PS3 will not enhance PS2 games

Sony's Phil Harrison spills the beans on PS3 backwards compatibility and downloadable back catalogue.

1UP.com has been speaking with Harrison about all things backwards compatibility related. Firstly, the PlayStation 3 will not perform any visual enhancements to PlayStation 2 games - this includes increasing PS2 game resolution. Upscaling games to output at a higher resolution, like what happens to Xbox games on the Xbox 360, could still be a possibility.

"They are as exactly as they were," said Harrison, claiming that Sony preferred the games in their original form.

Harrison also said that the company plans to eventually have the entire PS1 back catalogue available to download/purchase from the PlayStation Store (excluding titles that can't be released because of legal issues such as expired licenses). One of the real bonuses will be getting to play games which are now almost impossible to get hold off - Harrison mentioned games such as Motor Toon Grand Prix and quirky rhythm game Vib Ribbon.

PS1 games will begin to populate the PlayStation store at the launch of the PS3, with Syphon Filter and Twisted Metal among the first. Although available to download through the PS3, the games will only be playable on the PSP, at least at first - the emulation software should be ready for the PS3 before the year end.

Another good feature of the downloadable PS1 games is that one download will enable you to play on both the PS3 and PSP, so you won't have to buy the game twice, once for the PSP and once for the PS3.

Of course, if you happen to own some PS1 games you can simply load them up from day one and play them on your PS3 - the same applies to PS2 software.