With the recent patent filed on the Emotion Engine technology for Cell Processors by Sony Computer Entertainment in the US, it looks like Sony might be positioning themselves for the release of a potential firmware update that will allow all PS3 users the ability to play PS2 games.

Siliconera writes;

PlayStation 3s without PS2 backwards compatibility are missing the Emotion Engine, a chip Sony designed as the PS2’s CPU. What if the PS3’s cell processor could emulate the Emotion Engine? Theoretically, all PlayStation 3s would be able to play PS2 games even if a console didn’t have the proper hardware.

There aren’t too many reasons why Sony would want the PS3’s Cell processor to emulate the PS2’s Emotion Engine and the key one is backwards compatibility.