Back compatible PS3

[Maxjacob01]

So I bought a backward-compatible PS3 that, for some reason, is only doing PS1 games, that being physical games.  Why would it not run physical PS2 games but play PS1 games?

[Hinjima]

27 minutes ago, Maxjacob01 said:

So I bought a backward-compatible PS3 that, for some reason, is only doing PS1 games, that being physical games.  Why would it not run physical PS2 games but play PS1 games?

Maybe you didn't get a backwards compatible PS3 after all?
All PS3's can play PS1 games.

[Maxjacob01]

10 minutes ago, Hinjima said:

Maybe you didn't get a backwards compatible PS3 after all?
All PS3's can play PS1 games.

I will have to test this on my other PS3, why other physical PS1 games I have.

[Hinjima]

3 minutes ago, Maxjacob01 said:

I will have to test this on my other PS3, why other physical PS1 games I have.

It will work   As mentioned, all PS3's can play physical PS1 games. 

Only the original "fat" PlayStation 3 models, specifically the 20GB and 60GB versions, can play PS2 games natively

[manikyath]

PS1 is CD, PS2 is DVD, PS3 is bluray, perhaps it's just not reading DVD's? (that's something easily verifyable, just plop a DVD in)

 

on that note, the only fully backwards compatible PS3's are the very first gen of phat, which iirc also have chipset issues so they might not be a sensible purchase in the first place (?)

[whispous]

well, can you specify which model of PS3 you got? It should have a model number on the back/underside. Also which version of the system software it's running.

[Mark Kaine]

4 hours ago, manikyath said:

PS1 is CD, PS2 is DVD, PS3 is bluray, perhaps it's just not reading DVD's? (that's something easily verifyable, just plop a DVD in)

 

on that note, the only fully backwards compatible PS3's are the very first gen of phat, which iirc also have chipset issues so they might not be a sensible purchase in the first place (?)

Idk what the issue is exactly but they burn out - fast...!

 

Also while it's correct 1st gen PS3s are bc with PS2 games, only na and asian models are fully bc, ie. have the actual hardware, euro PS3s partly use software emulation which is much worse, they also burn up faster (due to missing components I would guess) 

 

Sony screwed Europe over majorly with that, and your better off getting a American or Asian first gen "phat" therefore 

 

(I had a EU PS3, PS2 bc was bad, and only few games even worked, and it burned out after less than a year lol) 

[flibberdipper]

Here's a useful infographic I saw someone on Reddit make. Like others have said, all PS3's can read PS1 games but only one can really do PS2 games.

[SteveGrabowski0]

On 10/10/2025 at 4:51 PM, Maxjacob01 said:

So I bought a backward-compatible PS3 that, for some reason, is only doing PS1 games, that being physical games.  Why would it not run physical PS2 games but play PS1 games?

What model is it? Only CECHA and CECHB models are BC with PS2. It should be printed on a sticker on the back or maybe the bottom of the PS3, like CECHA01 or something like that.

[linkboy]

On 10/10/2025 at 3:46 PM, manikyath said:

PS1 is CD, PS2 is DVD, PS3 is bluray, perhaps it's just not reading DVD's? (that's something easily verifyable, just plop a DVD in)

 

on that note, the only fully backwards compatible PS3's are the very first gen of phat, which iirc also have chipset issues so they might not be a sensible purchase in the first place (?)

 

It's a shame those launch model PS3's fail as easily as they do. That 60GB model is one of the most feature-complete systems Sony ever made, and I really wish I still had mine under my TV (mine overheats about 30 seconds after I turn it on, so it's sitting in a box).

[thrasher_565]

On 11/10/2025 at 7:44 AM, linkboy said:

 

It's a shame those launch model PS3's fail as easily as they do. That 60GB model is one of the most feature-complete systems Sony ever made, and I really wish I still had mine under my TV (mine overheats about 30 seconds after I turn it on, so it's sitting in a box).

think it was a cpu,gpu problem were the solder was not good and as its heats and cools causes problems so to fix it you need to swap a 45nm chip on it. witch is costly. 

 

[SteveGrabowski0]

On 11/10/2025 at 9:44 AM, linkboy said:

 

It's a shame those launch model PS3's fail as easily as they do. That 60GB model is one of the most feature-complete systems Sony ever made, and I really wish I still had mine under my TV (mine overheats about 30 seconds after I turn it on, so it's sitting in a box).

Have you tried repasting? That thermal paste has to bone dry 19 years later.