Report: PlayStation 4 will soon emulate PS2, PSone titles

PlayStation 4 could be emulating PS2 and PSone titles soon, and potentially executing games in upgraded HD resolutions.


Digital Foundry (via Gamespot) reports that a source close to PlayStation Now reveals that Sony's new streaming service will focus exclusively on PlayStation 3 games. That means games for PS2 and PSone would be played directly on the PS4 using emulation technology. Here's how:

Sony's internal emulator is already used on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, but the incarnation in the works for PlayStation 4 is said to be aiming for the ability to run the games in native HD resolutions. This would offer a distinct visual advantage over the current PS1/PS2 upscaling, and open up visual options seen in emulators like PCSX2. Running classic PlayStation games locally on your PS4 would also mean that any of the potential downsides of streaming--such as input lag--would be non-existent.

GS also has a photo of Silent Hill 3 running in a native 1080p format through the emulator PCSX2. If all of this holds true, it could breathe new life into all of those classic PlayStation 2 games. It may not have the professional look of a truly remastered game (like so many Sony classics have been through), but it will be night and day better than simple upscaling techniques.

Now it all depends on how many games will be available and when for PS2 and PSone. If a great selection is available before next holiday season, the PS4 could start dominating the console market.

Image credit: Flickr

PlayStation 2 Receiving Last Video Game This September

Yes, believe it or not there are still titles being released for the PlayStation 2 due to its overwhelming install base. Annual sports titles have slowly trickled down ports of the console that's soon to be two generations old, and the last one will be released this September.

EA Sports will release a port of FIFA 14 for the PS2, and that will finally be it. The publisher has been famous for releasing some copied ports of the same game, especially in the FIFA franchise, and who knows if this one's just been copying the same damn game since 2006.

Still, for those that love their soccer and don't have the money to upgrade, or just love nostalgia, or decided to wait until the PlayStation 4, here there game awaits.

Officially the console has been discontinued as of January (Sony finally had the heart to let go). According to Coin Arcade, Japan's final game was a Final Fantasy XI expansion released back in March, and this FIFA port will be America's last.

N4G which carried a link to the story had one of the best comments regarding the PS2's long existence.

Wow the PS2 is as old as my marriage...

...at one point my PS2 was better than my marriage...

...happy to say that as the PS2 dies, my marriage is still alive...

...however the PS2 helped me get through the very tough times of my marriage.

Take care big guy and thanks!

 Arrivederci, PS2.

[Source: Coin Arcade]
[Image credit: Flickr/Javier Dominguez Ferreiro]