Can a 40gb PS3 receive an update to become PS2 compatible?

Xeno

I have never gotten a clear answer to this. Is it technically possible for SONY to release some sort of firmware update that would make the 40gb backwards compatible with the PS2?

I hear some people say that the 40gb is missing some hardware, etc etc. which means it is not possible.

Thanks for the answer guys.

Tasteticle

It was my understanding that the 80gb is BC with emulation, which would mean technically yes, I guess it would be possible for sony to do this. But I could be wrong.

RUNN1NGMAN

I could be wrong, but the 80GB has one of the chips necessary for PS2 emulation, and uses software to emulate the emotion engine. The 40GB model does not have the second piece, so Sony would have to come up with a new emulation engine to replace the chip that the 80GB has. Chances of that happening are slim to none.

saint2e

No. I asked this exact question when buying my PS3. I went with the 80Gig model for this very reason.

Djeet

From wikipedia.

"Initial NTSC PS3 units [20/60 GB] include the CPU/rasterizer combination chip used in the slim PS2 (EE+GS) to achieve backward compatibility."

"In order to reduce manufacturing costs, the Emotion Engine (EE) is not included in European, Australian and South Korean systems. The 80 GB model released in North America also lacks the Emotion Engine (EE) CPU. Software emulation of the Emotion Engine is used in instead and as a result, backward compatibility for PlayStation 2 games is reduced. compatibility is improved periodically through PlayStation 3 System Software updates, however Sony has stated that its focus will eventually shift to developing content exclusively for the PS3."

"In the 40 GB model, backwards compatibility with PlayStation 2 titles was omitted completely due to the removal of the PlayStation 2's "Graphics Synthesizer" GPU which omitted all PS2 based hardware from the system"

but

"however, compatibility for most PlayStation titles will still be provided through software emulation on the 40GB unit."

Upshot of all that? There's no hardware on the 40GB version to assist in providing PS2 BC (the Euro and 80GB versions at least have the GS) so PS2 games discs will not be supported. A article linked off the wikipedia entry indicates PSOne BC is achieved entirely through software emulation.

If you're asking if Sony is going to send out a firmware patch to enable PS3's w/out EE/GS hardware to runs PS2 playdisks, I'd say don't hold your breath. I doubt writing a GS emulator for the Cell is high on the priority list for Sony.

Khavall

In theory?


Yes, similar to how it completely emulates PS1 as software.


Is there absolutely any chance of this ever happening?

Not a chance.

EggyToast

Yeah, Khavall nails it. The PS3 COULD receive an update to be backwards compatible. It could also receive an update to launch nuclear missles. Neither are likely to ever happen, though.

cloudeagle

Pretty much.

It would require too much work on Sony's part for something that would bring them absolutely no money.

Willeth

Khavall wrote: »

In theory?


Yes, similar to how it completely emulates PS1 as software.


Is there absolutely any chance of this ever happening?

Not a chance.

This. Disregard any information to the contrary.