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PS3 Backwards Compatibility to Return with PS2 Game Downloads?

The feature is possible but Sony has no specific plans about it

By Calin Ciabai, Games Editor

14th of February 2008, 10:05 GMT

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There are still a lot of questions
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It was a reason of sadness for most of the PS3 fans when they found out that they were going to be unable to play PlayStation 2 classic games on their next-gen consoles. This backwards compatibility was dropped with the introduction of the 40GB PlayStation 3 and, since then, nobody thought that Sony could change their mind... again. But it seems that there still might be a possibility to enjoy some PS2 classics in the near future (hopefully).

In the most recent issue of EGM, PlayStation Network
director Eric Lempell has admitted that it is practically possible to offer PS2 games as downloadable software via PSN. Of course, even though it is possible and everybody would like to have at least that option, Sony has "no specific plans at this point". I smell online petitions that will probably have no results, anyway.

Still, as an idea, or as an upcoming project, it sounds pretty exciting. There are already rumors surfacing the world wide web that the releases of games such as GTA and GTA II are already planned for the PSN, as well as more pessimist voices who "know" that such an option will never be offered by Sony.

With the 60GB version of the PlayStation 3, things were quite simple: you had a software emulation that allowed you to play PS2 games. Still, this procedure was removed to cut the production prices, so a rebirth of the software as downloadable content would not have much sense either. Probably the success had by the Microsoft rivals with their Xbox Classics is a strong enough reason to make Sony give this situation a second thought.

However, there are still questions to be answered if such a feature is taken into consideration. The most important of them is, by far: How would this actually work? Will people have to purchase for a smaller sum the PS2 games that they probably have already as physical discs or everything will be free? Uhm... sorry, I got a little carried away with this. There is no such thing as "Free", everybody knows that!

TAGS:

PS3 | PS2 | backwards compatibility | PSN | PlayStation


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User opinions:


Comment #1 by: RichB93 on 25 Feb 2008, 19:02 GMT reply to this comment

Wouldn't it be much eaiser to release a free ps2 emulator for the PS3? I say free as all 60GB models have this, although they did pay more so maybe £10~20 for an emulator and i'd be happy to buy it, or failing that a download of each game i.e Insert PS2 game machine dectects it and if a download is available it offers a download.


Comment #2 by: Alex on 05 Jun 2008, 11:47 GMT reply to this comment

I have just bought a 40gb version updated the software version to 2.35 and installed some updates through gta 4 disc.. Ive had a 360 before this and i am more of a p.c. man than console but i must say that sony have done brilliantly with the operating system for the ps3.. Surely they or a subsidery can release the emulation software either as a download from sony's server or simply the internet itself. I have downloaded and used them before on my p.c. and most have worked fine.. it cannot cost sony anymore to do this as the emulation software is already created and has been implimented on the 60gb version.. changing the format so that it can be executed through the sony OS would be the easy option or making it available to download to a flash drive and plug in. I see no reason to hold it back from playstation consumers.. if this was recitified it would make millions of 40gb customers very happy and in my opinion blow the 360 completly out the water as the hardware itself inside the PS3 surpasses the 360 10 fold!

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