Content

• Steps
• Method 1 of 3: PS3 Backward Compatible
• Method 2 of 3: Buying and Playing Classic PS2 Games
• Method 3 of 3: Modified PS3

If you are the proud owner of a backward compatible PS3 model, you can play PS2 games as easily as PS3 games. If your PS3 model is not backward compatible, you can find many popular games on the PlayStation Store. If your PS3 model has been modified, you can play any PS2 game (even if the console did not support PS2 games before the modification).

Steps

Method 1 of 3: PS3 Backward Compatible

1. 1 Take a look at your PS3 and find out if you own a "fat" or "thin" model. The standard design attachment is considered "thick". Only (but not all) fat models are backward compatible. "Slim" and "super slim" models do not support backward compatibility.
   • If your console is not backward compatible and you don't want to jailbreak your PS3, buy and download the corresponding games from the PlayStation Store.
   • You can play PS2 games if you jailbreak your PS3. Doing so will void your warranty and may be denied access to the PlayStation Network.
2. 2 Determine the number of USB ports on your fat box. Fat models support backward compatibility, but not all of them. If you own a fat box, check the number of USB ports on the front of your PS3. If you count 4 USB ports, then your set-top box is backward compatible, and if 2, then not.
3. 3 Check the serial number. Find the sticker on the back of your PS3. The last digits of the serial number will tell you if your set-top box supports backward compatibility or limited software emulation.
   • CECHAxx (60 GB) and CECHBxx (20 GB) - Full backward compatibility support.
   • CECHCxx (60 GB) and CECHExx (80 GB) - Supports limited software emulation. In this case, you will only be able to run some PS2 games.
   • CECHGxx and beyond - Backward compatibility is not supported.
4. 4 Check if the game you have chosen is compatible with your console. Most of the time, you just need to insert a PS2 game disc into your PS3 and the game will launch easily, but some PS2 games are notorious for their compatibility issues. This is most common for set-top boxes whose serial numbers include the characters CECHCxx (60GB) or CECHExx (80GB), as these models support limited software emulation rather than full backward compatibility. You can check the compatibility of specific games and console models on this site.
5. 5 Insert your PS2 game disc into your PS3. If the game is compatible with your PS3 model, it will launch without problems (just like any PS3 game). The PlayStation 2 logo will appear on the screen and the game will start.
6. 6 Press the PS button to activate the controller. After starting the game, you will be prompted to connect a controller. On the PS3 controller, press the PS button and then assign the first port (Slot 1) to the controller. This will recognize your DualShock 3 or SixAxis controller.
   • You will not be able to play PS2 games if you are using a third-party controller. In this case, use the controller that came with the game.
7. 7 Create a virtual PS2 memory card. To save PS2 games, you need to create a virtual memory card that will work like a real storage medium. This can be done in the user interface (called the XMB) of the PS3.
   • Press the PS button to open the XMB.
   • Open the Game menu and select Memory Card (PS / PS2).
   • Select "Create Internal Memory Card" and then select "Internal Memory Card (PS2)".
   • Assign the first port (Slot 1) to the memory card. This will give the game access to the new memory card.
8. 8 Make changes to the settings for displaying PS2 games on the screen. Your PS3 backward compatible model has settings related to PS2 games.By making changes to these settings, you will improve the display quality of PS2 games on the screen.
   • In HMB, open the "Settings" menu and select "Game Settings".
   • Adjust the image quality (“Upscaler” option). Here you can set the parameters for scaling the picture in accordance with the screen size. Selecting Off will play the game in its original resolution, which may result in black bars along the edges of the screen. The Normal setting will increase the resolution to fit the screen size. Full will stretch the image to fit the screen. If you are not satisfied with the image quality, select the Off option.
   • Adjust the image smoothing parameters (“Smoothing” option). Anti-aliasing removes rough edges that are especially noticeable in 3D games. In most games, the anti-aliasing effect is not very noticeable, and in some cases anti-aliasing only spoils the picture.

Method 2 of 3: Buying and Playing Classic PS2 Games

1. 1 Open the PlayStation Store. This can be done on the PS3. If you are opening a store on a computer or mobile device, go to store.playstation.com.
   • PS2 Classics purchased from the PlayStation Store will run on any PS3 model (even a model that is not backward compatible).
2. 2 In the store, open the "Games" section. A variety of game categories will be displayed.
3. 3 Select "Classic". You may have to scroll down the page to find this category.
   • Note: The PS2 Games section only includes games that are compatible with PS4.
4. 4 Check the box next to Classic for PS2. This will only display classic PS2 games.
   • Classic PS One games (PS One Classics) can also be played on PS3.
5. 5 Add the games you want to buy to your cart. The choice of games depends on the region. Not all PS2 games are classified as classics.
6. 6 Buy the game. Once you've added games to your cart, you can start paying for them. To do this, select a payment method or pay for games from a PSN wallet, which can be topped up with a gift card.
   • Read this article for information on adding a payment method.
7. 7 Download purchased PS2 games. After paying for the games, you can start downloading them. This can be done directly on the purchase confirmation page, or on the store's website, open the page with the "Downloads" list and download games from this page.
8. 8 Launch the downloaded game. Classic PS2 games will be listed as installed games; this list can be viewed in the Games section of the XMB. Select the game you want to launch.
9. 9 Create a virtual PS2 memory card. To save classic PS2 games, you need to create a virtual memory card that will act like a real storage medium. This can be done in the user interface (called the XMB) of the PS3.
   • Press the PS button to open the XMB.
   • Open the Game menu and select Memory Card (PS / PS2).
   • Select "Create Internal Memory Card" and then select "Internal Memory Card (PS2)".
   • Assign the first port (Slot 1) to the memory card. This will give the game access to the new memory card.

Method 3 of 3: Modified PS3

1. 1 Hack (modify) your PS3. If your console is jailbroken, you can run any PS2 games. In this case, the process of launching the game becomes a little more complicated and requires a jailbroken or modified console, which will void the warranty and prohibit the connection to the PlayStation Network (PSN). If you are willing to take the risk, search the internet for information on hacking PS3.
   • You will have to install Multiman - the most popular game manager. It is included with most custom firmwares.
2. 2 Insert the PS2 game disc into your computer's optical drive. On a jailbroken console, you will not be able to play the game from disc.You will have to create a disc image with the game, and then add an emulator of classic PS2 games to it; thus, you can play any game like a classic PS2 game. All this is done on a computer, and then the finished file is copied to the jailbroken set-top box.
3. 3 Create a disc image (ISO file). To do this, use a special program.
   • For Windows, download and install the free InfraRecorder software. Click Read Disc, and then follow the onscreen instructions to create a disc image of the game.
   • On a Mac, launch the Disk Utility application (located in the Utilities folder). Click "File" - "New" - "Disk Image in Optical Drive Letter>". Save the disk image to your desktop. When finished creating the CDR file, open a terminal and enter the command hdiutil convert ~ / Desktop /original.cdr -format UDTO -o ~ / Desktop /converted.iso... This will convert the CDR file to ISO format.
4. 4 Copy the ISO file to PS3. This can be done using a flash drive or FTP client. Use Multiman to move the file to the dev_hdd0 / PS2ISO directory.
5. 5 Download the files required to run the ISO file. You will need to download and install two file packages. Find them on the Internet using a search engine.
   • ReactPSN.pkg
   • PS2 Classics Placeholder R3
6. 6 Copy the downloaded files to the root directory of the flash drive. Copy the ReactPSN.pkg file to your USB stick. Unpack the PS2 Classics Placeholder R3 package and copy the [PS2U10000] _PS2_Classics_Placeholder_R3.pkg file, the exdata folder and the klicensee folder to the USB stick. The copied files and folders must be located in the root directory of the flash drive (that is, not in the folder).
7. 7 Connect the USB stick to the far right USB port of your set-top box. This port is closest to the Blu-ray drive.
8. 8 Install the ReactPSN program (from a USB stick). Select the appropriate file on the USB flash drive to install this program. When the installation is complete, it will be displayed in the "Game" section. Don't run the program yet.
9. 9 Install the PS2 Classics Placeholder R3 software. Follow the same steps to install the classic PS2 game emulator on your console.
10. 10 On your STB, create a new account called "aa". This is required to continue with the installation process.
11. 11 Launch ReactPSN from the Game menu. After a while PS3 will reboot, and the created account "aa" will be renamed to "reActPSN v2.0 1rjf 0edatr" (or something similar).
12. 12 Log in to your regular account. You do not need to work with the created account - log into the account that you usually use.
13. 13 Start the Multiman program and go to the "Retro" section. This section lists your old games, including PS2 games.
14. 14 Open the "PS2ISO" folder. It stores ISO files copied to PS3 from your computer.
15. 15 Select the game you want to play. Multiman will process the ISO file and convert it into a game that you can run; it will take some time. This will display “PS2 Classics” in front of the title of the game.
16. 16 Select the converted game to run it in the XMB. Once you select a game, you will be redirected to the XMB.
17. 17 From the Game menu, select PS2 Classics Placeholder. This will launch the converted game.