Sony has patented a  new technology that allows the PlayStation 3’s Cell processor to understand and process code intended for the PlayStation 2’s Emotion Engine chip.i.e reintroducing PS2 emulation on PS3.

Actually first generation of  PS3  had backwards compatibility with the PS2, via hardware and later by software, but later this backward compatibility  was phased out to cut cost.

A patent discovered by Siliconera suggests that the backwards compatibility may return to the PlayStation 3.

According Siliconera this patent helps to “translate instructions from an Emotion Engine chip into chunks that can be referenced” (the Emotion Engine is the main processor for the PS2). The patent specifically mentions the Cell Processor, which of course is the CPU core for the PS3.In theory this would  open the door for both on-disc and down-loadable PS2 games to be played on all PS3 consoles.

From Siliconera:

Figure 2 from the patent is a schematic drawing of how the system works. Figure 3A is a drawing of the PlayStation 2’s chipset. Figure 3B is the emotion engine. Figure 4 is where the whole story gets interesting! It’s “an example of a host system based on a cell processor that may be configured to emulate the target system.” The target is figure 3B, the Emotion Engin

It’s also interesting that this method needs no hardware modification. You will need to update firmware on your PS3 to enable emulation.If this is the case, many PS3 owners (including myself) will be happy .

This is all speculation, though, so don’t be surprised if Firmware 3.0 is announced and we hear no word about backwards compatibility.

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