No backwards compatibility for new PS3

Sony has confirmed that PS3’s on-off backwards compatibility support for back catalogue PS2 titles has been abandoned for good with news that the new PS3 will not support the feature.

Backwards compatibility is off the table,” SCEA’s hardware marketing director John Koller told Kotaku.

Koller also confirmed that the new machines will not ship with Sony’s upcoming 3.0 firmware installed and will not include an on/off power button at the rear, suggesting that the CPU will be external.

The PS3’s core processor, the Cell, has also seen the current 65nm varient replaced with a 45nm model. As a result the machine is cooler, thanks in part to a brand new cooling system inside.

Further hardware details come from Digital Spy, which claims that the new model will not feature the ability to install different operating systems – a feature that was used by some to install certain versions of Linux onto the machine.

In addition, the PS3 Slim will include Bravia Sync, a function that allows owners of compatible Sony HDTVs the ability to control their console using the remote control from their TV.