I am pretty shocked at this news article (link). The Inquirer just got their PAL PS3, and like all European and Australian journalists probably should have done, the first thing they did was test out the software backwards compatability. They tried out: God of War MGS 2: Sons of Liberty MGS 3: Snake Eater Shadow of the Colossus Guitar Hero 2 Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones Okami GTA: Liberty City Stories Eragon Final Fantasy X-2 Ratchet & Clank 3 Lumines Plus Success rate? One game out of twelve ran. Eragon. Now, before you all go getting your knickers in a twist, there's a good chance that the actual units sold next week will either have an updated firmware version (1.6) installed, or at worst it will be waiting for customers when they get home.

Wow. I hope for those working customer service for Sony in Europe that they have this rectified in the machines that are actually being sold!

*anxiously awaits Kwaad's turning this into a good thing* If that isn't fixed by launch, I wouldn't be suprised to see preorders canceled over that one.

If you read the actual source. They said "launch versions will probibally have v1.6 on it. So obviously the PS3 they tested it on was a 1.54 (or something been there and 1.59) Not gonna say this is good. But the thing is. I always thought the software emulator's full power was coming with V2.0 I thought the European units were coming with V2.0 installed on them? If not, it's gonna be a update that comes out within a week. The question is, what will come on the shiped version? The early bird units have problems, their documented. That is like saying. "This machine is totally broke and dont work." when sony said on the early bird unit paperwork. "This and this and this, isnt gonna be avaliable until version x.xx" EDIT: And Version 2.0 is coming very soon as well.

Yeah, its just like the 360. Start out with only a couple of bc titles a few months later big sellers will work. Plus sony will make sure that a huge margin of their catalog will work, eventually. I bet within 6 mos nobody will be whining about it.

I say at least 50% compatablity within 2 weeks of launch. You have to rember. They are runing V1.54 to 1.59 I have V1.54. Whatever version they have, I'm like 90% sure the software emulator isnt complete. (hell, they say that)

http://www.playthree.net/2007/03/european-ps3-has-over-1200-compatible.html European PS3 has over 1200 compatible PS2 titles (and rising). I've just come back from the ThreeSpeech.com Playstation 3 event at 3Rooms in London. It was encouraging to see some of the fattest and nerdiest bloggers out in force. Phil Harrison basically gave a recap of his presentation at the GDC. Although there wasn't any new revelations, the demonstraton of Playstation Home went down very well with a couple of people gushing praise. * The Playstation Home team are working to allow people meeting in Home to launch directly into a game. * Phil said Sony are looking at ways for people to sell items to one another, however they do not want to become a bank and take on the responsibility and regulations that entails. * There is a long-term plan to allow people outside a cinema/movie theatre in home, to 'go in' and download the film to their PS3. * Possibly some aspects of Playstation Home will be accessible via the PSP, obviously limited by its hardware. * Phil did confirm that the PAL/Euro version of the Playstation 3 currently has over 1200 compatible PS2 titles, with more to be added to the list by the time the console launches. This will be via a necessary firmware upgrade to 1.6 (the consoles were shipped over 4 weeks ago.) * The Sony PR man said that a new HD camera and mic. with spatial awareness will be coming later in the year. Also downloaded PS1 games playable on the PS3 will happen- but later this year. So, very pleased to hear that the PS2 issue is being actively worked on.

1200 compatible titles? So that would put them at the 50% mark with a simple firmware upgrade.

Why don't they just get it right the first time? I, (and this is most liely only me), don't have access to the internet yet (unless I go to the library or my dad's house) so what about people like me bascially if I can't access the internet I can't play old PS2 games. I think you should just get it right the first time.