# PS3 question on backwards capabilities

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-question-on-backwards-capabilities/562006>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [November 26, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-question-on-backwards-capabilities/562006 "2010-11-26T18:13:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-question-on-backwards-capabilities/562006/1 "2010-11-26T18:13:51Z")

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My nieces want a PS3 for Christmas. They have a bunch of PS2 games. Will a PS3 play PS2 games? Does it depend on what model PS3 you get?

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**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\
**Post date:** [November 26, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ps3-question-on-backwards-capabilities/562006/2 "2010-11-26T18:31:46Z")

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As stated [in this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=586096), only the very first PS3s were backwards compatible with PS2. The hardware emulators were phased out very quickly; [refurbished models do exist but they’re $350 and up](http://www.gamestop.com/Catalog/ProductDetails.aspx?product_id=64006).