One of the driving factors behind my early adoption of the PS3 was the fact that I could play all my PS2 games on it thanks to the Emotion Engine Chip that it had under the hood. In subsequent SKU’s, that hardware was removed, and Sony even said that they were focused on moving forward without it.
Well, that may be changing in the near future. According to Siliconera, Sony has secured a U.S. Patent for the technology that will apparently allow the Cell Processor in the PS3 to emulate the Emotion Engine of the PS2.
Couple this with the rumors of a price cut and the release of the PS3 Slim this fall, and you start to think that Sony may have a fundamental strategy shift under way.
After all, allowing the PS3′s Cell processor to emulate the Emotion Engine would allow Sony to sell PS2 titles via digital distribution on the PlayStation Store. Not only that, but couple that with the 160GB PS3 becoming the lead SKU, and you see a lot of storage that can be used for downloadable games.
This seems to be the business model Sony is trending towards, as evidenced by the UMD-less PSP Go. Tie in the price cut (rumored to be as much as $100), and you have a massive library of available games for a system that would be sneaking in under $300.
Now, all of this is speculation, of course. I just can’t seem to come up with any other reason for the patent to be filed other than backwards compatibility for the PS3. Here’s hoping that we see a fall firmware update that gives everyone the ability to play their PS2 games in their PS3.
Now if I could just get my PS3 to print out hundreds like the one in the image above…I doubt that’s coming in firmware anytime soon.
5 Comments to Sony Grabs Patent for Cell Processor Based Emotion Engine
by: Andy Syrewicze
On June 30, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Backwards compatibility would indeed be a good thing for the PS3. Them removing it in the latest version is one reason I think you’ve seen that system not do as well as the others.
The re-introduction of PS2 compatibility, the ability to obtain PS2 games digitally, and a price cut would make the PS3 hard too pass up indeed.
Great post!
Cheers!
by: Erik
On June 30, 2009 at 8:11 pm
SO basically, the new PS3 is going to better and cheaper, where the older ps3s are less advanced and still at the 400 dollar mark. I dont get it. Unless they make the old PS3 even cheaper than the newer one, all the old PS3 wont sell.
by: ManOfTeal
On July 1, 2009 at 6:58 am
What does that mean for those of us that have one of the PS3′s that doesn’t have backwards compatibility with the PS2? I guess we are screwed unless we buy another PS3…Thanks Sony. Go Marlns!!!!
by: ManOfTeal
On July 1, 2009 at 7:01 am
Ok I commented before I read after the cut but we are still getting screwed because if I want to play any PS2 games I’ll hve to purchase them again from the Playstation Store….THAT BLOWS!!!! Go Marlins!!!!
by: Katt D.
On July 1, 2009 at 11:53 am
I don’t currently own a PS3. I do have an aging PS2 and a lot of games to play on it.
I’d definitely think very VERY hard about buying a PS3 with the Emotion Engine Chip or equivalent that will allow me to play my PS2 games on it.