Which PS3 Model Removed Backward Compatibility First?

This guide identifies the specific PlayStation 3 hardware revision that first eliminated backward compatibility with PlayStation 2 games. It outlines the progression from the original launch consoles equipped with hardware emulation to the later cost-reduced models, ensuring readers understand the differences between partial and complete feature removal.

When Sony launched the PlayStation 3 in 2006, the initial 60GB and 20GB launch models included the Emotion Engine chip from the PS2, allowing for full hardware backward compatibility. However, manufacturing costs were high, prompting Sony to revise the hardware to make the console more affordable for consumers. The first step in this transition was the release of the 80GB model, which removed the Emotion Engine chip but retained the Graphics Synthesizer. This hybrid approach offered only partial software-based compatibility for certain titles, depending on the region and specific hardware revision.

The first model to completely remove backward compatibility was the 40GB PS3, known by the model number CECHG01. Released in late 2007, this revision stripped out the remaining PS2 hardware components entirely to lower the production price. Consequently, this model and all subsequent revisions, including the Slim and Super Slim versions, cannot play physical PS2 game discs. Collectors seeking full legacy support must look for the original 60GB launch units or the specific 80GB models that retained partial functionality, as the 40GB model marked the definitive end of native PS2 disc support on the platform.