There are strong rumours coming out of Japan that Sony is planning on cutting the PSone 32-Bit RISC processor from the motherboard of all PlayStation 2 models after August this year.
In an attempt to save money, and thus reduce the price of the PlayStation 2, the relatively costly processor will be replaced by onboard emulation software that will make use of the PlayStation 2’s Emotion Engine.
Connectix, a PlayStation emulation company that Sony recently bought out after a long running legal battle, will develop the new software. Proving the time-honoured tradition of “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em,” still true, the new PlayStation 2 model will hit stores for Christmas this year.
As Sony is expecting to sell around 35 million PS2’s this year, the saving it will make in doing this will be immense. If the production saving per unit is only £1.50, a saving of £52.5 million in a year is a result in anyone’s book.
“At present we have no announcement regarding any changes to the PlayStation 2 hardware,” said a company spokesman. “We are always looking to make the PlayStation 2 more efficient and affordable and partnering with Connectix will prove to be a positive move, not, as so many reported, a backing down by SCE.”