How to Play PS2 Games on PS3

Use a backward compatible PS3

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 1

Observe your PS3 to determine if your PS3 is "fat" or not. The original PS 3 series is often referred to as the "fat" PS3. Only a few PS3 fat models have backward compatibility. The "slim" and "super slim" PS3 series are not equipped with backward compatibility. The model has 4 USB ports on the front with backward compatibility.

If your PS3 does not have backward compatibility, the only way to play PS2 games without jailbreaking is to purchase and download the game from the PlayStation Store.

Alternatively, you can jailbreak your PS3 to play PS2 games, but this will void the warranty and you could get banned from the PlayStation Network.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 2

Check the number of USB ports on your PS3 fat. All backwards compatible PS3s are "fat", but not all "fat" consoles are backward compatible. If you are using a PS3 fat, just check the USB port number on the front of the device. If you see 4 USB ports, the device is backward compatible. If there are only 2 ports, the device cannot run PS2 game discs.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 3

Check the serial number. Look for the label on the back of your PS3. The last digit will tell us whether the machine supports full backwards compatible hardware or limited emulation software:

CECHAxx (60 GB) and CECHBxx (20 GB) - Full backward compatible hardware support.

CECHCxx (60 GB) and CECHExx (80 GB) - Limited simulation software. Some PS2 discs cannot play.

CECHGxx - Does not support backward compatibility.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 4

Check if the game title is compatible. Although you can simply put the PS2 disc into a compatible PS3 to play it, some PS2 games also have compatibility issues. This situation often occurs on CECHCxx (60 GB) or CECHExx (80 GB) models that use limited emulation software instead of full backward compatible hardware support. You can check the list of compatible games and models here.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 5

Insert the PS2 disc into the PS3. If the game is compatible with the PS3 model you are using, you can play the game as usual. You will see the PlayStation 2 logo and the game will launch.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 6

Press the PS button to activate the handle. When the game starts, you will be asked to connect the controller. Press the PS button on the PS3 controller and assign the controller to "Slot 1". This is an operation for the game to recognize the DualShock 3 or SixAxis controller.

You may not be able to play PS2 games if you use a PS3 controller from another brand. If you can't control it, try using the genuine controller.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 7

Create virtual PS2 Memory Stick. To save PS2 games, you need to create a Virtual Memory Card and the game will treat this as a real memory card. You can do this step in your PS3's XMB.

Press the PS button to open XMB.

Open the Game menu and select "Memory Card Utility (PS/PS2)".

Select "New Internal Memory Card" and then select "Internal Memory Card (PS2)".

Specify the Memory Stick to "Slot 1". This is an operation for the game to access the Memory Card.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 8

Adjust PS2 settings. The backward compatible PS3 has a few PS2-related settings that you can adjust yourself. These settings can improve the visual quality of PS2 games.

Open the Settings menu in XMB and select "Game Settings".

Select the Upscaler setting. This is the setting to enlarge or stretch the image to fit the screen. Select "Off" and the game will display at its original resolution and a black bar may appear. Select "Normal" to increase the resolution to match the screen size. Select "Full" to stretch the image to fit the screen. You can select "Off" if the game image does not look good when upgraded.

Select the Smoothing setting. This is a setting that adjusts the edges in the game more smoothly, especially with 3D graphics games. In normal games, you don't need to pay attention to this setting, it can even make the graphics look worse.

Buy and Use PS2 Classic

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 9

Open PlayStation Store. You can access from your PS3, or log instore.playstation.comfrom your computer or mobile device.

You can play PS2 Classic games from the PlayStation store on any PS3, even if it doesn't have backward compatibility.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 10

Open the "Games" section in the archive. You will see many different categories.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 11

Select "Classics" . You need to scroll down to find this folder.

Note: if you access the web, the "PS2 Games" section only appears PS2 games compatible with PS4.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 12

Check the "PS2 Classics" dialog box. The system will screen the results and only display PS2 Classic titles.

You can play PS1 Classic games on your PS3.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 13

Add the game you want to buy to your cart. Game selection also depends on the area you live in. Not all PS2 games are PS2 Classic games.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 14

Buy games. After adding items to your cart, you can check out again. You need to use a valid payment method or have funds in your PSN wallet to redeem the gift card.

You can get instructions on how to add a credit card to PlayStation Store from articles online.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 15

Download purchased PS2 games. After payment, you can download the game to your device. You can download the game from the payment confirmation page or go to the Downloads list on the Store.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 16

Play the game you just downloaded. PS2 Classic titles will be listed in XMB's Games category alongside previously installed titles. Click to select the game and start playing.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 17

Create virtual PS2 Memory Stick. To save a PS2 Classic game, you need to create a Virtual Memory Card in the XMB section of your PS3.

Press the PS button to open XMB.

Select "Memory Card Utility (PS/PS2)" in the Game menu.

Select "New Internal Memory Card" then select "Internal Memory Card (PS2)".

Assign the Memory Card to "Slot 1". PS2 Classic titles can now access the memory card and you can save games to the memory card.

Use a jailbroken PS3

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 18

Jailbreak (mod) the PS3. If you have jailbroken your PS3, you can play PS2 games. The jailbreak process is quite complicated and will void the warranty, and your device is also at risk of receiving a PSN mute command. You can refer to online articles to learn how to jailbreak your PlayStation 3 if you dare to take the risk.

You need Multiman, the most popular game manager for jailbroken PS3s. Most custom software comes with this program.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 19

Open the PS2 disc on the computer. You don't play games by playing discs on your PS3. You need to create an image disc and emulate the PS2 Classic game. So you can use this disc as a PS2 Classic game disc. You'll do all the work on your computer, then transfer the finished file to your jailbroken PS3.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 20

Create ISO file from PS2 disc. You need to use disc image software:

Windows - Download and install InfraRecorder, this is free and open source disc image creation software. Click the "Read Disc" button and follow the on-screen instructions to create an ISO file from the PS2 disc.

Mac - Open Disk Utility in the Utilities folder. Click the File menu and choose "New" → "Disc Image from ". Create image files on the desktop. After creating the CDR file, open Terminal and type . This is the operation to convert a CDR file into an ISO file.hdiutil convert ~/Desktop/original.cdr -format UDTO -o ~/Desktop/converted.iso

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 21

Copy ISO file to PS3. You can copy using USB or use FTP. Use Multiman to transfer files to "dev_hdd0/PS2ISO" on PS3.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 22

Download the custom software tool needed to run the ISO file. You need to install 2 different packages on PS3. Please search on Google for the following files:

ReactPSN.pkg

PS2 Classics Placeholder R3

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 23

Copy the downloaded file straight to the USB. Copy the ReactPSN.pkg file to the USB. Extract the PS2 Classics Placeholder R3 file and check that [PS2U10000]_PS2_Classics_Placeholder_R3.pkg, exdata (folder) and klicensee (folder) are in the USB. This entire file must be copied directly to the USB drive (not placed in any other folder).

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 24

Plug the USB into the rightmost port on the PS3. This is the port located near the Blu-ray port.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 25

Install ReactPSN from USB. Select the file on the USB and proceed with the installation. You will see it appear in the Game section after installation (not yet started).

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 26

Install PS2 Classics Placeholder R3. Follow the same instructions as emulating PS2 Classic on PS3.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 27

Create a new account on your PS3 named "aa". This is required to continue the installation process.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 28

Run ReactPSN in the Game section. Wait a moment, the PS3 will reboot and the "aa" account will be renamed to 'reActPSN v2.0 1rjf 0edatr' or something similar.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 29

Log in to your frequently used account. You do not need to use the account you just created, just log in to your regular account.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 30

Run Multiman and select Retro. This is a section containing all old games, including PS2 games.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 31

Select the "PS2ISO" folder. This folder will list all the ISO files you just copied from your computer to your PS3.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 32

Select the game you want to play. Multiman will process the ISO file and convert it into a playable game, which will take a while to complete. Once the conversion is complete, you will see "PS2 Classics" before the game name.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 33

Select to download the newly converted game on XMB. You will return to XMB after selecting the game.

How to Play PS2 Games on PS3 Picture 34

Select "PS2 Classics Placeholder" in the Game menu. This is the step of loading the converted game, then the game will start.

David Pac

Update 05 November 2023