The first versions of the PlayStation 3 to hit shelves will offer complete backwards compatibility with PS2 and PS1 titles by including a version of the PS2 hardware in the system, according to a report in a Japanese technology magazine.
Ultra One magazine is this month reporting that the core chipset of the PS2 will be built into early revisions of the PS3 hardware, thereby providing full emulation of the PlayStation back catalogue.
According to Ultra One, the emulation software which would accomplish the same task without any dedicated hardware, and which GamesIndustry.biz first reported on back in April, will be included in future versions of the PS3 once Sony is satisfied with its ability to fully support the back catalogue.