Playful father makes incredible discovery of a PS3 in the trash container

The father of a player discovered a working backward-compatible PlayStation 3 console sitting outside a trash container in their residential building. Sony first released the PlayStation 3 in 2006. The initial wave of PS3 consoles was notable for various reasons, including their backward compatibility with the two previous generations of PlayStation systems.

Thanks to the backward-compatible PS3 systems, PlayStation players were able to play their PS1 and PS2 games on the new console. This outstanding feature that enhanced the quality of life for gamers was unfortunately discontinued in later models. While backward compatibility for PS1 games remained in all PS3 consoles, support for PS2 games was abandoned. This has resulted in high demand for backward-compatible PS3 consoles among PlayStation fans.

Anyone looking to obtain a backward-compatible PS3 should be prepared to spend several hundred euros online. However, one lucky player got their hands on one for free. A Reddit user named kushmaster805 reported that their father discovered a backward-compatible PS3 near a trash container in their residential building. The console turned out to be functional and not only capable of playing PS2 games but also tested by the Reddit user with the PS2 game "Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex." There appear to be some cosmetic damages such as scratches on the PS3, but since it works otherwise, it is unclear why someone would discard it.

Unfortunately, the trend of later PS3 models abandoning backward compatibility continued with the PlayStation 4 as well. The PS4 is not backward compatible with the PS3, although some PS3 games are playable on the console through the PS Plus Premium cloud streaming service. The PS4 can also play some digital PS1 and PS2 games, with some of them receiving enhancements such as improved graphics and trophy support.

Services like PS Plus Premium make it easier for PlayStation players to enjoy classic games, and Sony should be recognized for ensuring that the PS5 is backward compatible with the PS4. Although there are some PS4 games that do not work on the system, the vast majority of PS4 games are fully playable on the PS5.

The next console from Sony is still many years in the future, but official court documents suggest that the PlayStation 6 could be released in 2028. If this is true, one wonders whether it will also be backward compatible or offer some other means for PlayStation players to play older games on it. Fans will have to wait for a long time to learn more information in this regard.