Certain iterations of Sony’s PlayStation 3 console offered backwards compatibility, allowing users to experience games originally designed for the PlayStation 2. This functionality permitted consumers to play their existing library of older games on newer hardware, extending the lifespan and value of their software collection. Not all PS3 models included this feature.
The inclusion of such compatibility proved beneficial to consumers, reducing the need to maintain multiple consoles and providing continued access to a vast catalog of games. It also represented a competitive advantage in the console market, appealing to players invested in the PlayStation ecosystem. Early PS3 models utilized either hardware or software emulation to achieve this, resulting in varying degrees of accuracy and performance.