51w ago - Update: It's now confirmed that Sony has acquired Gaikai for $380 million with the official press release below.

Press Release: Sony Computer Entertainment to Acquire Gaikai Inc., a Leading Interactive Cloud Gaming Company

SCE to Build a Cloud Service Bringing Gaikai's Cloud Based-Streaming Technologies into Its Network Business

TOKYO, July 2, 2012 PRNewswire - Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) today announced that it entered into a definitive agreement on June 30, 2012 (Japan Time) to acquire Gaikai Inc., the world's leading interactive cloud-based gaming company, for approximately USD 380 million.

Through the acquisition, SCE will establish a new cloud service, ensuring that it continues to provide users with truly innovative and immersive interactive entertainment experiences.

"By combining Gaikai's resources including its technological strength and engineering talent with SCE's extensive game platform knowledge and experience, SCE will provide users with unparalleled cloud entertainment experiences," said Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

133w ago - Today TheGameHeadz.com (linked above) reports that a Rep revealed Sony's PS3 backwards compatibility plans to them at a recent press event.

While they didn't reveal their informant's name, a few months ago a patent for an adapter to make PS3 backwards compatible was uncovered.

To quote: "It was clear from our conversation that Sony likes the idea of backwards compatibility, but hadn't come to a conclusion until recently, on how to incorporate it.

The decision Sony finally came to is the one already in play, HD remastering.

"Remastering didn't come up until about two years ago. For a developer, remastering in HD took a moderate amount of time and effort to achieve, and with the right title it could be very successful. Once we noticed the benefits of HD remastering, the decision was made to use God of War 1 & 2 as the test for the market, and they delivered.

The God of War Collection had reached almost a million copies sold just after the holiday. Shortly aftter that Activision, EA, UbiSoft, Konami, and SquareEnix were all on board to issue ReMastered Edition of their best Playstation 2 Games."

He went on to say doing backwards compatibility...

196w ago - GamePro (linked above) has done an interview with SCEA Marketing Boss John Koller covering the new PS3 Slim console.

During the interview, Koller revealed that there is currently no PS3 Slim backwards compatibility, however, the PS3 Slim HDD is upgradeable.

To quote: "GP: This is a question a lot of our readers have had... They're wondering, will the PS3 Slim support Backwards Compatibility?

Koller: No, it won't, actually. Backwards Compatibility plans [are] actually off the table. But, we've noticed [not only] in all of our research, but [also] broadly speaking, we're in our third year now and most of the consumers that purchase the PS3 are purchasing it for PlayStation 3 games.

GP: Will you still be able to swap out the internal hard drive?

Koller: You will. We actually actively encourage that, for consumers that want to. The hard drive bay has moved from the side to the front, so it's a simple two-screw process. You can unscrew it and put the new Terrabyte model or whatever you like in. Absolutely."

197w ago - We've heard numerous PS3 price drop and PS3 backwards compatibility rumors several times over the last few months, but today SCRAWL is reporting the following (albeit unofficial) confirmation from their local Sony Rep, to quote:

"Over at my local GameStop (where I work), our Sony rep stopped in earlier today to update the PlayStation 3 kiosks and check in with us.

I decided to ask him about all the rumors going around on the PlayStation 3 slim. When I asked him about whether or not is coming he told me this:

"All I'm going to say is this: both a price drop and a firmware update with backwards compatibility are coming soon."

Directly from the mouth of a Sony rep. GamesCom is next week, folks. Don't be surprised if you hear the announcement."

203w ago - Recently it was reported that Sony patented software-based PS2 emulation technology. This got users excited who own 80GB, 40GB and 160GB PS3 consoles without backwards compatability.

Although the article speculated that the upcoming PS3 slim may utilize this technology, today a German Web site has supposedly gained comment from a Sony employee, to quote:

This brings us to the German Web site Demo News, which claims to have gained comment from a Sony employee stating that full backwards compatibility is coming to US PS3's as a firmware update in the "next few weeks."

If this rumor is true, it will make many newer PS3 console owners very happy indeed!