the PS2 hardware into the PS3 but that made things even more expensive… But we know that story. It really doesn’t surprise me they would eventually put PS2 compat back into priority because PS2 sales are dropping off big time… And given the history of firmware updates bricking PS3s… I say it’s foot Sony is taking it’s time. Doesn’t matter to me cause I have 2 PS3 60gb (US) launch models… I got each for 299 thanks to my friend working for Sony corporate
it sucks! you no why? i have 40 gb and it had no backwards compatibly and i had about 22 ps2 games i bought around20 pounds eah and ten it didnt work for the ps3 and later on i found out that the 40 gb didnt have backwards compatibility so i might think about selling the lame ps3 and get a xbox 360 and a cheap laptop from ebay
“i might think about selling the lame ps3 and get a xbox 360 and a cheap laptop from ebay”
That still wont solve your ps2 games not playing will it?
I dont miss the ps2 games backward compatibility, sure it would be nice, but so would running my amiga games on my PS3……..but hey I have my Amiga for my Amiga games……….
OMG AMIGA’S RULE !!!!! did u ever play oscar ? ^^
o and ye i hope this rumor is ture would be koool ^^
Hey guys why dont u think logic ghost the software from the 80 gig and put it on ur 40 gig that way u can play ps2 games on the 40 gig
I don’t have time to go back and play PS2 games. I never got to play God of War 2 or Kingdom Hearts 2, and that sucks. But there are several PS3 games I still want to play. Maybe I’m too busy and am looking for time just to play new games that I don’t care about backward compatibility. If I ever get time I slap down the 50 bucks to buy a PS2 and the 10 dollars a game.
Doesn’t matter, I have Kingdom Hearts 2. I popped it into my early model ps3 and still got the error message saying the disc wasn’t supported. Funny, I checked my model against the Sony website, mine fell into the bracket of having backwards compat, but none of my ps2 games will play. Same error message.
Doesn’t really bug me, I just had to get into the closet, pick up my xbox 360, take the ps2 from under it, and replug it back in. Little harsh having to set up multiple consoles, good thing my 50″ tv has multiple AV jacks. I have all my consoles from years back connected to it. Just had to put my ps3 on HD and deal with the framerate hiccups and wonky glitches because my TV doesn’t seem to play any on any HD setting correctly.
However, I was a little stunned that I wasn’t able to pop a ps2 game in and play. Doesn’t really matter, it’s not worth selling my ps3 to buy a 360 or a laptop. Kingdom Hearts 3 and both ps3 FF13 games are still on the way. Which I heard the main FF13 will also be on the 360. Amazing considering that no FF game has made the crossplatform jump in years. I think it’s great they are going to do it that way. Not everyone can afford both systems.