Sony Lists Games Compatible with EU’s PS3

By Geoff Duncan March 20, 2007

Sony Lists Games Compatible with EU

Sony recently announced it has made changes to its PlayStation 3 video game console it will be offering to European customers beginning March 23. In a cost-cutting move, Sony has replaced legacy hardware chips which let the next-generation video game system emulate a PlayStation 2 console with a software-based emulation system. The result? The revised PlayStation 3 systems are backward compatible with fewer PlayStation 2 games. Although a software-based system can, in theory, be updated to improve compatibility and performance over time, Sony didn’t seem very interested, noting that it preferred to focus on PS3-exclusive technologies rather than work on PS2 backward compatibility.

As one might imagine, potential PlayStation 3 customers responded to the news of reduced backward compatibility with something less than overwhelming enthusiasm. In an effort to avoid adding another episode to Sony’s recent list of public relations disasters, Sony is publishing lists of PS2 and PSOne games and rating their compatibility with the European edition of the PlayStation 3. Games are rated at three levels: playing with no known issues on the PS3, playing with minor issues, or playing with noticeable issues.

If a game is not listed at all, “emulation is not yet supported on PlayStation 3.”

In order to play older games, new PlayStation 3 owners will need to download and install updated firmware. The firmware update also includes a Folding@Home client, as well as suport for Bluetooth wireless input devices and an optional on-screen keyboard.

Sony says it will continue compatibility testing and add additional titles to its compatibility list with future firmware upgrades. However, Sony re-emphasized its focus is not in providing complete backward compatibility, but in moving forward to develop the PlayStation 3 platform.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Gaming

PlayStation State of Play returns this week, will feature 14 PS5 games

Three colorful PS5s float together in a line.

PlayStation will kick off the summer of digital video game reveal streams this week with a State of Play broadcast. The stream will take place at 3 p.m. PT on Thursday, May 30.

State of Play is one of Sony's primary livestream presentation formats. It tends to be slightly shorter than the company's flagship stream, the PlayStation Showcase. This State of Play is a significant one, though, as Sony's slate of first-party games for 2024 is entirely unknown at this stage. This stream should shed some light on what's coming later this year.

Gaming

The best games on PlayStation Plus, Extra, and Premium

A person plays Crash Bandicoot using a PS5 DualSense controller.

PlayStation Plus has undergone several iterations and changes since its introduction. Originally, the service wasn't required for online play at all and rewarded subscribers with extra discounts and free monthly games. Once the PlayStation 4 generation began, it was required for online play, but still offered those same benefits.

Now, PS Plus is divided into three different tiers of subscriptions. The basic tier, PS Plus Essential, still gets three games per month added, while the Extra and Premium tiers will have a varying number of games added to their catalogs. With hundreds of games already and more coming and going all the time, even the most dedicated gamer won't be able to play everything on offer. To help you get the most bang for your buck and so that no hidden gems fly under your radar, here are all the best games to play on PS Plus Essential, Extra, and Premium right now.
Best PS Plus Essential games
As is usually the case, everyone with the lowest tier of PS Plus gets three games this month, two with PlayStation 5 versions and one with a PS4 version. Here's what you can play this month:

Gaming

PS Plus’ supersized June lineup includes Tomb Raider, PSVR2 games, and more

tomb raider legend screenshot

PS Plus is is adding more games than usual to its game library in June. The service will get 14 games, with some rolling out on June 4. That list includes AEW Fight Forever, Tomb Raider: Legend, and five PlayStation VR2 games.

Sony's PS Plus subscription service has been hit-or-miss since its rebrand a few years back. Though its struggled to put out consistent content, especially retro games, its June lineup shows Sony making its biggest push yet to court subscribers. And its bringing some heavy hitters along to help with that.