SingStar backwards compatibility arrives

By Oli Welsh Published 15 December, 2008

SingStar PS3 to work with PS2 discs Tues.

Three Speech has just reported the news that all Singstar fans wanted to hear: full backwards compatibility for Singstar PS3 arrives tomorrow.

An automatic, free online update at 10am GMT tomorrow will allow the PS3 version of Singstar to play songs from any PS2 Singstar disc.

"Start your SingStar PS3 session as normal by loading any SingStar PS3 disc - then, you'll be able to swap it for any PS2 disc for the rest of the session," says Three Speech.

Now all we need are those wireless mics. Still, Ellie will be delighted - not least because it provides us with an excuse to link to her extraordinary Singstar footage again.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (29) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • SeesThroughAll #1 3 years ago

    Took long enough.
    E3 was in July...

  • merkdot #2 3 years ago

    I fear Rock Band/GHWT are eating Singstars lunch at this point.

  • superfurry #3 3 years ago

    Will this work with Singstar Abba? It's about €20 cheaper on the PS2 than the PS3.

  • kupocake #4 3 years ago

    GH/RB hardly cater for the same crowd. Barely even the same earning bracket.
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/08 @ 17:33

  • kangarootoo #5 3 years ago

    @superfurry

    I think the PS2 ABBA disc has less tracks than the PS3 one. So it depends which songs you like most I guess.

    That Disney edition was only on PS2, so good news there (if you like Disney, which I don't really but I know a lot of people with kids do).

  • Adman #6 3 years ago

    Will this be true for the US Singstar? My wife needs an excuse to break out all the older games.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #7 3 years ago

    do people really still care about wireless mics, the leads on them are huge how far away do you want to be

  • kangarootoo #8 3 years ago

    I think it is more about not having a lasso between me and the console, with which I can sweep all manner of stain causing beverages onto the floor during parties.

  • makeamazing #9 3 years ago

    @GamesProgrammer yes definately. Had the cable ones for the PS2, but there is no way where my PS3 is positioned in the living room that i would risk the kids playing with the cabled ones... so I will be getting the wireless ones if they ever come out.
    Edited by 1 at 15/12/08 @ 18:02

  • CapnCloudchaser #10 3 years ago

    Arrgghh! Don't tell me this! I almost convinced the hubby to sell all of his SingStar games :(

  • jovus #11 3 years ago

    So, the next thing is BC compatibility for all ps2 games on all PS3's?

  • superfurryanimal #12 3 years ago

    too late by far.
    All ps2 discs sold for a healthy chunk on ebay.
    why no wireless mikes yet? Lips did it, and thats a load of shit.

    Singstar has got lots less play time now that Rockband is finally here.

  • effinjamie #13 3 years ago

    so the backwards compatability that sony has took out of all new PS3's can be put back in then through software?

  • ShadowsFall1978 #14 3 years ago

    Singstar wireless mics ARE on there way I can tell you that for SURE!!!! ... and deffo not to far off either my guess is it will be SG volume 4.

    Just check the Singstar VIP Lounge Facebook page for full conformation

  • merkdot #15 3 years ago

    lol

    they both get brought out at parties, the appeal isn't totally different at all.

    certainly I haven't played singstar since we got rock band; more people can join in.

    and this has fuck all to do with proper PS2 backwards compatibility, read the story, it's just reading tracks off the old discs.

  • Les #16 3 years ago

    "Singstar wireless mics ARE on there way I can tell you that for SURE!!!!"

    Good to hear as I was about to give up the wait and get it with the wired ones. I hate wires but I like Singstar and I didn't really think they would ever arrive anymore. Why it took them so damn long I really don't get.

  • Frandroid #17 3 years ago

    so the backwards compatability that sony has took out of all new PS3's can be put back in then through software?

    I doubt it. From the sounds of it, it is still the PS3 version of Singstar that you're playing it's just capable of reading the song tracks from the PS2 discs.
    Can't help but feel that the ability to copy the tracks to the hard drive ala Rock Band would be much more convenient.
    Edited by 1 at 16/12/08 @ 09:30

  • oreillymj #18 3 years ago

    @GamesProgrammer - you've obviously never had a PS2 pulled off the TV stand to the ground. I don't fancy the same happening to my precious 60gb PS3

    So yes wireless is important. Luckily they may be available early in 09.

  • oreillymj #19 3 years ago

    @effinjamie There's a big difference between been able to playback a video from a PS2 disc and actually running PS2 code.

    While software PS2 emu would be nice, and I haven't given up on the thought that Sony might give it to us sometime, I'm not holding my breath for it.

  • kangarootoo #20 3 years ago

    @merkdot

    "they both get brought out at parties, the appeal isn't totally different at all."

    I disagree. I have been at several parties where SingStar was very popular, but if someone had brought out GH or RB most people in the room would have raised eyebrows and said "wtf the is that?!"

    I love GH and RB, but they are both very much games for gamers. Rhythm action gameplay, coupled with zero audience appeal does not make for a good mainstream party game. Karaoke on the other hand is entertaining to watch as well as play, and you don't need to actually be any good at it to have a good time.

    Of course there is cross over, and it might be stretching things to say that "Singstar is a totally different game from Rock Band and GHWT", but they certainly don't occupy the same space in the market (except for the bit that contains existing gamers).

  • YobRenoops #21 3 years ago

    I've actually got the Official Singstar Wireless Mics. I'm trialling them for the Singstar guys. They're really very good. Very, very sturdy. The range is miles (to quote my girlfriend "If I need to go to the loo, I can keep singing!" and the quality is top class. They're nice and weighty as well.

  • danathjo #22 3 years ago

    @Yob, really? Would love to see/hear any more info on this. Would buy these in a heartbeat. Just hoping they sell them by themselves instead of a pack in with Singstar Volume 4/5/whatever, unlikely though.

  • YobRenoops #23 3 years ago

    @danathjo

    I can't really give much more information than that as we're not allowed to take any pictures of them or do much more than I've already told you. Believe me they are very very good though. I reckon they'll be along with a Volume 4 around March time (and I get to keep them when I'm done trialling. Woohoo!)

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #24 3 years ago

    @oreillymj

    lol, never had singstar on the PS2 but i could see that happening,

    Less of a worry on the PS3, its shear weight means the usb pops out before its even moves a nanometre!

  • danathjo #25 3 years ago

    @Yob
    cheers anyway...completely understand keeping it under wraps, just good to know that they are coming soonish.

  • Sid-Nice #26 3 years ago

    I was playing PS2 Singstar games on my PS3 last Thursday; must be the backward capability with the 60 GB launch model. A couple of tunes had some dodgy video playback; other than that it proved that Singstar on the PS3 is a complete pile of shit and a total rip-off.

  • kangarootoo #27 3 years ago

    @Sid Nice

    Yes, thats right, because the PS2 and PS3 versions of SingStar are identical... right?

  • kangarootoo #28 3 years ago

    "lol. You are obviously 14 or are in your 20s or above, live with your mum and do not know any girls. Trust me mate. When you get some real life non-gamer friends the difference in appeal is astronomic."

    Thats a little harsh, and more than a little immature. And usually people who make comments like that (especially ones containing the phrase "trust me mate";) usually aren't half as cool as they like to think they are.

  • Sid-Nice #29 3 years ago

    Yes, thats right, because the PS2 and PS3 versions of SingStar are identical... right?

    Actually the video quality of the PS3 version isn't HD; so basically the PS2 version running on an SDTV will look just as good. Very little effort has went into the making of Singstar on the PS3 and until we get HD video footage and wireless microphones, then there’s very little to choose between either version.