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Feb 23 / Ozymandias

PS3 Backward Compatibility Reduced due to Cost Reductions?

Sounds like that might be the case, according to computerandvideogames.com. Appears that PS1 games will still work, but Sony is back-pedaling on supporting all PS2 games for the European release of the PS3:

“Rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, truly taking advantage of this exciting technology.”

Remember the PS3 price cut I predicted back in January? This is likely a step on that path. I believe the PS3 enabled backward compatibility by basically including PS2 silicon in the box. That hardware has likely been removed to reduce costs, and the PS3 is now moving toward software-emulated backward compatibility. Notice the new focus on firmware upgrades for enabling backcompat?

“PS one titles remain backwards compatible and we will continue to assess the compatibility of PS2 titles right up until launch. We will continue to offer firmware upgrades to increase the number of titles that are compatible, but rather than concentrate on PS2 backwards compatibility, in the future, company resources will be increasingly focused on developing new games and entertainment features exclusively for PS3, truly taking advantage of this exciting technology.

All of which means the backcompat story is likely to be very similar between the PS3 and the 360 going forward. I’m looking forward to seeing the teardown reports of the European PS3s and seeing what else has changed.

Related posts:

  1. PS3 Backward Compatibility Jaggies
  2. Good News for Sony: PS3 Backward Compatibility Fixed
  3. [Edit] UK PS3 Preorders do indeed appear to be slow…
  4. Bruce’s Thoughts on PS3 Horizontal Scaling in SDK
  5. Nintendo Rules February NPD Numbers

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  • http://www.onlinegamers.org Rasputin

    I’m no longer surprised by anything that comes out of the Sony camp.

    I can’t even believe that moving to a software solution would negate THAT MUCH of the cost from the PS3; I’d figure it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the components in the system.

  • Dave

    It’s not much, but it’s the one thing they can easily remove now without impacting the ability to play PS3 games. If anyone other than Sony were making the thing, they could ditch the ability to play Blu-Ray movies to avoid licensing fees (much like the Wii, which uses DVD media but can’t play DVD movies), but since they’d just be paying themselves, there’s not much point to that.

  • http://www.peoplesrepublicof.com DWAnderson

    It’s a little strange that this change only affects Europe. If they really want to save $, why not make the change in all regions? Or maybe they will, and Europe is just the first step.

  • Anonymous

    RE: "I can’t even believe that moving to a software solution would negate THAT MUCH of the cost from the PS3; I’d figure it’s a drop in the bucket compared to the rest of the components in the system."

    It could be a buck or two for the hardware + integration cost. Think about that mapped across 50-100M units lifetime. :)

  • imaginedbug

    I think your blog has something against me Andre… this is the N-th time I’ve tried to post a comment and it didn’t show up (posted 30 minutes ago, didn’t reload the confirmation page, didn’t post right after or before it, didn’t link to anything, wasn’t a long comment either).

    If this one does go through I don’t know what to do besides post off-topic comments in the future :D

  • Scott

    I swear to dear almighty God. Does your site serve as anything other than a place to point out each and every flaw that Sony has? I mean, seriously.

    I’m a 360 owner. I like the system, but I’ve found it to grow a bit dull as of recent (games that don’t interest me still don’t interest me when you throw in a free Halo 3 Beta with it as its selling point). I’m not the biggest fan of Sony, but come on. At least Sony and Nintendo have the decency not to set up grassroots blogging sites to defame others.

  • Andrej

    Scott-

    Go back and read the previous posts in this blog. I think Andre has his perspective working at MSFT, but he says plenty of nice things about the Wii and even the PS3.

  • Aedrin

    "At least Sony and Nintendo have the decency not to set up grassroots blogging sites to defame others."

    You really think Microsoft asked Ozymandias to set up this blog and defame Sony?

    Heh…

  • PhillyRampage

    Man, Sony hates Europe. Not only they get the PS3 3 months after and they have to pay more for it, but they also get features taken out of it. WTF?!

  • yo mama

    [quote]At least Sony and Nintendo have the decency not to set up grassroots blogging sites to defame others.[/quote]

    Anything’s better than [url=http://consumerist.com:8045/pspflog/www.alliwantforxmasisapsp.com/blog/default.html]this[/url]

  • http://www.myspace.com/hova_uk HOVA uk

    Well at least we have the chance to compare how Sony release patches for their B.C to Microsoft..

    plus, could be worse.. there could be NO B.C

  • http://www.myspace.com/hova_uk HOVA uk

    P.S, you guys that are saying Ozymandias is bias, just because he works for Microsoft.. thats crazy..

    Anyone who cares remotely about gaming, will be interested in all the bad things which keep happening with Sony, having a gaming blog and not talking about it will be stupid, you guys will complain if Ozymandias only talked about Microsoft stuff

    and that would be interesting wouldn’t it!

    i hate replying to spammers, and people who just want attention but had to post something about it.

    Back to topic.

  • http://www.onlinegamers.org Rasputin

    RE: It could be a buck or two for the hardware + integration cost. Think about that mapped across 50-100M units lifetime. :)

    Yeah, but think about the cost of the Blu-Ray drive mapped across 50-100M units lifetime…

    of course, if they still think they’re somehow going to GET 50-100M units sold before the PS4 shows up…who knows?

  • Trellium

    Comments not showing up again.

  • Trellium

    If backward compatibility has no value to you buy a PS3 for £425.

    If you want backward compatibility for several different consoles plus the "latest and greatest", buy:

    * 360 Core (£150)

    * Wii (£179)

    * PS2 (£95)

    Totals £424, and you play PS1/PS2 games, Nintendo and XBox games, plus most HiDef games except for PS3 exclusives.

    That’s what I call value for the price.

  • Strifer

    /sigh

    Why do Sony continue to let us down. "We won’t support 100% backwards compatibility because we want to make better PS3 games!" What a BS statement, Sony must think all its customers are fraking idiots.

  • OS Perry

    Scott get over yourself.  MS had/hasnothing to do with these guys setting up their blogs.  In fact some of them are critical at times about MS themselves.  And they are just reporting what every gaming site offers up.  And if Sony didn’t keep shooting themselves in the foot, there would be nothing to report, but sadly their arrogance and bull headedness, in what the public will tolerate is unexplainable.  I’m an xbox fanboy, and love seeing/hearing about Sony’s screwups, and I think Ozy, offers up a very balanced view on all things console gaming.  Although, I played the Crackdown Demo and I definitely don’t understand all the hub-bub about Crackdown, I say Ozy keep up the good work.

  • mendo

    Ok, no BC (which is a huge issue for me) and still no price cut? What are we (Europeans), stupid cows you just have to milk and nothing more? Way to go Sony, I’m so not going to buy the console and any other hardware you make (bye bye bravia, welcome Sharp LCD :P )

  • http://www.qj.net/Ozymandias-on-backwards-compatibility-price-cut-time-/pg/49/aid/84180 Victor

    Here through te URL above.

    As much as I’d like to think it’s all spin… how come European PS3s still cost more than american PS3s?

  • SuperSaiyan4

    Hi Oz,

    We all know SONY are full of it and always talk nonsense they have some of the best quotes of all time over the net.

    They clearly boasted that there was essentially a PS2 inside the PS3 allowing for 100% BC to which they said something their competitors could not offer now looky what we have here – no upscaling of games and poor BC and even worse for Europe.

    The PS3 is not a games console it never was according to Ken perhaps thats why he got demoted…again?

    Anyways Microsoft got it right with the Xbox 360 what they did not so well with the Xbox 1 they perfected with the 360 (now give us a bigger hard drive lol) what Sony got right with PS1/2 they got wrong with PS3.