Learn Which Models Support It and How to Play PS2 Games on PS3

Learn Which Models Support It and How to Play PS2 Games on PS3

One distinct advantage any new generation console can have is backwards compatibility. What that refers to is the ability to play games from past generation consoles from the same console manufacturer. This is apparent on the Xbox 360 with the ability to play many Xbox titles, the Nintendo Wii to play games from the NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Gamecube, and the Playstation 3’s ability to play games from the Playstation and Playstation 2. However, there are some limitations to the Playstation 3’s backwards compatibility, limitations that will stop many PS3 owners from enjoying classic titles, although Sony is looking to address these concerns. Learning how to play PS2 games on PS3 involves more luck than technical know-how for most gamers unfortunately.

One Surefire Way

The only way how to play PS2 games on PS3 is to have the correct version of the console. Either your Playstation 3 can play PS and PS2 games or it can’t, and there’s not much to do about it. Most of the PS3 models simply cannot play older titles as they lack the necessary hardware and firmware. However, a few models do have backwards compatibility. The 20 Gb, 60 Gb, and original 80 Gb models all have backwards compatibility, either through hardware or software emulation. The other models lack backwards compatibility, so even knowing how to play PS2 games on PS3 won’t help you out much here.

However, if you do have the correct console model, then there isn’t much to know for learning how to play PS2 games on PS3. Simply insert the game CD or DVD (many original Playstation games are also supported thankfully), and the game will start up. Sometimes, it will tell you that you can’t play the game, but simply hook your PS3 up via wireless or ethernet connection and update the firmware (which also provides improved compatibility with newer versions of Blu-ray discs). Often, this will fix the problems, but not all PS and PS2 games are supported (although most are).

There you have it. Learning how to play PS2 games on PS3 is easy, but if you just randomly picked a Playstation 3 model out at your local retailer, you might have a model lacking in backwards compatibility. One reason they didn’t include such compatibility with all models is an issue of cost, as it saved Sony some money to not include such a feature on all of the models. When they first started selling PS3s for $400, they were losing several hundred dollars (although they are at least breaking even now). Unfortunately, both the new 80 Gb and 160 Gb PS3 models are lacking in such compatibility, so you’ll need to find older models to support your older games.

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