# Backwards compatible PS3's **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 17, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711 "2009-03-17T02:23:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Blunt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Blunt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blunt)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/1 "2009-03-17T02:23:48Z")
For some reason I’m kicking around the idea of buying a PS3, even though I’ve got an XBox 360 which I never play. I figure the Blu-ray would be nice, and even that alone almost justifies the price. Also, I never had a PS2, so I figure there is a large library of “new to me” games which I could probably pick up cheap. Of course the only problem with this (and correct me if I’m wrong), is that none of the PS3’s which are currently available are backwards compatible with the PS2’s. So, I’m wondering about a couple things. First, are there really no new PS3’s with the backwards compatibility? I’d strongly prefer buying a new machine, so I’m not really considering a used one. Second, assuming backwards compatible PS3’s no longer exist, is there a chance they’ll bring it back? Has Sony said anything either way, like this might be a done deal, or is it possible they’ll add the feature back in on later versions? ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/2 "2009-03-17T02:31:27Z")
No, nothing they have for sale now is backwards compatible. Someone at gamestop told me they took a poll and people didn’t really want it. I find that really surprising, because I went out and bought the Metal Gear Solid package with PS3 to get the 80 gig model that is backwards compatible. And, I am glad I did. I think if you look around you can find that MGS package still new from some retailers on Ebay or Amazon. I can’t speak for these companies, but they do hvae it. Gamestop has some refurbished ones that might have the compatibiltiy. I do love being able to play PS2 games. But, some people I talk to say they never play them because the drop in graphics is really telling when you just played a PS3 game. So, do consider if you would have a similar reaction. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/3 "2009-03-17T02:33:37Z")
Eh, Blu-ray is almost worth the price? Isn’t the PS3 like $400? A blu-ray player (and DVD burner) for your PC (which you can then easily hook up to your HDTV) is like $75. A stand alone player can be had for $160-$200. As for backward compatibility, Sony has been adamant that they are not planning it for the foreseeable future. That’s pretty much all anyone knows. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen, but don’t plan your purchase based on that. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/4 "2009-03-17T02:51:15Z")
In the add-on’s section of the Playstation Store, there’s a download offered for it, I believe. I’m looking it up right now and it says, “PS2 System Data” and the description is: "This is system data for playing PlayStation2 format software that must be installed on the hard disk of a PLAYSTATION3 system. Note that this system data cannot be used on CECHH00 series PLAYSTATION3 systems (models with 40 GB hard disk). If you dowlnload PS2 System Data and install it on the PLAYSTATION3 system, you will be able to play PlayStation2 format software that is compatible with hard disk installation." Whatever that all means. It’s a free download. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2009, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/5 "2009-03-17T03:07:30Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > In the add-on’s section of the Playstation Store, there’s a download offered for it, I believe. I’m looking it up right now and it says, “PS2 System Data” and the description is: That’s for systems that are already backwards compatible. you install that and can play the very (as far as I know) few ps2 games that utilized hdd access. ---
**Author:** ![RogueAOV](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@RogueAOV](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RogueAOV)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 8:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/6 "2009-03-18T08:55:35Z")
When i was looking for a ps3 i had the same problem, with finding a backwards compatible model. Since my ps2 died a few months back spending 130 bucks on a new ps2 seemed silly when you could get the ps3 for 400(did i just say that?). Anyway, At Gamestop, they do sell the old models, second hand, what is weird is that a brand new 80 GB model(not backwards compatible) is 400, a used 80GB model(which is backwards compatible) is 449 dollars. When i bought a 360 at xmas for my teenager, i bought a used system, and for only 20 dollars you get a one year warranty on the system. Any problems, instantly get a replacement. I assume they have the same deal with the ps3, so it might be worth thinking about, if you want to spend the extra money. Now is the time to stock up on ps2 etc games though, most of them are under ten dollars, half the games at my local store are only 4 or 5 bucks. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/7 "2009-03-18T13:41:46Z")
It’s surprising that they are selling the old version of the PS3 at a higher price. A casual buyer might not even know the difference. Although, there are a few they probably justify the higher price with. In addition to the backwards compatibility issue, the older PS3 has more USB ports, and slots for media cards so you can view pictures directly from your camera’s memory cards. There might be other differences, but I can’t remember for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/8 "2009-03-18T15:43:24Z")
Your best bet is to track down a PS3 with model # beginning with CECHExx. It has an 80 GB hard drive, 4 USB ports, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, Flash card readers, SACD support, and PS2 compatibility through software emulation. Compare that to the current 80 GB model on the market, which has only 2 USB ports, no Flash card readers, no SACD support, and no PS2 backwards compatibility. If you want the most reliable backwards compatibility, you’ll have to go back to the model # starting with CECHAxx. This is a 60 GB unit, but has actual PS2 hardware to run games (rather than software emulation). It’s unfortunate that they are no longer being produced, but you can probably find them on the cheap on eBay or Craigslist. If you wait too long, however, they may start being considered “collector’s items” or the like. My inclination, though, is that future models will once again bring back PS2 backwards compatibility. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/9 "2009-03-18T17:00:06Z")
> [@Hi\_Neighbor](#): > > It’s unfortunate that they are no longer being produced, but you can probably find them on the cheap on eBay or Craigslist. These are probably the most highly sought after items on ebay and craigslist right now. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Neighbor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hi_neighbor/32/494_2.png) [@Hi\_Neighbor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Neighbor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/10 "2009-03-18T17:04:43Z")
Son of a gun, I should have held on to my 60 GB unit. ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/backwards-compatible-ps3s/489711/11 "2009-03-18T17:07:42Z")
I’m more than a little happy knowing that my launch PS3 is a collectors item.