Following the announcement a few weeks ago that Sony will utilise a new hardware specification for the European version of the PS3, Japanese newspaper Nikkei have shed some light on the subject.

Backwards compatibility with the PS2 will be limited in Europe due to a chip being removed from the console. The cost cutting move is an attempt to claw back some of the cost of the production of the PS3, which is currently costing the company every time a console sells in the US and Japan. The whole issue is still hazy, thanks to Sony's blanket ban on any developers talking about the console and the only details we know about the missing chip is that it is a 'Sony-made microchip that offers graphic- and data-processing functions for PS2 games'. Is this in addition to the Emotion Engine which Sony say they have removed from the European console? We have no idea. In fact, things are getting more confusing by the day when it comes to the PS3.

It's not all bad news though, Nikkei are reporting that Sony may distribute software emulation that will enable us to play our PS2 games.

Hopefully, Sony will step forward and make an official announcement to the world shortly so we can all clean up this mess.

Source :: Washington Post