Sony: “No plans to bring back Backwards Compatibility.”
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We touched upon it briefly in yesterday’s “What If …“, but it appears the perennial nugget of PS3 backwards compatibility with PS2 games via software emulation is destined to stay just that – back in the past.
You need a slide rule and a luncheon with Stephen Hawking to figure out which PS3 SKU plays PS2 games (we jest, it’s actually not that hard) so, if anything, we were hoping this rumour became a reality; if anything so we could simply discard our complex matrices depicting illicit and exclusive (to some) compatibility.
Read on for an official response (sent to The Koalition) which, once again, scuppers late-comers to the PS3 from playing the likes of Shadow of the Colossus on their black monoliths.
The Koalition decided to contact Sony regarding the recent spate of rumours regarding a software solution to the PS2 backwards compatibility issue and how it was, apparently, being actively looked into by Sony. And they got a response.
Thanks for your email
When we removed backwards compatibility from PS3, we said that it would not be coming back as our priority was to make great next generation games. Â I am not sure where you are getting your information from, but at no point did we say that there would be some sort of emulation being brought to PS3. Â At no point has this strategy changed and therefore I can tell you that there are no plans to bring back backwards compatibility to PS3. Â I think you will agree that the list of 1st party exclusive games for PS3 is growing quickly and the quality of them is great. Â Games such as LittleBigPlanet, Motorstorm Pacific Rift, Resistance 2, GT5: Prologue and the up-coming Killzone 2 show that we are very serious about bringing exciting, innovative and fun games to PS3.
Many thanks
There you have it. Consider this oft-discussed rumour officially debunked. Until the next time we start talking about it of course or – who knows – the emulation software actually appears as a download on the PlayStation Store.
I read somewhere that PS2 is still chugging along happily with new games being produced for it. Perhaps Sony are seeing it as a parallel income source PSP, PS2, PS3. It would make good business sense.
I have one of the first batch PS3 consoles with BC and I have to say I don’t use it that much for PS2 games.
This will remain the line they will chug out until about 2 years from now when PS2 sales are non-existent. THEN they will implement BC. This will encourage non-ps3 owners to upgrade and still be able to play then-classics from the ps2 catalogue.
It’s all about marjins and profitability and the like. They could even charge for the BC and have it as an optional extra. People who wanted it could pay for it and those who didn’t could go without.
I too have a release PS3, and I agree; I rarely play PS2 games on it. But when I do, I do get warm fuzzies knowing that not everyone can do the same
The only PS2 game I’ve played on my PS3 was MGS3.
The fact is however, there are LOTS of PS2 classics that I never got around to (and will not name for the shame!) that I’d love to download from the store and crack into.
There are 125 million PS2’s sold.The most succesful console to date.
The Playstation 3 does not need backwards compatabillity.
Not until the sales of the PS3 out number the sales of the PS2.That won’t happen for a long time,if ever sadly.
That’s my opinion on it.
I still play my PS2 games on my PS2.