How to tell what ps3 plays ps2 games

The above guidelines refer only to original PS2 discs. These will run on your PS3 without difficulty. Dr James Holloway has been writing about games, geek culture and whisky since One way is to pop a PS2 game into the disc slot and hope for the best. All you can do is insert a PS2 disc and see if it plays.

Some of these PS2 games are also available via PlayStation Now, meaning subscribers can play them without buying them outright. If you have a shelf full of old PS2 game discs, this option might not seem so good. If you have an 80GB PlayStation 3, or a Metal Gear Solid PS3, that hasn't been updated since it came out of the box, it may still be backward compatible through software emulation.

If you use any PS3 online services, then your console has likely lost the PS2 software emulation backward compatibility. Therefore, your best bet for playing old PS2 games is to buy a used PlayStation 2 if you don't already have one. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile.

Select personalised ads. Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings.

Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. All rights reserved. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. Look at your PS3 to determine if it is a "fat" PS3.

The original PS3 design is often referred to as the "fat" PS3. Only some fat PS3s are backwards compatible, but not all of them are. The "slim" and "super slim" models are not backwards compatible.

The ones with 4 USB ports on the front are. You can jailbreak a PS3 to play PS2 games. Doing so will void your warranty and can get you banned from the PlayStation Network.

All backwards compatible PS3s are "fat," but not all fat PS3s are backwards compatible. Look at the serial number. Find the sticker on the back of your PS3. You may run into issues with some PS2 discs.

Check if your game is compatible. While you can usually just pop the PS2 disc into a compatible PS3 and start playing without issues, some PS2 games have known compatibility problems. Insert your PS2 disc into your PS3. If your game is compatible with your PS3 model, it will start just like a PS3 game. You'll see the PlayStation 2 logo and your game will begin.

Press the PS button to activate the controller. When the game starts, you'll be prompted to insert a controller. You may not be able to play PS2 games properly if you are using a third-party PS3 controller. If you can't get it to work, try an official controller. Create a PS2 virtual Memory Card.

In order to save your PS2 games, you'll need to create a virtual Memory Card that the PS2 game will treat as a physical card. Adjust your PS2 playback settings. Your backwards compatible PS3 will have a couple of PS2-related settings that you can adjust.

This will affect how the image is zoomed or stretched to fit your screen. Choose "Off" if the game doesn't look good when upscaled.