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Home Europe updates

40GB PlayStation 3 confirmed with no PS2 backwards compatability

11:23 AM on 10.05.2007, Nick Chester 74 comments

40GB PlayStation 3 confirmed with no PS2 backwards compatability photo
     Europe

Hey, would you look at this? It appears that the long rumored 40 GB PlayStation 3 is indeed a reality. Confirmed for Europe today (still waiting on a US confirmation), the 40 GB model will hit stores on October 10, and will cost €399.

The new model will be Wi-Fi compatible, and will have an HDMI port, as well. The  40 GB model will only two USB 2.0 ports (as opposed to four), and the mult-memory card port has been done away with as well. Sony points out that those last two features can be added at a later date with "readily available aftermarket accessories." 

Wanna know something that can't be added with an aftermarket accessory? PlayStation 2 backwards computability. That's right, this new model is no longer compatible with PS2 titles, "reflecting both the reduced emphasis placed on this feature among later purchasers of PS3, as well as the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles." I think Sony worded that last sentence confusing on purpose, as to trick us into thinking that the lack of PS2 software support was a good thing. It didn't work.

No word on a US release (yet), but if we had to guesss, it's a done deal.


Next page: More Sony stories




qo_op's Avatar
qo_op at 10/05/2007 11:24
is no backwards compatibility really an issue when everybody and their mom has a ps2? No.
Variable Gear's Avatar
Variable Gear at 10/05/2007 11:26
I know an aftermarket part that can give the PS3 full backwards compatibility with PS1 and PS2.

It is called the PS2 Slim, and it will be in stores nationwide...now.

Why don't you buy one with the money you save on your PS3 'Core System!'
JamesSorensen's Avatar
JamesSorensen at 10/05/2007 11:26
go-op:

it only matter to us blog reader kids... the general public will see a new cheaper ps3 and not care, they will buy.
Dale North's Avatar
Dale North at 10/05/2007 11:28
go_op beat me to it:
Really, who doesn't have a PS2?

I would think, after Sony finally giving people what they've been asking for (assuming the $399 p.p.), bitching about not being able to play PS2 games is just....bitching.
Nick Chester's Avatar
Nick Chester at 10/05/2007 11:29
I agree, it's not a huge deal for me, but it's a HUGE deal for other people. My wife, being one. She loves that we can move the PS2 to another room, or get rid of it entirely.
AltDelete's Avatar
AltDelete at 10/05/2007 11:31
@ qo_op

True, but I only have so many ports on the back of my telly, and even with a switcher, I wouldn't have room for a PS3 and a PS2.

And it seems like it would take extra effort to remove a feature your system already has? I'm sure this saves them $1.27 a console or something, but honestly? This is a dealbreaker for me, at least.
AgentMOO's Avatar
AgentMOO at 10/05/2007 11:32
Fuck BC, I'd rather spend my money on the hardware for the games published on that platform. The engineering that goes into developing the emulators isn't free, you're paying for it in your console prices.

Unless it's 100%, bc is worthless. Games are a non-returnable item so I'm not going to buy something at the store if there's a chance it's not going to play on my system. Plus with emulation, "working" titles often have weird timing and/or graphics glitches. The old systems are dirt cheap refurbed, just buy one of those.
Artadius's Avatar
Artadius at 10/05/2007 11:39
No BC at all? Or just no BC chip...i.e. software emulation only?
twesterm's Avatar
twesterm at 10/05/2007 11:40
Just when you thought they couldn't do anything dumber...
DinnertimeNinja's Avatar
DinnertimeNinja at 10/05/2007 11:46
More important question:

How can it have "No backwards compatibility" when the recent crop of PS3s use SOFTWARE emulation that is installed and updated through system updates?

Will this PS3 simply SKIP those updates? Seems removing sofware BC would save ZERO money AND make the system seem less valuable.
Anarpis's Avatar
Anarpis at 10/05/2007 11:52
Sure the console is $100 less, but if you want to play PS1 or PS2 games, you've got to drop $130 to buy a PS2... so unless have interest in zero PS2 games, why even bother for this model, because unless you already have a PS2 you're just going to end up dropping the same amount of money just to play them
Hoygeit's Avatar
Hoygeit at 10/05/2007 11:57
@DinnertimeNinja
Haha, beat me to the punch on that one.

No BC is certainly not a deal breaker by any stretch of the imagination.

It is a matter of convenience however as for those with limited ports to their television who don’t want to rely on a splitter (such as myself). It is nice having to pop in a PS2 game in a PS3 or a Gamecube game into the Wii rather then getting the system out. It’s not terribly difficult to hook up other systems but having the same functionality for overall less space is nice.
Dale North's Avatar
Dale North at 10/05/2007 12:02
but, overall, saying that you're not going to buy a PS3 because you can't play ps2 games on it? Makes little sense to me
Quix's Avatar
Quix at 10/05/2007 12:05
"The 40 GB model will only two USB 2.0 ports (as opposed to four)"

Wooo-hoooo!!! With that 50 cents saved in manufacturing costs, I predict PS3 profitability in...2025. Go, Sony, go!
CypherVR's Avatar
CypherVR at 10/05/2007 12:06
"No backwards compatability, thats called shooting yourself in the foot."

more like blowing your fucking face off, goddamn sony - this is fail of epic proportions

1 SKU/1 Console , stop making so many different consoles
RskimB's Avatar
RskimB at 10/05/2007 12:08
I can live with no bc for $400
ceark's Avatar
ceark at 10/05/2007 12:10
...

that sucks for anyone who buys this model. a majority of the games I play on my PS3 are still PS2 games (cause there are still a shit ton of good ps2 games coming out). honestly, I actually like the ps2 games on the ps3 more. saves space, I don't have to lug out the old ps2 and hook it up everytime I want to play it, and I have shit ton of virtual memory cards so no dealing with bullcrap 20 dollar memory cards taht only have 8 megs on them.
bhive01's Avatar
bhive01 at 10/05/2007 12:11
Yeah, that really doesn't make much sense to me. I mean the European PS3's don't have the EE chip in them to save teh monies, but still retain backwards compatibility through software emulation. Why don't they just use the software emulation? Makes no sense...

How much does it cost to put in two USB ports vs four? Can't be that much. I have a 20GB PS3 and never missed the card reader.
mikecs83's Avatar
mikecs83 at 10/05/2007 12:26
No upscaling. No PS2 games. We've Heavenly Sword and that's about it. The 40GB might be a better price point, but it loses those awesome extras that make the PS3 so valuable. How expensive was the emulation software really? Couldn't they have just shelled out the couple extra bucks.


******

Michael C. Sherrin
http://www.prodigeek.com/
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 10/05/2007 12:26
100,000,000 ps2s say that BC doesn't really make that much of a difference.
king3vbo's Avatar
king3vbo at 10/05/2007 12:28
I was gonna say that a 400 dollar (not euro) ps3 would be when I would buy it, but if it doesnt have backwards compatibility... then I dunno. I have 2 ps2s but one of them is a launch system thats almost dead and the other... well you never know.
IceMax's Avatar
IceMax at 10/05/2007 12:28
I wish they they still made the 60gb with full backwards compatibility :(. i have a boatlaod of ps2 games that i still play, and if i wanted a ps3, i'd like to sell my ps2 to help cover the cost of the ps3.
owenkun's Avatar
owenkun at 10/05/2007 12:28
Despite the price drop, I'm actually happy I bought mine when it still had hardware-based BC onboard. I'll consider the extra I paid the cost of having perfect BC capabilities.
linuxguy's Avatar
linuxguy at 10/05/2007 12:29
To make this clear for everyone
they removed the EE ship from the ps3 but to achieve BC they still
had the graphics synthesizer and some IO chips in so they are
saving on 40 GB models
JonDarkwood's Avatar
JonDarkwood at 10/05/2007 12:35
Welcome to the Build-a-PS3 Workshop. Why do they need a different model for every freaking option?
Hoygeit's Avatar
Hoygeit at 10/05/2007 12:44
I’d say not having BC might be a factor in which of the PS3 versions one would purchase. I can’t imagine it will affect one’s desire to purchase the system entirely. You’re still getting a system that plays PS3 games and a Blu-Ray player (which isn’t too bad for $400).
Ed Cetera's Avatar
Ed Cetera at 10/05/2007 12:49
Well, as long as they don't discontinue the models that do have BC, that seems to be OK.
brainderailment's Avatar
brainderailment at 10/05/2007 13:03
What the hell is up with everyone saying they have too many models? there are 3 now and phasing out one of those. That would make 2. It's no Core(with & w/o HDMI)<Premium(with & w/o HDMI)<Halo<Elite. That is when you have too many models.
You fucking asked for a cheaper PS3, and you got one.
STFUAJPG!
Bertsura's Avatar
Bertsura at 10/05/2007 13:04
Seems like a good deal but no BC is unfortunate.
Papapishu's Avatar
Papapishu at 10/05/2007 13:14
Here's a theory: They LEFT OUT software support simply to give more people a reason to buy the higher priced SKU. Stupid, I know, but it's a very stupid sony-esque thing to do.
linuxguy's Avatar
linuxguy at 10/05/2007 13:19
people look at my last post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Necros's Avatar
Necros at 10/05/2007 13:20
Lack of compatibility is never a good thing.
GayBear22's Avatar
GayBear22 at 10/05/2007 13:30
Considering that my library of PS3 games is all PS2 games I used to own on my PS2, I'd say this is a dumb move for a PS2 user looking to trade in his old system and hang onto his games.

Bad move sony.

My 20 GB PS3 just got even more valuable.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 10/05/2007 13:30
a ps3 that doesn't play ps2 games is completely useless.
Danmartigan's Avatar
Danmartigan at 10/05/2007 13:40
PS3 = fail
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 10/05/2007 13:55
Gotta save some money.
DGX Goggles's Avatar
DGX Goggles at 10/05/2007 13:56
Wow, so what do I play when I get bored with Resistance? Epic fail.
windexwindex's Avatar
windexwindex at 10/05/2007 14:04
funny you managed to misspell COMPATIBILITY in two different ways in the same article
PetiePal's Avatar
PetiePal at 10/05/2007 14:17
Wow Sony is really shooting themselves in the foot with this one. 3/4 of the reason I'd upgrade would be bound upon the fact that I could play PS2 titles (such as Guitar Hero 1 & 2) forever without having to own my PS2 Phat.

The price cut does not justify less functionality. Sony why are you divebombing!
MrFrunkus's Avatar
MrFrunkus at 10/05/2007 14:20
Ok, I currently own a 20GB Ps3 that I upgraded to 120GB. I am currently PISSED at Sony for limiting the 40 GB unit so much. Supposedly the current systems run PS2 games through an emulator ala Xbox360. While I still think that was stupid, it at least had the option to play some games no matter how crappy. Also it gives Sony to improve compatibility in the future with firmware updates again like the Xbox360. If I didnt already have a PS3, I would not mind the loss of the memorycard reader and the loss of 2 USB ports...I barely use the four that are on mine. But removing SOFTWARE BC is a slap in the face of a Sony fan and just exemplifies the fact that Sony has lost base with there fans and loyal customers. I hope Sony gets enough backlash so they change there minds. Remember my friends when sony almost nixxed HDMI from the 20GB unit? If people didn't bitch and moan, I wouldn't have HDMI, and I wouldnt of saved the $100 on my PS3 (to me the 60gbHD/Wireless/Memory Card Reader were useless anyway). Someone start a petetion, my Fellow Playstationers write angery email we have to slam sony so they keep BC on the 40GB unit. I want more gamers to enjoy Ratchet, Drake, and WarHawk. If Sony keeps screwing us gamers they will end up screwing themselves and , like Sega, become a Game Publisher for better platforms like the Wii and the Xbox 360.
method47's Avatar
method47 at 10/05/2007 14:23
Now when do we see the 80GB drop in price. That'll be the day I go to Best Buy.
TheHunter234's Avatar
TheHunter234 at 10/05/2007 14:31
I was really close to buying a PS3 once they released this model, but the lack of backwards compatibility was the deal-breaker. Come on Sony, work with me here; I really want to buy your product, but you keep fucking it up.
Morrius's Avatar
Morrius at 10/05/2007 14:34
Aaah, the sweet smell of bullshit. Removing software emulation lowers the cost? My ass. I've long since given up on waiting for an excuse to buy a PS3. Who wants a console that might be good in a few years when you can have one that is good right now for less?
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 10/05/2007 14:36
Here's an idea, if you haven't bought the system yet, and are still playing ps2 games and don't anticipating stopping anytime soon then why not just keep doing that? People have been asking for a cheaper ps3 well here it is, if you want BC then pony up and get the other one. At least you have a choice, get the one with BC or not. The last ps2 game I played on my ps3 was God of War 2, after I beat it I haven't gone back to it yet. Grand Theft and all the others are either sold or collecting dust in my basement. If you haven't bought a ps3 yet and still love playing your ps2 then by all means keep doing it.
bbrigg1's Avatar
bbrigg1 at 10/05/2007 15:00
Fuck Sony for this. Can i get an amen?
bbrigg1's Avatar
bbrigg1 at 10/05/2007 15:04
better yet, can I get some more "fuck sony"s?
Android8675's Avatar
Android8675 at 10/05/2007 15:07
I love hearing things like this because it basically confirms that my Halo XBox I bought last week is the last console I need to buy for a LONG TIME.

Thank you Sony for saving me from spending more money on consoles. Keep those PS2 games coming!

-A, proud owner of the PS2Wii60 PC.
balth's Avatar
balth at 10/05/2007 15:09
Well, it will give the price point people have been complaining about, although for once I feel quite happy with my 60Gb Model :)
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