Rumour: PS2 Emulator Coming to PlayStation 3

Could a PlayStation 2 software emulator be coming to all PlayStation 3's in the near future?

Yes we know your launch PlayStation 3 plays PlayStation 2 games. Good for you. However, with a necessary chip missing from recent models, the rest of us are left in the lurch.

So here comes the rumour that Sony is looking into the problem. In order to keep the PS3's price down the originally included PS2 chips were cut out (look here to see the reformed PS3 board), so the only solution is to develop software emulation. Reportedly anyone who's up to the challenge can enter the frame.

The rumour comes from NeoGAF member Meph who recounts what was told to him by a Sony representative (openly described as a 'tool'). The story goes that Sony might be willing to buy a PlayStation 2 emulator for the future.

"He mentioned that since the PS2 has just 1 year left on its life-cycle not to expect them to develop anything new with regards to backwards compatibility," says Meph.

"He then leans in and lowers his voice, as if to tell me some deep dark secret and mentions that Sony may be willing to potentially buy a PS2 emulator to put in future consoles."

According to Meph this similarly happened with PlayStation 1 backwards compatibility in the PlayStation 2.

How exactly an independent coder could create a PlayStation 2 emulator without a PlayStation 3 development kit, we're unawares, but intriguing nonetheless.