PS3 Slim Backwards Compatible

Ever since it was revealed to the world, many people have asked, "Is the PS3 Slim backwards compatible?" While the vast majority of gamers are well ensconced in the current generation of games on the Nintendo Wii, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3, many still yearn to play the games from the previous generation. Can the PS3 Slim do that?

The original PlayStation 3 launched in 2006 around the same time as the Nintendo Wii. It represented the most expensive home video game console at the time, but it was also the only one to offer full 1080p video games and Blu-ray playback capabilities.

Since then, the PS3 has gone through several iterations that have adjusted some of its inner workings, including the size of the internal hard drive and its ability to play legacy PlayStation 2 games. With the arrival of the PS3 Slim, gamers are offered a larger 120GB hard drive and a smaller form factor at the same price they would have otherwise paid for the 80GB PS3 "Phat" model. Are there any other sacrifices?

Going through the different versions of the PS3 that have been released in the last three years, the level of backwards compatibility has changed substantially. Some models have PS2 compatibility based on the hardware, whereas other models have offered PS2 backwards compatibility through a software-based solution.

Looking at the PS3 Slim comparison, enthusiasts have wondered about the PS3 Slim backwards compatible features. While a software or firmware update may be released at some point in the future, it seems that the PS3 Slim cannot play legacy PS2 game discs out of the box.

The PS2 still appears to be a supported platform for Sony and new games are still being released on it, but these games will not work on the PS3 Slim at the present time. In making a less expensive and smaller model, Sony had to make certain sacrifices for the PS3 Slim. Support for PS2 games appears to have been lost in the transition.

Just as there are many versions of the original "phat" PlayStation 3, it would not at all be surprising if Sony decided to released multiple versions of the PS3 Slim at some point in the future. These new models could come with larger hard drives, different colors, and slightly different features.

In this way, it is possible that PS2 support could be coming to a future edition of the PS3 Slim, though nothing has been officially announced to suggest this possibility. Gamers will have to take a "wait and see" approach in the months and years to follow.

Since there are so many good PlayStation 3 games, the vast majority of people who are interested in the system likely will not need PS2 backwards compatibility. In addition to the regular full retail releases of games on the PS3, the console also has access to a vast library of titles through the PlayStation Network in the form of downloadable content.

Through the PlayStation Network, or PSN for short, PS3 owners have the ability to purchase original content as well as versions of games that had been released in the past on other consoles. The lack of PS3 Slim backwards compatible support is unfortunate, but it is unlikely to be something that is a deal-breaker for most people.

The bigger decision faced by more people is whether they should buy the PS3 or Xbox 360, since the two consoles are now available at roughly the same price and both consoles offer a wide range of great games. Many games, like Guitar Hero 5 and Street Fighter IV, are available on both consoles and at about the same price.

Which system is for you? That's up to you to decide.

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