PC World pulled up over PlayStation ad

ASA raps retailer for misleading claims

Not all PlayStation 2 games can be played on the PlayStation 3

PC World has been brought to book over claims in a TV advertisement that PlayStation 2 games can be played on PlayStation 3 consoles.

The TV ad for the 60GB PlayStation 3 featured a close-up of the console and a sales assistant saying: 'And it plays your PS2 games as well.'

The Advertising Standards Authority upheld a complaint that not all PlayStation 2 games can be played on the PlayStation 3.

PC World owner Dixons Store Group defended the ad on the ground that backwards compatibility of PS 2 software with the 60GB PS 3 is constantly increasing as more software patch downloads became available via the Sony PlayStation Network.

At the time the ad was broadcast, however, the 60GB PlayStation 3 could play just 80 per cent of PlayStation 2 games, leading the ASA to conclude that the claim was misleading.

The ASA ruled that the advertisement was in breach of CAP TV Advertising Standards Code rules 5.1 for misleading advertising and should not appear again in its current form.