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PS3 Backwards Compatibility Confirmed

Posted by simoniker on from the anything-else-would-have-been-crazed dept.

Thanks to Gamesindustry.biz for their story confirming that the PlayStation 3 will offer backwards compatibility with earlier PlayStation consoles via emulation, offering a quote from Sony boss Ken Kutaragi, sourced from the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun: "PSone runs on the PlayStation 2 through emulation rather than actual hardware. PlayStation 3 will offer the same compatibility for PS2 software and the format will continue forever." He also partially attributed the PS2's success to its multi-purpose nature, saying "[PS2] offers a sense of insurance because it is compatible with PSone and DVD movies", echoing earlier suggestions about DVD players in consoles, and obvious advantages to backwards software compatibility.

4 of 73 comments (clear)

  1. I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by GrosTuba · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I thought that the IOP in the PS2 was in fact a near exact replica of the MIPS R3400 that was the heart of the PS1, and that when not handling PS2- or DVD-intensive I/Os, it was in charge of running the PS1 games on the processor they had always run before.

    The PS1 is enclosed in its material form in the PS2, thus eliminating the need for emulation. Is this wrong ? Does anyone have reliable info on this ?

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    1. Re:I'm not sure about the "PS1 emulation" part... by GrosTuba · · Score: 5, Informative

      OK, here's the link : PS2 specs

      Basically, it says :
      IOP (I/O Processor)
      CPU Core: PlayStation (current) CPU (R3000)

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  2. Will PS3 actually emulate PS1?? by cybergrue · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I can't see anything in the article specifically saying that the PS3 will support PS1 games, just a claim for backwards compatability for PS2 games.

    PS3insider also does not think that the PS3 will support PS1 games. Mind you, with the ammount of power the PS3 is suppost to have, then emulating a PS1 should be trivial.

  3. Reason for keeping my ps1 around by karnal · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I've got a modded PS1, primarily for playing Gradius Gaiden -- an import game that Konami of America said will never hit this continent in native form....

    The problem being, since I've purchased a PS2 as well, is that I cannot play this game on the PS2 because of the region check.... so it looks like I'll be keeping my PS1 in good working order (I've already replaced the power supply, due to water damage....) I don't plan on modding my PS2 either, since I have no real benefit at this point...

    I just wish they'd do away with the region checks. On a side note, since I've got my PS1 modded, there are some Capcom games that detect the mod chip, and throwing the game halt screen up before you can even play it... ugh.....

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    Karnal