Can a PS3 play PS2 games?
November 22nd, 2009 | 
Author: I am planning on trading in my PS2 for a PS3 for Christmas this year. I dont want all my PS2 games to go to waste. I heard that only certain versions of the PS3 (80gb, 160gb, etc) play PS2 games. If so, how much do they cost? Does the PS3 have free live?
A list of PS2 games I want to be playable on the PS3:
Guitar Hero World Tour (including the drum, guitar, and mic controllers)
Guitar Hero Metallica
Guitar Hero Smash Hits
Thrillville
Call of Duty 1
Any response is helpful. Thanks
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ALL PS3s will play PS1 games. Make sure you check your PS1 game for compatibility here, as some PS1 games have some issues playing on the PS3. Just choose either model because all PS3s have the same PS1 software emulation.
http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
All PS3s that could play PS2 games are no longer in production.
The 20 and 60GB (NTSC) will play about 97% of PS2 games properly. It does NOT have FULL compatibility like a lot of people say. A few games will have issues playing. Go here for compatibility support.*
http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
The FIRST gen 80GB (from Metal Gear Solid 4 and Motorstorm bundles) and 60GB (PAL) have reduced PS2 compatibility. Some PS2 games have improved through firmware updates on backwards compatible PS3s. Again, go here for compatibility support.*
http://www.us.playstation.com/Support/CompatibleStatus
The 40GB, SECOND gen 80GB, 160GB, and PS3 slim will not play ANY PS2 games. There is no way to make them PS2 compatible.**
It has been confirmed by Sony that PS2 compatibility will not return to any future PS3 consoles.
http://www.joystiq.com/2009/08/20/sony-ps2-back-compat-not-returning-to-ps3-ever/
The PS2 software you see on the PlayStation Store does not make your PS3 backwards compatible if it isn’t already. It is used to emulate the fat PS2 Hard Drive Disk that was used for certain PS2 games, so this software is for backwards compatible models only.
* – If your PS3 has 4 USB ports, it is backwards compatible with PS2 games. But you have to know what GB model you have in order to tell if it has near-full compatibility or if it has reduced compatibility.
** – If your PS3 has only 2 USB ports, it will not play any PS2 games at all.
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For the PS2 Guitar Hero games, I can’t be sure if you can play them on a backwards compatible PS3 with the instruments. Your best bet is to trade those Guitar Hero games in and get the PS3 versions. Besides, the PS2 versions of those do not support online play.
PlayStation Network is free.
The cost of the backwards compatible models varies. They can be found on ebay, amazon, and some refurbished ones from gamestop.com.