Sony Files Patent for Emotion Engine on the Cell Processor

Those who are upset by the 160GB and new 80GB Playstation 3s lacking reasonable backwards compatibility might be in for a surprise. For the upcoming PS3 Slim launch: the Playstation 2’s Emotion Engine is on its way to full-fledged emulation.

The reasons for why they would develop PS2 emulation on the PS3 are fairly obvious, but why they took it out from the newer models is yet a mystery.

Their plans for the emulation seem to be software-based, since the older PS3 models were ran them through hardware, there is no way to ship all PS3s in to reinstall the engine. However, since the Playstation 3 is powerful — more than powerful enough to emulate the Emotion Engine — a software update would do the trick. And chances are, it’s going to come with firmware update 3.0.

This is great news for anyone who sold their Playstation 2 or those who just don’t feel like hooking it up when they get to last-gen jonesing. But this could also mean that PS2 titles could be released on the PSN thanks to the emulation capabilities.

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