Sony’s on-again off-again relationship with backwards compatibility continues to keep us guessing; Siliconera has uncovered details suggesting that the PlayStation 3′s Cell processor could have the ability to emulate the PlayStation 2′s Emotion Engine. If true, this means that after a simple firmware update, the PS3 could have the ability to play the games of yesteryear.

Siliconera also ponders the possibility that the code allowing for this emulation will come with the oft-rumored PS3 Slim alone, meaning an even further segmented user-base.

Let’s hope that last bit of speculation proves benign. Regardless, this is certainly welcome news. Better late than never, right?