40GB PS3 official for Europe -- no backwards compatibility, at all

by Alexander Sliwinski on Oct 5th 2007 12:23PM

Sony has announced that the 40GB version of the PS3 will enter the European market on Oct. 10th, for a price of €399 ($565). The unit sports only two USB ports (instead of four) and does not include the multi-memory ports. And, in a move we absolutely cannot understand, the new model is not backwards compatible with PS2 discs. Seriously.

Since BC is handled by software emulation (in the 80GB model), why is it gone from the 40-gigger? It's not that DVD support has been removed from the Blu-ray drive, as Sony continues to hype DVD movie upscaling. But the official line is, "the new model is no longer backwards compatible with PlayStation 2 titles, reflecting both the reduced emphasis placed on this feature amongst later purchasers of PS3, as well as the availability of a more extensive line-up of PS3 specific titles." Extensive? Don't even get us started...

If BC's on your checklist, you best scoop up a Starter Pack (now €499) "while stocks last."

[Via PS3 Fanboy]

Source

Tags: 40gb, breakingnews, europe, price, ps3

Reader Comments (297)

Wow Myke....I am speechless. Not a single insult thrown out at us others? No defense? Wow, I will admit if it was MS and some feature they hyped then nixed I would not try and defend them. Maybe you are not all that bad.

I appreciate your understanding my fellow gamer. I'm a fan of all gaming and ALL consoles. I bought a PS3 cause I knew it would be able to do more than game. And as we ALL know, most people just wanna game but IMO its well worth the $ I paid for it. I tell you and everybody this, on the rate SONY is going with crap like this, if they dont have custom soundtracking by the end of the year, I may have to "Jump In" instead of "Playing B3YOND". As a man or an adult, Sometimes you gotta swallow your pride and roll w/ the punches. Even if you dont agree. Its Life. I call Truce!

Peace to everybody in the gaming community! Game On!

Looks like I'll buy a PS3 now and as for backwards computability I have... a PS2!!!!

win win

The more things change, the more things stay the same.
Look at your Falcon chip, barely a month old and it goes Kaput.
http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8135/dsc03163pc6.jpg

My heaven has a Beer Volcano

double posting SDF retard

@Flying Spaghetti Monster
Cool...I hope you get hit by a pryoclastic flow.

Silly man, you see BEER is cold. Hense, no pyroclastic flow.

My heaven also has a Stripper Factory.

At Sony Headquarters:

[Guy 1] The PS3 isn't selling!
[Guy 2] What can we do?
[Guy 1] I don't know!
[Guy 3] I have a great idea!
[Guy 1] What?
[Guy 3] Remove Backwards compatibility!
[Guy 2] Great idea!

*One week Later*

[Guy 2] The PS3 still isn't selling!
[Guy 1] I have a better idea! Remove the Disk drive, and charge $100 less!
[Guy 3] Brilliant!

**Two Weeks Later**

[Guy 3] Still not selling!
[Guy 4] You guys idea's suck.
[Guy 2] You have a better idea?
[Guy 4] Of course! Remove the controllers and the Wifi again, and charge $100 less!
[Guy 1] How will they play?
[Guy 4] With their minds!
[Sony] GENIUS.

Now if only they'd get rid of Blu-ray.

Right, that makes sense. No Blu-ray? No Uncharted, no HS, no RaC, no Killzone2, no MGS4, no FF13 and on and on and on. Think b4 you post eehjutt.

They'll still be there, only on multiple DVDs.

Eehjutt.

Or another alternative, no Blu-Ray would mean THOSE games would appear in different forms, i.e. eschewing 10 GB of audio bullshit. Heavenly Sword was how short? What was that audio data used for? The 1% of the population with super-duper 88000.123972 DTX surround sound?

Sounds like Sony trying to justify price points between the different versions. Software emulation seems like it would be possible but Sony wants to sell the more expensive SKU.
Just another bad decision in a long line of them.

That's my bet. I doubt cutting that chip saves them more than $10.

Silly man..heaven is a figment of mans imagination to try and explain the unexplainable.
LOL. Good comeback though!!

Shhh! Don't say it too loud. The religious police of vice and virtue might hear you. AKA Fernando

Sure, but it's nice to believe in something even though the chances of it actually being the way you think it is being near zero, isn't it?

Seriously you guys, backwards-compatability is so last-gen...come on, get with the times for chrissakes.

@booxatron

Yeah so was rumble...

Another Sony PS3 'tard Pack.

The only one not coming out with 'tard packs is Nintendo's Wii not taking into consideration of Nintendo's bazillion DS/Lite/GameBoy iterations.

Every single day, I swear, the PS3 loses yet another game or feature. By this time next year I bet the thing will *only* be able to play BluRay movies.

And a bargain price for that feature alone!

Perhaps emulation'll be added on as a DLC for people who want it that much?

or maybe they sell each individual game like they do with the psn? Make more money like that.

I was mad until I realized that I had a PS2.

When I want to get a PS3, I'll probably just get a 60 GB version from eBay.

Until then, I can always hope that this is Europe only and/or Sony allows backwards compatibility through a free download or something.

The Graphics Synthesizer was removed from the 40GB PS3. It wasn't fully software emulation.

What kind of research do the people running these blogs do? Or do they just like to create drama for hits?

I think they like to create drama, that's it!

Its amazing how many Sony apologists there are in this thread. This is just another hatchet in the back of the monstrousity that is the PS3.

I was on the fence about someday getting a PS3 once the price became reasonable, now I'm teetering toward the 'no way in hell' side after being hit upside the head by this big rock thrown by Sony.

And not all of us are 30+ working adults. When I enter the workplace and start working, I've the comfort of knowing that in order to play PS2 and PS3 games, I must buy both, or scour eBay. (and because it's almost impossibly to tell the difference between versions by visuals alone, I wouldnt' even think of trying.)

What did Phil Harrison's five fingers say to the face?

SLAP!

What... the... hell...

@Jimyd
>> Those 100 million PS2 owners can play their PS2 games on the PS2 they already own or they go out and buy the 60GB BC PS3. It makes sense that HDTV receive analog signals but digital broadcasts are the reason for buying the set.

then why bother buying a PS3? and if I wanted to overpay for the 60Gb version, I would have already. it's nice of you to let people own multiple Sony systems - button up your shirt, Phil Harrison's heart is falling out.

not everyone buys an HDtv for the broadcasts. In fact, a recent study showed that the majority of HDtv owners do not subscribe to an HD tv service. if you had any money leftover after handing it all to Sony, you could buy a clue.

You ask, "Why bother buying a PS3?" That is exactly the problem - not a lot of people are buying the PS3 because it's too expensive for them and there are not enough games for it. They are better off just sticking with their PS2. Offering a stripped down version and lowering the price of the 60GB BC version is a step in the right direction for addressing the issue of price. The next step is getting enough games out so people have a reason to buy one.

Unless you're using it for HDDVD/Blu-ray and/or HD gaming, owning an HDTV and not subscribing to HD TV service is just plain stupid.

I FOUND IT!!! THE SECRET!!!!!

Team of dedicated tinfoil-hat scientists living in my basement just delivered results of deeply scientific research on Sony and PS3.

PS3 is fake. It doesn't exist.

Sony isn't hardware company. Guess what they produce and own?

BLOGS!!! Sony is blogging company!!!!!! They have secretly invested in bunch of blogs - for example Joystiq - and launched the "PS3" duck to milk the Ad stream coming from all the blogs!!!!!!!!

P.S. Well, this is only explanation I can come up with why Sony does what it does to PS3.

I care for BC, because the BS3,err PS3 is my first sony console and I wanted to play some of the older ps1(used to play GT on the PC and Dreamcast with Bleem! and ps2 games,so I bought first a refurbished 20GB ps3,but since my router was on the second floor, exchanged it for a new 60GB.The thing is when the 60gig will fail beyond repair...Got to replace it with a crippled one...lol

Hey guys, while I already own a 20GB PS3 I really feel for future 40GB PS3 owners who are gonna be assed out of BC. I made a petition to keep BC on the 40GB unit. If your interested, sign it.

http://www.petitiononline.com/40GBPS3/petition.html

if i had a RRoD for everytime an MS or Nintendo PR guy contradicted himself, MS would have to announce an official recall.

get over it chumps. PR lies and contradicts itself all the time, and it aint just Sony PR.

no, but sony puts everyone else's lies to shame

I know I'm not the only person in the world that does this, so I thought I would bring it up...

I have 2 TVs that I use for gaming. One is a 1986 SONY Trinitron. I have all my old consoles hooked up to that because they don't need HD and my NES Zapper doesn't work on HDTVs. My other TV is a 62" Panasonic HDTV. That TV gets the current gen consoles.

The fact of the matter is, sometimes I like playing my PS2, Xbox and GCN games on the bigger TV. Some of the games even look awesome upscaled, and most later ones support widescreen.

Now, that leaves me three options: utilize the BC of the consoles already hooked up, move both entertaiment centers to transfer the old consoles between TVs each time, or buy 2 PS2s, Xboxes and GCNs. Which sounds like the best option to you guys?

uh...use the backwards compatability of the next-gen consoles. why do all that moving or spend all that money if you dont have to? just make sure you dont buy that 40GB PS3 (if you dont already have a PS3). i think the 60GB was the best of the SKU's so far anyway.

its amazing how they continue to piss off their customers/followers. i dont know how many more shots to the foot they can take to be honest. you ever seen a somebody walk on kneecaps? cause Sony is getting damn close.

All of you sony bashers need to STFU and stop whining like a bunch a bitches on their periods. I see I've walked into a xbot lair full of pathetic trolls. You people make me sick with all this bitching. Nothing sony does will ever please your ungrateful asses and nor should they even try.

"Looks like I'll buy a PS3 now and as for backwards computability I have... a PS2!!!!

win win"

So its better to have 2 systems hooked up, switching between the 2 to play your fave games??

dumb dumb

Wowzers. No backwards compatibility, huh? I guess I'm kinda upset about that because I sold my PS2.

WOW.. cybereality, you may be on to something..

peep their slogan.. "Play Beyond".

take out the "e" "y" "o" and "n".. What do you have??

Play BD

wow.

Lol at Sony. If they hadn't sued the crap out of the Bleem crew and hired them instead, they may have had a fully working software backwards compatibility from day one.

Although I am happy to hear that there will be a price cut, I am disappointed that Sony preached about "BC" being a "core value on the ps3" and then decided to scrap it? How much of a difference in cost would it have really been if they kept the BC in the 40GB model? Could there have been other things they could have removed? *tisk tisk tisk Sony*...
Well every company has its flaws, the 360 suffers hardware issues, and now Sony has its Management issues.

if you really care about playin ps2 games would u not already have a ps2? cause really hu plays there psone games now on there ps2? and if its such a big problem stop[ complainin and buy something else! i've got my 40gb ps3 under the christmas tree and i cant wait too play it! sony has been the best machine for over a decade so if u want too play ps2 games play the ps2 and dont waste ur money buyin a ps3 but if u want better graphics and in a few months time great ps3 exclusives get the ps3 and its not that much to spend considerin wat ur gettin!!!

omg, i got the 40gb ps3 yesterday and i just found out about the no BC, i'm really depressed about it. :( but i still have my ps2 there for whenever i get the urge to play my ps2 games *sigh*

Previous 50 Comments

40GB PS3 official for Europe -- no backwards compatibility, at all

Reader Comments (297)

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:18PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 5:54PM MLC said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 7:52PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:22PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:31PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:37PM Kaemon said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:41PM Altairio said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:46PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:50PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:53PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 4:43PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 5:12PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:46PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 4:05PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 5:25PM Slaziman said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:47PM Booxatron said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:49PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 3:58PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 11:39PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 7th 2007 3:25AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 4:12PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 7th 2007 6:41PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 4:20PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 4:28PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 10th 2007 4:23PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 6:22PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 6:29PM nrcole said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 7:47PM captaincthulhu said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 1:29PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 8:31PM Dummy00001 said

Posted: Oct 5th 2007 11:01PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 1:25AM Rauelius said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 1:43AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 3:18AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 3:26AM JnZooger said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 8:07AM SoCoolCurt said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 8:01AM SoCoolCurt said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 2:13PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 3:39PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 6th 2007 6:31PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 7th 2007 11:13AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 7th 2007 9:14PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Oct 10th 2007 1:10AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 1st 2007 5:33AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Dec 26th 2007 3:21PM (Unverified) said

Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW