Rumor Reporter Exclusive: Sony To Release PS3 Emulator/Firmware For ‘Software Playback’; PS3’s Built-In HD Scaler To Eventually Upscale Existing PS2/PSOne Games To 1080i/720p

As some of you know, Sony just announced that they’re taking some hardware out of the PS3 and focusing more on a software solution for backwards compatibility.

Every PS3 owner knows should know that a firmware release with software playback [changing focus from backwards compatibility from PS3 hardware to software] is coming around the European launch of the PS3, possibly around GDC - that sort of timeframe.

Now, an industry insider who wishes to remain anonymous has informed exclusively to me more details regarding this interesting firmware update. This update is basically going to make “most” of the PS2/PSOne games play without any problems, as the PS3 was plagued with during launch. No enhancements or anything. Just play.

Since this firmware will be using software playback, think of it as an emulator of sorts, things should be much smoother. Now for the most interesting part:

My source tells me that Sony’s playing around with HD enhancements for certain games. As some of you know, the PS3 has a built-in scaler. So, in the future (presumably the summer), there’ll be another firmware update. This update will feature HD playback potential for a handful of PS2/PSOne games. That’s how the HD upscaling’s going to work, at least in the beginning.

Sony will be targeting specific games to get the HD upscaling. And although the up-scaler doesn’t go up to 1080p [for the PS2/PSOne games], 1080i/720p will be the maximum. It’s basically a way for Sony to resolve two problems: PS2/PSOne games not working/being problematic, and not being fully utilized with the PS3 hardware. God of War, Klonoa 2, Killzone, Final Fantasy XII, Devil May Cry… imagine how games like these would look with the full HD treatment. I can only see them right now.

Now although the new emulator will be coming out either before or on the European launch date, it won’t have HD playback. As I stated previously, it seems as if summer’s the estimated release for that particular firmware update. As expected, not all PSOne/PS2 titles will be compatible with this emulator at first. Sony plans to add compatibility with future firmware updates for titles that aren’t compatible at first. One goal is to release better versions of the emulator that works with more titles rather than fix the emulator around specific games (like the Xbox 360). Obviously, there’s no guarantee that all of these games will work flawlessly. The plan is to have a few titles at a time added to the HD upscale list for a while.

Sony’s ultimate goal is to get all PlayStation titles upscaled - effectively, efficiently, and consistently working. They’re really banking on the next-gen era here, with Blu-Ray and HD upscaling of existing titles. The 100%-free firmware should enable upscaling for specific games with each firmware, and starting up each game will pop up an option for you to upscale it. This will be a setting on the XMB menu. Even better, something tells me that Sony will take some of the cool “twerks” from Xbox Live to decorate their emulator.

What I have just told all you kiddos is expected to be mentioned during Sony’s keynote at GDC. Although I’m 100% certain it won’t be the main gist of Phil Harrison’s speech, non-Sony gamers can benefit the most from this. Especially if this is their first Sony game system.

So there you have it, time to hit the presses! Now that I’ve confirmed it, all I can do is sit back and wait for the announcement (like Warhawk). Stay tuned for my cryptic predictions for GDC… next week. Top Secret