Sony to offer PS3-compatible downloadable PS2 games
It’s no secret that the so-called “backwards compatibility” for PS2 games on the PS3 went from bad to horrible to not working at all. Current generation PS3s lack any PS2 hardware and rely on software emulation which doesn’t work very often, if at all. The company may soon offer downloadable PS2 games “made” for the PS3 over the PlayStation Network.
The original PS3s which had the PS2 hardware are becoming harder to find and by the end of this year may be gone all together as revisions of the PS3 are expected to be released. With PS3s that play PS2 games becoming rare, so is backwards compatibility.
Or not, according to DBTechno, Sony may have plans to introduce downloadable PS2 games designed to work with the PS3. In an interview with Eric Lempel, director of the Sony PlayStation Network, saying “We haven’t talked about that yet, but there are possibilities through technology and software emulation to make that possible.”
It’s even a possibility that Sony could tweak the PS2 games it does release to be high-resolution versions as well as fix all compatibility issues. With that, will come a price that’s likely to be charged per game.
If it does go this route, this has the possibility to sell more PS3s and could make or break the PlayStation Network.
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14 Responses to “Sony to offer PS3-compatible downloadable PS2 games”
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February 14th, 2008
http://faq.eu.playstation.com/bc/bcGames.htm
Fool….
February 14th, 2008
@Greg – The 40GB PS3 cannot play PS2 games. I do believe you are the fool.
http://uk.playstation.com/help-support/ps3/faqs/detail/item80998/Why-can/???t-I-play-PS2-titles-on-PLAYSTATION-3-40GB/?/
February 14th, 2008
It seems reading is a lost skill. PS2 gaming is fine on launch PS3s as time went on, later model PS3s lack actual PS2 hardware which has to use software emulation. Software emulation on the PS3 sucks, even on games that supposedly “work” – it pretty much sucks.
And with the new PS3s with larger hard drives down the road, games made for PS2 on downloads is still a good idea, regardless of your opinion of the status of PS2 games on the PS3.
Emulation. On. PS3. Sucks. Do I need to repeat myself or did it sink in that time?
February 14th, 2008
@Jason, thank you for the clarification.
February 15th, 2008
I can hardly be bothered to elaborate but here goes anyway.
The 40Gb is the base model that lacks a lot more than backwards compatibility (it’s the kiddy version). The full versions of the PS3 do support backwards compatibility and are readily available so your comment: “With PS3s that play PS2 games becoming rare” is BS
The list of games that do play is long – that’s why I posted a link to them rather than list them all here.
Have you actually played any PS2 games on a PS3 Stifler? A lot of games play without any issues at all…
Whatever – most people buy PS3’s to play PS3 games. If I wanted to play PS2 games I think it would be quite easy to find an old PS2 – oh wait! I just found one here behind my ear!!!! lol
Worldwide sales figures:
PlayStation 2: 117 million
Xbox: 24 million
Xbox 360: 17.7 million,
PlayStation 3: 10.49 million
(Source Wikipedia)
Also note that the PS3, that was released almost exactly a year later than the 360 and contary to ‘popular media’ reports is selling quite well…
So Stifler, instead of insulting my reading skills you should review your own research and writing before posting.
One final note – I also own a 360. It’s cool and I am one of the lucky ones that has not had the RROD. I’m no ‘fanboy’ just a professional geek.
February 15th, 2008
Just to point out that the ps3 was only available in Japan and NA a year later, the reat of the world and more importantly Europe it was only released late March 2007
February 15th, 2008
Good point Michael.
February 16th, 2008
Can the idoit who wrote this article please give an example of a game that has a problem?
I have had no issue playing some old titles on my PS3!
February 17th, 2008
I concur, I have never had a problem playing a PS2 game and I have played some more obscure games that I wouldn’t have thought would work.. Rugby 2004 anyone? Or how about Ricky Ponting/Brian Lara international Cricket 05? All my old PS2 games work without a hitch.
July 11th, 2008
why did you even post an article? it says nothing concrete and no decision has been made.
ooh..that’s right.. if ANYTHING pro-ps3 is on the net, you’ll post it here… even if it’s not a fact…
July 11th, 2008
To everyone posting about how their Ps2 games work fine on their PS3, you should include in your post what PS3 you have. If you have the 60gb than most of the games should work fine. I’m assuming you are all talking about having the 80gb model though.
July 28th, 2008
yeah but it’s not as if the 60 GB full BC PS3s are going to run out, I believe that they are still sold in Japan, so if BC is what you want, and you don’t exactly use your PS3 for movies, then that’d be the best option right? since PS3 games are region-locked.
October 1st, 2008
Well I find it unfair to have so many ps2 and ps games in my collection, and having a newer system that is not compatible. Then having to spend extra $$$ on reformatted games I already own very very silly indeed. Well at least my playstation 2 is still working. Sony, you used to be so good about this, that is why I stood by this backward compatibility when other systems have failed, now I beg to differ.
December 25th, 2008
Today is Christmas. About three weeks ago my grandsons PS2 crapped out so being a good grandpa I managed to scrape together the money for a PS3 and I found a great bundle pack for Guitar hero 2&3 and a twin pack of guitars (both for PS2) so we both could play. I even bought the converters for the controllers so it would be compatible. So I thought. You have no Idea how angry I am about not being able to play any of his PS2 on the PS3. I don’t mean a game from 2005 either. His madden 08 doesn’t work nor any of the other newer ones. I am not an idiot. I do check into things before I buy them and I can’t remember any mention anywhere (until I goggled this tonight) about a computability issue with older games. So to SONY I say simply screw you and I’ll be in line to return the PS3 tomorrow.