UK dev source: We can't check game saves to add Trophies retroactively, Jan 1 cut-off confirmed

A UK development source has confirmed to VG247 this morning that all PS3 titles entering submission after January 1, 2009 must have Trophies implemented, and that it's actually not allowed to retroactively add Trophies to existing games.

Videogamer.com reported yesterday that all PS3 games need to have Trophies from January. It's true, we were told this morning, and the new rule only applies to new products.

"It just means that new titles entering the submission process post that date have to have them," said our source.

"It's entirely up to developers and publishers if older titles are to get Trophies as they are now via patches.

"Also, as far as I am aware, any games that do patch in Trophies have to be started from scratch. We can't check a save game for stats and unlock Trophies accordingly."

We're not 100 percent sure on why it's not specifically allowed to check game saves, but we suspect it's to stop people cheating by using friends' save files. So that's why you don't get retroactive Trophies for things like Burnout and GTA. Glad we got that cleared up.