Recent PS3 models have been criticised for their lack of backwards compatibility. While early PS3 20GB, 60GB and 80GB models did offer backwards compatibility, several such as the 40GB and recent 80GB and 120GB models cannot play PS2 games.
Recently Siliconera has uncovered a Sony Computer Entertainment patent in the US whereby the PS3’s cell processor would be able to better emulate instructions from the Emotion Engine Chip, which formed the basis for the PS2’s hardware.
Siliconera explains that there are two ways to emulate hardware. “Interpretation” targets code and converts it into a language that the host can understand while “decoding” can recompile programs in the host’s language.
In a nutshell decoding programs allows the hardware to convert sets of data and recompile them into sets of reference points. This would allow the PS3 cell hardware to emulate the Emotion Engine and would in theory provide backwards compatibility to PS2.
But this is nothing new. Two PS3 models released in 2007 included emulation software which allowed for backwards compatibility, namely a PAL 60GB version and an NTSC 80GB version. These versions however required constant tweaking and did not guarantee backwards compatibility on all PS2 games.
Additionally there were two early PS3 models that included the Emotion Engine as part of its hardware.
What is interesting about this patent is that it was filed in late 2008 and has a publication date of last week. This suggests that Sony may be looking to adopt backwards compatibility in all future models, perhaps beginning with the PS3 Slim, rumoured to be shipping as early as next month.
If this were indeed the case there would be no reason why Sony wouldn’t be able to offer this backwards compatibility as a firmware update in months to come.
This might see gamers replaying the likes of God of War 2 on their PS3’s just in time for the sequel to ship early next year.
Discuss PS3 backwards compatibility in the forums
Loading ...
