40GB firmware to allow backwards compatibility in October?

[Groo The Perverted]

I've been seeing this article all over the net talking about a rumored firmware update coming in October for the 40GB PS3 that will allow it to play PS2 games.

While I hope this is true, I'm not sure whether it's a pipe dream or not. I've read before that Sony came out and said they were completely phasing out the B/C in all models and that they viewed the consumer who would get a PS3 as a completely different consumer than would get the PS2 and that they had no plans to stop making the PS2s.

So through THAT logic it doesn't make sense for a firmware update that would allow us to play PS2 games on the PS3.

That being said, this is allegedly coming from a Sony Importer or something.

Here's the piece I saw:

That's right, this little rumor has popped up again. I'm not going to brush this off though, after Bioshock is finally receiving a confirmed PS3 release, it is hard to tell what may or may not happen with the system.

Sony has been semi-wishy washy about the backwards compatibility on the PS3 for awhile now. First it was there, then it wasn't then it was half there and frankly, I'm getting tired of trying to remember what has what where. Who is on first, what? Anyway, It is being speculated that the 40GB Playstation 3 is getting backwards compatibility in the October update.

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.

Yea, I know, lets take this with a grain of salt. I know the PS3 is a powerful system and all, but considering that the best full software emulation on PCs can only pull between 5~12 FPS on a good day, I'm a little wary that the PS3 can do it. Maybe they've written some massive multi-threaded emulation behemoth, I don't know, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.

Seriously, if it is that important to you, snag a 80GB. Most of the titles you'll want to play will work and if that is not good enough, eBay a 60GB. Now, if you don't mind, I'm going to return to fantasizing about the Metal Gear Solid 4 bundle.

and here's the original German article for those who speak/read German perhaps they could say what exactly the article says:

Wir haben heiße Neuigkeiten für euch! In einem Gespräch zwischen uns und einem Sony Importhändler aus den USA, welcher nach Deutschland importiert, haben wir erfahren, dass die 40GB Variante der PS3 im Oktober abwärtskompatibel zu PS2 Spielen werden soll. Das ganze soll via eines Firmware Updates von statten gehen.

So fügte unser Kontaktmann scherzend hinzu, dass er nun schleunigst alle 60GB Modelle, welche er noch auf Vorrat habe, loswerden müsse, da sie nach Veröffentlichung der Firmware einen spürbaren Wertverlust erleiden würden. Dies klingt durchaus plausibel, da viele zum um einiges teureren 60GB Modell nur aufgrund der Abwärtskompatibilität greifen, was bei gleicher Funktionalität des 40GB Modells dann hinfällig werden würde.

Auf die Frage hin, wie dies von technischer Seite aussehen wird, wurde uns versichert, dass dies "zu 100% durch Software Emulation" geschehen soll. Laut des Händlers sei die Firmware für den Oktober geplant, zu hundert Prozent könne er dies aber nicht zusichern.

Wir können ebenfalls keine Garantie für die Richtigkeit dieser Meldung geben, die Tatsache jedoch, dass Sony unlängst ankündigte, auch PS2 Spiele über das PSN vertreiben zu wollen, macht diesen Schritt doch sehr wahrscheinlich.

Wir halten euch bei neuen Informationen auf dem Laufenden.