The PS3 Slim backwards compatibility issue – the fact that it simply isn’t compatible with old PS2 titles – has raised a lot of questions with potential buyers of the console.
Is this still the right console for you, even if you can’t play your old PS2 games?
The History of Backwards Compatibility in the Playstation 3
The original Playstation 3 consoles did have backwards compatibility with Sony Playstation 2 games, but this has been removed in all models since 2007. Many hoped that it would come back in with the launch of the Playstation 3 Slim, but it still isn’t included as a feature.
What Sony Has to Say About the PS3 Backwards Compatibility Issue
The marketing department at Sony Playstation has stated that they don’t include backwards compatibility any more since we are already years into the lifecycle of the console, and there are many Playstation 3 games to choose from.
Research has shown that most consumers do not buy the PS3 to continue to play their old PS2 games, but specifically to play new PS3 titles. Sony added that most people who buy the Playstation 3 haven’t even used their old Playstation 2 consoles for a while.
What Can You Do About the PS3 Backwards Compatibility Issue?
There are a number of choices for you if you still want to play Playstation 2 games. Firstly, you can keep your old Sony PS3 console if you happened to buy one of the older models that does have backward compatibility. This isn’t an option for those who want the very latest technology, however, or those who don’t yet own a Sony Playstation (unless you can pick one up second hand).
Next, you can choose to buy the PS3 and simply buy an old second-hand Playstation 2 to carry on playing older games. They are still available to buy and they are generally very cheap to get your hands on nowadays.
Thirdly, you could choose another console. This still doesn’t help you to play PS2 games, but if you wanted a console that includes backward compatibility for other games you may have, this is the option for you. The Xbox 360 Slim, for example, does include backwards compatibility for the old Xbox games.
The good news is that the PS3 backwards compatibility issue isn’t really an issue for most consumers – which is why the Sony Playstation 3 is still one of the hottest selling consoles out there. You’ll have plenty of compatible games to keep you occupied, especially with the release of the Playstation Move controller!
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