PlayStation 3 not 100 percent backward compatible?

Recent comments cast doubt on whether Sony's next-gen console will play all PSOne or PS2 games.

When the PlayStation 3 was unveiled at E3 this past May, the majority of attention focused on its eye-popping graphics and hardware brawn. However, one selling point emphasized by Sony executives was that the console would be backward compatible not just with PlayStation 2 games, but also with those for the original PlayStation.

This week, though, that claim had some serious doubt cast on it--reportedly from a Sony spokesperson.

According to the IDG News Service, the comment came as part of Sony's response to reported problems with the silver slimline PlayStation 2 (model number SCPH-75000), due for release in Japan on November 23. When the machine was unveiled last week, Sony published a list of nine PlayStation 2 games, including Tekken 5 and Gauntlet: Dark Legacy, and 38 PlayStation games, including Resident Evil 2 and Worms, which have encountered problems playing on the silver PS2. Speaking to IDG in Tokyo on Monday, Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson Reiko Sakamoto said the problem was due to "multiple factors."

However, it was Sakamoto's comments regarding the PS3 that made the most headlines. When responding to questions about whether the SCPH-75000's backward-compatibility issues heralded similar problems with Sony's next-gen console, she demurred. "It's hard to say the PlayStation 3 will be 100 percent backwards compatible, but as we said earlier this year, we aim to make it so as much as possible," Sakamoto said, according to IDG. Attempts to elicit clarifying comments from Sony Computer Entertainment America reps were unsuccessful as of press time.

While significant--ranging from frozen cinematics and sluggish data saves--the problems reported with the SCPH-75000 were not widespread. They plagued only a small portion of the 8,000 PS2 and PSOne games that Sony tested. It should also be noted that the PS2 is not 100 percent backward compatible either, as SCEA maintains a list of PSOne games that cannot play on the console.

The PlayStation 3 is currently slated for released in spring of 2006. It's not the only next-gen console that's been dogged by backward-compatibility questions. Microsoft has admitted that a number of original Xbox games will not be playable on the Xbox 360. For its part, Nintendo has said the Revolution will support all GameCube discs and that it will play downloadable, emulated NES, SNES, and N64 games.

10 Comments

  • Gamelova08

    Posted Aug 15, 2009 4:37 pm PT

    No backwards compatibility, no buy. Seriously, I liked the deal when the ps2 was new. You could sell your ps1 and still be able to play the games for it. Plus, ps3's expense makes the probability less for me to get it. Right now, 3/4 of Sony's best games are in the ps2. Not ps3. If ps3 was backwards compatible for AT LEAST the ps2, It would be a joyful purchase. This way, I could just sell my ps2 and add 200 more bucks to get the ps3.

  • alam00

    Posted Nov 2, 2008 8:23 am PT

    maybe Sony should make good plan as putting the full ps1 and ps2 games in the Playstation Store?? (PSN) i mean just like its the Wii when u buy like a Super Nintendo game out of the Virtual Console lol

  • Big-Smoke321

    Posted Nov 21, 2006 1:54 pm PT

    I have heard that the PS3 is not 100% compatible withe PS2 games in US but when it comes out in the UK in March 2007 it will be 100% compatible with PS2 games but i'm not sure about the PSOne

  • Army_Veteran

    Posted Nov 14, 2006 1:10 pm PT

    Ha Ha, I knew they were going to have problems with the 100% backwards compatibility list. Looks like to me that the PS3 is slowly but surly going to be a disappointment. I decided I won’t buy it a while back; the price is a liltle to much for a system that is equal to Xbox 360, minus blue ray.

  • Charlie2688

    Posted Oct 10, 2006 12:32 pm PT

    I certainly sounds interesting...probably the top games will work fine...so no problem there...

    Thank god that is not the "wanna-be" backward compatibility of the Xbox 360

  • gslimjim98

    Posted Jul 15, 2006 2:10 am PT

    i mean although the people should use the previous systems to play the old games, but the whole point is to eliminate all the consoles going into one tv. so i think they should keep trying at making the ps3 backwards compatible 100%

  • perfection1000

    Posted Jun 30, 2006 2:01 pm PT

    Yup i agree with Bluestorm-Kalas if you want to play old games go to the ps2 or ps1. Everyone want to see new games and that what the ps3 console is for.

  • Victer642

    Posted Jun 1, 2006 10:06 pm PT

    wow just like six games that the ps2 cant play. Thats better then almost half the xbox library u cant play -_-

  • Bluestorm-Kalas

    Posted Feb 18, 2006 11:15 pm PT

    Not being backwards capable isn't that bad of thing, if people want to play old games go to the old consoles

  • Bluestorm-Kalas

    Posted Feb 18, 2006 11:15 pm PT

    Not being backwards capable isn't that bad of thing, if people want to play old games go to the old consoles

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