It will and must play PS1, PS2, and PS3 games, and maybe even hop over to Dreamcast games.

PS1: Everything with the name "Playstation" in it plays PS1 games. PS,PS1,PSX,PS2,PS3,PSP... They all play PS1 games. Besides, it wont be that much trouble to emulate PS1 on PS4!

PS2: Everyone complained.. or at least enough people did for Sony to see that people still want this. The PS2 probably wont STILL be selling by then, so, they wont loose anything by emulating it. Think about it.. The PS2 sold like crazy and no one wanted PSX. So, emulating it wouldn't hurt sales. However, the PS2 is STILL selling. So, don't even expect PS3 to have emulation until PS2 sales dry up.

After the PS2 stops selling, they can still make money off the games by putting them all on PSN. Why would the PS4 not be able to play something found on PSN?

PS3: Same reason as before, there are too many PS3 games on PSN for the PS4 to not be able to download/play any. Although if the PS3 gets over that 1 cent in PS3 earnings mark, and starts making MONEY, we may not see this being emulated from the start.

PS4 will probably be released at 399.99 with a 500MB or 1TB HDD in 2013.

Man if the PS4 had Backwards compatibility with all previous Sony consoles would be so awesome! I'd be willing to pay for online if its as good as live too. If its not as good as live then it had better be free.

BC support and OtherOS were stripped for cost reasons.  PS4 will use 'old tech' made cheap during the PS3's lifetime (faster Cell, faster blu-ray drive, with a new beefy GPU) so I think those cost issues may not arise with the PS4 and both BC and OtherOS are definitely plausible.  I expect PS4 can launch in late 2012 at a max of $399 and Sony could be breaking even or making a profit on each unit.  It's even possible they could launch at $299.

You fanboys should just give it up you sound really really desperate.

If you want a console for say $2000 it may happen. It costs money for backwards compatibility.

I think they will have an advfanced PSN by then, PS2 and lots of PS3 games will be available through there.

I hope they build the PS4 right, and re-use most parts for the PS3. PS3's life cycle is almost half over, and it hasnt even used its full power on any game yet,.

I'm just asking a question. What I don't like is how Sony feels it's okay to take something away and then say it's the same product and I don't want to see it happen again.

I love how you dont even know what the OS is, and you want it to come back
in the PS4!!! HAHAAHAH :)

I never even said I wanted the Linux option back. I don't use it on my PS3. But it seems like some people liked and it makes you wonder if Sony might bring it back some day. So okay I know what the option is.

It better at least have PS3 BC