Backwards Compatibility Returns To 40GB PS3 This October?

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Rumor ahoy! We keep talking about the upcoming firmware update 2.40 for the PlayStation 3, hoping it will include the much anticipated in-game XMB and Trophies, but here's another future firmware possibility.

As most of you know, backwards compatibility has been slowly draining away from the PS3. The original 60GB model offered nigh-on full b/c for both PS1 and PS2 software, but the 80GB machine that showed up less than a year later offered PS1 b/c and only partial PS2 software emulation. The latest model, the 40GB, supports PS1 software but no PS2 software. Depending on your library, this may or may not be a problem for you, but either way, backwards compatibility may be returning. According to German game site InPlayStation, an October firmware update for the PS3 will bring full b/c for PS2 games. Now, Sony has said they plan to make PS2 games downloadable on the Network at some point, so perhaps this is a very plausible rumor.

However, October is a ways off, and it's unlikely that Sony will confirm this so soon. This won't stop us from contacting them about this rumor, though, and we'll let you know if they respond with anything besides the customary "no comment."

6/3/2008 Ben Dutka

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