Report: Backwards Compatibility Returns To PlayStation Via Gaikai

Remember this thing? The "fatty" PlayStation 3? The original 60GB model may have cost $600 at launch, but it played all PS1 titles and most PS2 games.

After that, each successive model cut back on the backwards compatibility (for instance, switching to software emulation, which meant only certain PS2 games would work) and now, the current PS3 doesn't support the PS2 format at all. So how would you like to get full B/C back?

According to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony will announce a cloud gaming deal with Gaikai that will allow current-generation hardware (i.e., the PS3) to play PS2 and PS1 software via a streaming solution. Both first-party and third-party games can then be available. And now it appears that we'll get this announcement during Sony's press conference on Monday at E3, which would be fantastic news for PlayStation fans.

We're not sure yet what other Sony devices will get a Gaikai-supported game streaming service, but it could very well include HDTVs and tablets. We're just wondering what people think of backwards compatibility these days; it's important to many in new machines, but for a system like the PS3 that is aging...? Well, at the very least, it means you don't need extra PlayStation systems hooked up to your entertainment center all the time.

Tags: ps3, backwards compatibility, gaikai, cloud streaming

6/1/2012 9:28:30 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (37 posts)

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bigrailer19
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 9:52:42 PM
Reply

I really wanted the whole B/C at the start of the generation. But as time has gone on, I'm kind of over it. Here's why: most the games I would go back to and games I missed out on, are showing up as HD remakes. Second there is a lot of quality on the PSN that I can pick up.

Now I know that's money I'd have to spend either again or in general. But if the hd remakes turn out like GoW collection I'd buy that any day. And for the games I missed out on, I never bought them anyways.

This streaming deal, sounds pretty sweet and might be perfect for me. Problem is I'm still catching uo with this generations best, so...

2 up, 2 down

Stabs88
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 10:07:15 PM
Reply

This would be great for the Vita. I use my phone to make it a hotspot for wifi instead of paying that horrible 3G deal (you cant really game on the go unless your in a hotspot) so i pay an extra $15 a month for a better data plan an tethering.

I would be playing KH, FF's, DMC..the list could go on. Sounds like a great idea, I bet a lot of people would pay for this. Maybe this is what they were talking about with the "new Plus" for PS members. Guess will find out.

2 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 11:36:32 PM

This would crack VITAS doors wide open. Maybe this is the reason why we have not heard anything regarding PS1 and PS2 game support. Not to mention Remote Play.

2 up, 0 down

frylock25
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 10:08:04 PM
Reply

what is gaikai? i have a feeling this is going to be a pay service. im not so sure that i will be excited about a service that i would have to pay for to stream old games. i still have my b/c ps3 and may just pick up a ps2 before they are gone.

3 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 10:47:31 PM

Frylock,

Gaikai is basically a game streaming site like Onlive's gaming site is.

And matter of fact, they're both pretty much rivals of one another too.
Just dot com Gaikai to check it out

0 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 11:29:35 PM

GaiKai it a streaming service which can be implemented on many devices. No SUB. OnLive is subscription based.

I was worried that Sony may have been considering Onlive versus GaiKai. But the rumors are leaning more with SONY/Gaikai the closer we get to E3. There is just something about OnLive that doesn't click with me for some reason.

0 up, 0 down

wiiplay
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 11:40:53 AM

@FATHASUN OnLive isn't a subscription-based service. It's free to use.

Personally, I've never found an interest in Gaikai, as it's more or less just a demo service, with no current option to buy games.
OnLive on the other hand is a Games on Demand platform, and provides a console-like experience. In fact, OnLive actually has their own gaming console, and are, in ways, competing with the console market.

Personally, I'm a huge fan of cloud gaming, and although OnLive was the first cloud-gaming network in the world, I'm always going to support future companies who are trying to enter into the industry.
Still though, Gaikai isn't what I'd call a Cloud Gaming platform, as they are currently just a demo-network. They're also an advertising network, similar to Google's AdWords, and aren't focused on gaming alone.

That's actually why Gaikai would be the more likely cloud network for such a partnership. They're not focused on providing their own gaming platform, and rely on third party companies to help expand and fuel their development and expansion.
OnLive, on the other hand, wishes to compete directly with the current industry, and has built their own powerful gaming service, with graphics comparable, or sometimes better, than what we're currently seeing with console gaming. It would be silly for OnLive to partner with their competition.

1 up, 0 down

frylock25
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 9:07:26 PM

thanks guys i had no idea what it was or even that it was a website. now that i have looked at it, it does look like just a demo site. i couldnt find any actual games on there at all.

0 up, 0 down

playaplus
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 10:26:14 PM
Reply

DARK CLOUD!!!! That is all

1 up, 0 down

kraygen
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 10:50:09 PM
Reply

I hope that they add vita to this deal, because I want my ps1 games on my vita dang it. Ps2 games would be a sweet addition.

2 up, 0 down

bebestorm
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 11:08:36 PM
Reply

This is actually a feature I would appreciate! I hope this a stand alone and not tied into plus because Im not interested in a plus membership.

1 up, 0 down

FatherSun
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 11:39:08 PM

I am getting a %90 vibe that this is the part of the evolution of PLUS! If you think about Plus is basically like Netflix. You pay for a membership and have access to the entire library. Only thing is that the library is trickling in slowly.

1 up, 0 down

gumbi
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 11:30:27 PM
Reply

Isn't this just kind of dancing around the idea of backwards compatibility?

I'm not interested at all in subscribing to a game streaming service where I have to pay a fee to play previous gen games on my PS3. I thought the whole idea behind B/C was so that we could play the games from our existing library. You know, the ones we already bought and paid for that are sitting on our shelves.

Anyway, at this point in the game I don't think B/C matters for PS3 anymore. The only PS2 games I'm playing these days are the HD remakes.

5 up, 1 down

Crabba
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 11:51:40 PM

exactly, if I want backwards compatibility, that means I want to be able to play my old discs, not subscribe to download them for a fee...

3 up, 2 down

CrusaderForever
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 12:14:23 AM

What about all the gamers with no PS1 or PS2 games? Also, not everyone keeps all their games. So if this service is available you could play that one game you have been missing. I don't know if I will subscribe to this either. It will all depend on how much this B/C streaming costs monthly.

2 up, 0 down

Ignitus
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 2:43:21 AM

Yeah, that service sounds lame to me.

1 up, 3 down

FatherSun
Friday, June 01, 2012 @ 11:34:12 PM
Reply

The magic behind this deal could be immense from a marketing standpoint. It can potentially open Sonys ENTIRE library to SONY devices. That's a lot of games! Anyone here ever keep count?

There is also speculation that SONY may have actually "ACQUIRED" GaiKai. It would be a risky venture but the payoff would be tremendous if handled properly. SONY could use the technology to stream just about anything. Games, Music Unlimited and Video Unlimited.

3 up, 0 down

CrusaderForever
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 12:10:20 AM
Reply

This is great news! The PS3 will be the test system for PS1/PS2 streaming. Their real plan is for this to be available for the PS4 and Vita IMHO! Once they get all wrinkles ironed out it will be prime for the PS4 launch. Sony is on FIRE!!

Last edited by CrusaderForever on 6/2/2012 12:10:36 AM

2 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 12:11:53 AM
Reply

Streaming is bunk. I'd like to know I can access my games, movies and music if my network or the said companies network is down.

9 up, 3 down

bigrailer19
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 1:38:56 AM

That's a legitimate request. That's why I like physical media and that the PSN has a lot of the games I missed out on.

2 up, 0 down

Ludicrous_Liam
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 3:20:46 AM

I thought you were dead? xD

0 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 3:22:40 AM

... Although the argument can easily be turned the other way around too:

"Physical media is bunk. I'd like to know I can access my games, movies and music after my disks get scratched.

You have to buy the friggin' disk all over again! Outrageous, I say. Outrageous!"

;)

1 up, 0 down

Jawknee
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 10:57:19 AM

Well Beam, I can tell you that I have never, ever, destroyed any of my CDs, DVD's or Blurays. Just about every CD I own is in mint condition. Also, I don't completely object to digital music or movies. I would just prefer to have them downloaded onto my computer rather than depend on streaming services that can/will have interruptions and eat up important bandwidth.

Liam, not dead. Just busy. :)

Last edited by Jawknee on 6/2/2012 11:01:07 AM

4 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 12:10:43 PM

Jawk, I totally agree.

But that said, I have actually had a a game disk broken at least once, probably even twice. Not to mention back in the days with magnetic storage mediums, with floppies getting harder and harder to read from, read errors and yuck.

Last edited by Beamboom on 6/2/2012 1:23:59 PM

0 up, 0 down

bigrailer19
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 12:50:36 PM

I'm speaking strictly about games here. As I'll admit I'm a bit of a hipocrit because I don't buy music CD's anymore. Everything is from iTunes. But I'm with Jawknee, that relying on a streaming service is rough. I had huge problems with hulu plus, and it not buffering, and I have 20mbps service. I even tried lowering the resolution. It was a lot of trouble.

With that said I'm still partial to physical media over any downloading also because of space. I'm pretty good about either leaving my Blu-Rays in my PS3 or putting them in the case and on the shelf after I'm done. It's a good practice, so you don't break anymore discs, Beam! ;)

1 up, 0 down

Beamboom
Sunday, June 03, 2012 @ 11:35:57 AM

Me too, Big! Dang we are alike on a lot of areas.

I buy *all* my music on Beatport these days. Sold my entire physical ,music collection a few years ago.

0 up, 0 down

gray_eagle
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 2:33:21 AM
Reply

i can'nt see this being a free service.
say it's a monthly fee, i don't think it'll be that bad a deal as long as
you can play any game you want, play as many games you want and when you want.

1 up, 0 down

Rogueagent01
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 2:44:26 AM
Reply

I like the idea regardless of how it is released i.e. free, monthly fee, linked with PS+, or even a individual rental style fee. For those that want to play some of their favorite games but for whatever reason they aren't able to with their current setup this is perfect. And if this works out right, then the PS4 could basically start with a library unlike any console has ever seen.

There are a few hard to find and favorites I would like quick easy access too. And just to point out I have an original 60gig that is dedicated to nothing but PS1 and PS2 games at the moment.

2 up, 0 down

Ignitus
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 2:49:50 AM
Reply

Great. I can't wait to pay good money for games I already bought, delivered trough compressed internet packets and with controller lag.

Who wants to kid themselves? That is not backwards compatibility.

So this is how the PS4 B/C is going to work when it launches.

2 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 3:16:18 AM
Reply

I don't understand how you guys can talk about backward compatibility and a streaming service like it was the same? It's two wildly different things.

Your friggin' *phone* can play any game on a cloud service if there is a client made for it. It's not the same as backward compatibility at *all*.

This is like saying that your PS3 is VHS compatible cause you can watch movies that were released on VHS via a streaming service.

Last edited by Beamboom on 6/2/2012 3:19:21 AM

5 up, 2 down

Jawknee
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 10:58:04 AM

Good analogy.

1 up, 0 down

xnonsuchx
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 6:51:58 AM
Reply

"Backwards compatibility" means I can play my original discs on it (which I can on my 60GB PS3). "Streaming service" is not that, so don't pretend it is.

8 up, 1 down

___________
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 9:51:27 AM
Reply

oh hell yes!!!!!!!!!
as long as a large library of games will be available and not having to wait for licensing and such to pass like we do on PSN titles ATM.
id kill to be able to play black, the loony tunes and simpsons games on my ps3!

2 up, 2 down

Excelsior1
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 12:36:01 PM
Reply

Misleading headline in a way. It's not really Backwards compatability at all but rather a streaming service. Big, big difference.

1 up, 0 down

DeusExMachina
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 2:57:15 PM
Reply

This is an amasing idea. If Sony has indeed actually acquired Gaikai thats even better. Sony is all about future proofing, and I think this coupled with their already existing cloud based network can be a real game changer for Sony.

It can connect all of their devices together on a harmonious network. It can add access to a humongous library of games to not only current consoles (PS3/Vita) but also to future devices and non gaming related devices.

But I think most of all it can future proof Sony eventually for the age where consoles and technical power will be a thing of the past and your performance will all depend on your internet speed/bandwidth (I predict round about 2025, that also when I think we should achieve true realism in games, and full on VR as well, but hey that jus my own cooky assumptions).

I think as long as the service is a minimal monthly fee or a decent yearly fee it should be fair granted that you gain access to the whole library's content and that service evolves and bring in new features not just staying stagnant on B/C (cause this tech has so much more potential).

I think Sony will most likely integrate this into a PS+ premium package of some sorts, giving you PSN free, PS+ vanilla and PS+ premium. Which I think is perfect, there's nothing wrong with choice the more choice the better.

4 up, 0 down

Rogueagent01
Saturday, June 02, 2012 @ 8:09:44 PM
Reply

Exactly choices=good, to me.

I don't care that it isn't true BC like some of the others, if I am able to access and play games from the older genereations on my PS3 then I can put my 60gig away for now. And if the fee is minimal I won't complain.

1 up, 0 down

Qubex
Monday, June 04, 2012 @ 10:58:49 PM
Reply

Interesting development... equally more interesting is that more Fatty 60GB PS3 still goes strong, and still beautiful to look at... who says being ultra skinny is always the best thing :)

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"

0 up, 0 down

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