Report: PlayStation 2 Games Coming to PS3 Store

June 30, 2008 2:58 PM

A poster on the N4G forums has produced an image which appears to show PlayStation 2 titles available on the PlayStation 3's digital storefront, allegedly taken by an employee at Sony Studios London.

According to the post, the source also claimed that the PlayStation 2 lineup is to be officially announced at the E3 Media and Business Summit, with an official launch coming later this summer.

Sony's PlayStation Store currently offers many titles previously available at retail, including original PlayStation and PSP titles. Though all PS3 models are compatible with PS1 software, only one model currently available on store shelves—the 80GB—provides PlayStation 2 functionality.

However, rumors have long-circulated of a firmware update that would enable all versions of the PlayStation 3 to play PlayStation 2 titles via software emulation. Currently, the 80GB PS3 uses a mix of software and hardware emulation to provide PS2 playback.

The games pictured in the above snapshot includes:

Metal Gear Solid 2 (Kojima Productions)
Fantavision (Sony Computer Entertainment)
Red Faction (Volition Inc.)
Ridge Racer V (Namco Bandai)
Smuggler's Run (Rockstar San Diego, formerly Angel Studios)
SSX (EA Canada)
The Bouncer (Square-Enix)

As with most rumors in the weeks preceding E3, expect clarification from Sony when the conference kicks off next month.

Aaron Linde

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Prozium

 reply
June 30, 2008 3:08 PM

I could see this going 2 ways.

1. sony reveals a 100% software solution to allow all PS3 models to play PS2 games.

2. The playstation store locks out PS2 game purchases if it detects that you're on a PS3 model that can't do PS2 BC.
- iambinksy
  
   reply
  June 30, 2008 3:16 PM
  
  I think they'll lose way too many sales this way, aren't the majority of PS3 sales the 40GB non-BC?
  - Prozium
    
     reply
    June 30, 2008 3:19 PM
    
    It's not like it's a huge investment to put games online for sale. There's very little overhead for digital distribution once the system is already setup. These ps2 game sales would just be extra cash for sony with very little investment.
    - yuried
      
       reply
      June 30, 2008 4:10 PM
      
      they'd still have to make sure they run, and provide CS for people who buy those - and eg. in Europe, the PS2 BC is limited at best (the initially sold 60 GB model was the one with software BC, but was quickly replaced with the no-BC 40 GB model)
      
      #2 wouldn't make sense at all, I think
- baron calamity
  
   reply
  June 30, 2008 3:53 PM
  
  or 3: Only those you buy online are compatable across all skus
  - treefingers1
    
     reply
    June 30, 2008 4:31 PM
    
    This is probably the right answer. It's far easier to port PS2 games on an individual basis than to try and write an entirely software-based emulation of the Playstation 2.
  - stevesan
    
     reply
    July 1, 2008 1:04 AM
    
    hmm interesting theory. prolly will be the case!
- Fred Garvin
  
   reply
  June 30, 2008 6:23 PM
  
  Or it's BC on a per title basis for the most popular titles like the 360.