Somewhere between the time Sony removed backwards compatibility from the previous PS3, and we knew there’d be a new PS3, people got to hoping that the feature would be brought back in the PS3 Slim. It hasn’t.
Put a PS2 disc into the PS3 Slim and it won’t play. Which for some will mean nothing, but for others, will mean a great deal. If that’s you, and you’re after an explanation, SCEA’s director of marketing John Koller has one.
“Now that we’re at a point where we’re three years into the lifecycle of the PS3″, he told us earlier today, “there are so many PS3 disc-based games that are available that we think — and noticed this from our research — that most consumers that are purchasing the PS3 cite PS3 games as a primary [reason] “.
“And it’s not just like 50 or 60 percent. It’s well into the 80 or 90 percentile range who are purchasing it for PS3 [games] . We do know that there are next gen consumers wanting to come over the the PS3. Most of those are consumers who have not utilized their PS2 for a little while and they’re ready to jump into the PlayStation 3.”
Shame. A predictable shame, but a shame nonetheless.
RandomnessAzn
August 19, 2009 at 5:58 PM
This is why I think that ps2 owners doesn’t want to upgrade. I think they just want to be on the safe side so if they do not like the ps3 they still have the backwards compatibility to play their existing ps2 library.
I don’t really mind as I didn’t have a ps2. I skipped that generation. I still like my 60gb ps3 thanks.
Report PermalinkAlan S
August 19, 2009 at 6:22 PM
If they had BC models alongside non-BC models they’d lose out on savings from economies of scale on their production. It makes more sense for the minority that want BC to go out and buy the cheaper PS3 Slim and a cheap PS2. That way the majority of new PS3 adopters still get the benefit of the lower cost.
Report PermalinkTrent Strickland
August 19, 2009 at 7:54 PM
I truly, truly do NOT understand why people bleet on an on about wanting backwards compatablity. You know that rectangular box that says PLAYSTATION 2 on it? The one most people have? I plays PS2 games fine. Do you want to be able to play ps2 games while still owning a ps3? Simple. KEEP THE PLAYSTATION 2!!! I can easily play games from all three generations and all I have to do is swap three av cables from time to time. Why can’t other people?
Report PermalinkVoDKa
August 19, 2009 at 9:11 PM
Oh man there are some major crybabies on here – is it so hard to keep the PS2 to play PS2 games? Sony’s right, I have a 60GB model that has the BC and I’ve used it all of… say 3-4 times in the whole time I’ve owned the PS3. It’s not justified… it’s a feature that looks good on paper, but not something a lot of people will use.
Report PermalinkJohnny
August 19, 2009 at 11:10 PM
Sony is definitely only looking to make money at this point. The fact of the matter is that by putting backwards compability on their systems, only hampers their future idea of making money on PS2 digital games that will be implemented in the PSN store. It would also kill sales of the PS2 system because of this. (The ps2, as of this moment, is the only system making Sony money) MS has already put their orgiginal xbox games on their XBL for sale. So its only natural for Sony, which has lost so much money on the PS3 to do the same to recup all that dough back. I frankly preffer the ps2 backwards compability on the ps3. I have tons of ps2 games that I still play them from time to time. I’m actually glad I got a launch ps3. I feel bad for those who got them later on.
Report PermalinkCerberus
August 19, 2009 at 11:49 PM
I got a ps3 and I don’t play ps2 games on it… I kept my ps2 for that, whats wrong with having to plug in your ps2 to play a ps2 game, no reason to stop supporting Sony, but I own a xbox and a ps3 so the value war doesn’t phase me, I just want them to stop delaying and release some games.
Report PermalinkkNighthawk
August 20, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Sony should of muddied the water a bit…
Report PermalinkChuck out a b/c version of the PS3 into the market as an exclusive and check out the demand before assuming… not all research is correct and even if it is right, results will vary… sometimes in the way of… lots
Matfei
August 20, 2009 at 11:36 AM
I’d buy a PS3 for a handful of PS3 titles.
But a trolleyload of PS2 games I’ve missed out on.
Report Permalinkfred
August 20, 2009 at 12:01 PM
from a eurogamer comment:)
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/no-backwards-compatibility-for-ps3-slim
“Backwards compatibility is a core value of Playstation now.”
http://www.gamepro.com/news.cfm?article_id=55108
“Having multiple SKUs just confuses the customer.”
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=11209
“Rumble is last gen, and can’t work with the tilting function.”
http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3157501
“We’re not going to remove backwards compatibility.”
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=74124
“We removed backwards compatibility to cut the price.”
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=85648
“We removed backwards compatibility to make people buy PS3 games, NOT to lower the price.”
http://kotaku.com/gaming/spin/jack-tretton…ures-312628.php
“We removed backwards compatibility as a result of consumer feedback.”
http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=84824
“We removed backwards compatibility to spend the money on developing new games.”
Report Permalinkhttp://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=84831
Thermal Ions
August 20, 2009 at 10:55 PM
“90% of people bought it for PS3 games”
So they finally realised that people weren’t really excited enough about blu-ray for it to be a strong selling point huh? Only took them how long ?
Report PermalinkAnonymous
August 20, 2009 at 11:17 PM
I suggest to every person that’s whinging about the lack of BC in the 80, 40 and 120 GB consoles need to go and track down a launch 60gb console, plug in a PS2 game and see for themselves how crap they look when they play, how the motion and video cutscenes are out of the sync with the audio most of the time, and wake up to the fact that sometimes you just can’t go back. The PS2 is dead. Why spend $500 or more to play something’s that’s old?
“Sony want to make more money out of us again by making us download the classic PS2 games”. Couldn’t the same be said of MS providing downloadable versions of classic xbox titles that are actually backwards compatible with the disc, some of which can be bought from EB, Game, JB or wherever for about the same price?
They aren’t ripping you off; they’re simply choosing not to invest money into a feature that supports old gen games when they could be investing that money into the PSN or new software for your console. Buy the PS3 for the games you’ll want to play now and in the near future, don’t buy it to play a game you bought ten years ago. I have the launch model, and I kept about 10, maybe 15 PS2 games because they were my absolute favourites and I still love them, but it was not worth paying about a grand to have a console with a previous gen emulator.
Okay, rant over.
Report Permalinkscotty
August 21, 2009 at 7:25 AM
i have a 360 with 54 games,i did have a ps3 with 2 games.no prizes for guessing what happened to that.anyways,wake up and smell the coffee.the real reason sony havent included backwards compatability is simply so they can charge you all over again via that lame ass online service the lame-station store
Report PermalinkMiamilakes
September 2, 2009 at 8:52 PM
I went to the Sony web site ready to buy a new PS3 slim. But was slapped in the face with the knowledge, that the new $300 system will not play the hundreds of dolars worth of PS2 games I have. Looks like I may never buy the new PS3 :(
Report Permalinkbullshit
October 19, 2009 at 6:58 AM
This is fucking bullshit! I`m looking to either a hack or system modification or something…fuck that..assholes
Report PermalinkMarkoresko
November 7, 2009 at 7:12 PM
The MOST shamefull thing (in my opinion) is that Sony REMOVED “Other OS” (Linux) support on Playstation 3!
Report PermalinkJust like that!
They LOCKED their device so that only SONY-APPROVED software can run on machine!!
(Even they previously had locked one cpu unit and all-locked GPU)
It is the same thing as XBOX360, so i say, Don`t buy nor use those LOCKED PROPRIETARY pieces of crap from Sony and Microsoft.
If I buy hardware, noone could tell me What i CAN run on it and what I Can`t!!
Don`t be slave. Use Open hardware, use PC!
Chartoty47658
November 10, 2009 at 10:09 PM
im sad now…. I loved the ps2 our family saved up for. I spent half of my yearly pocket money on kingdom hearts 2, and last week i bought sly1, jak3 and Rachet and clank.
Im still buying ps2 games. Weve had it for maybe 4 or 5 years now and its been brilliant. Soon dying. I dont earn enough to buy a ps2 and a ps3.
I still would play ps2 games (i LOVE kh and jd) and i would be willing to shell out an extra 50-100$. (and it doesnt cost that much to make anyway).
So Sony, you have lost a very disappointed customer. :(
Report PermalinkBRING BACK BC
Lucas
December 26, 2009 at 6:00 PM
just think back to having a ps2. sony never phased out support for the ps1 even though i severely doubt the people buying the ps2 were buying it to play ps1 games, they were mainly buying it for the ps2 games, but i know i would have been majorly disgruntled then if i hadnt been able to play ps1 games. Real smooth sony, way to make me want an xbox
Report Permalinklloyd
January 5, 2011 at 10:16 AM
i have a ps3 slim and im very upset that i was told it would play ps2 games and dosent i have well over 100 games that now i cant play anymore and try to trade them in and they only want to give me a dollar or two we are all getting screwed…….thanks alot sony you suck
Report PermalinkTrysten Boyer
April 20, 2011 at 5:40 AM
This is so dumb they should have backwardcompatibility because than when the ps2′s break than conumers would buy a ps3 as to use the ps2 and ps3 games
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