Sony UK boss explains 40GB PS3’s lack of backwards compatibility
While a lot of people are going to be very happy with Sony‘s earlier announcement of the 40 GB PlayStation 3, it is indeed disheartening to hear that it wouldn’t be carrying backwards compatibility. Now, in case you’re wondering just what pushed Sony to axe this feature with their upcoming SKU, we’ve picked up an explanation via the company’s UK boss Ray Maguire.
According to Maguire, Sony felt that the money that was intended for backwards compatibility was better spent on future game development and helping to cut down on support hardware costs. Here’s Maguire’s full quote:
As we come to our first Christmas with the PlayStation 3 there’s going to be about 65 games in the marketplace, so we feel now that there’s sufficient choice in the marketplace and that we’re still better off using that money that we’d put into backwards compatibility in either investing in new games or using that money to help support bringing the price down so that people can get into the franchise.
It will be remembered that Sony has also recently started a partnership with Infineon technologies and is reportedly selling some of its production facilities to Toshiba electronics. Both moves appear to coincide with Maguire’s explanation. We remind the readers that the new 40 GB PS3 SKU will be available across all SCEE territories on October 10 for €399 (US$ 565). The console will carry two USB 2.0 ports, and will not carry a multi memory card port.
Via Eurogamer
While a lot of people are going to be very happy with Sony‘s earlier announcement of the 40 GB PlayStation 3, it is indeed disheartening to hear that it wouldn’t be carrying backwards compatibility. Now, in case you’re wondering just what pushed Sony to axe this feature with their upcoming SKU, we’ve picked up an explanation via the company’s UK boss Ray Maguire.
According to Maguire, Sony felt that the money that was intended for backwards compatibility was better spent on future game development and helping to cut down on support hardware costs. Here’s Maguire’s full quote:
As we come to our first Christmas with the PlayStation 3 there’s going to be about 65 games in the marketplace, so we feel now that there’s sufficient choice in the marketplace and that we’re still better off using that money that we’d put into backwards compatibility in either investing in new games or using that money to help support bringing the price down so that people can get into the franchise.
It will be remembered that Sony has also recently started a partnership with Infineon technologies and is reportedly selling some of its production facilities to Toshiba electronics. Both moves appear to coincide with Maguire’s explanation. We remind the readers that the new 40 GB PS3 SKU will be available across all SCEE territories on October 10 for €399 (US$ 565). The console will carry two USB 2.0 ports, and will not carry a multi memory card port.
Via Eurogamer
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