Game Preservation
Ongoing coverage on Game Preservation.
Latest coverage
A Massive Decompilation Community Is Shutting Down, Thanks to the Deluge of AI Decomps and Ports
A significant community dedicated to decompiling video games is shutting down due to the increasing prevalence of AI-driven decompilation and game ports. The influx of AI tools has made the manual efforts of the community unsustainable, leading to its closure.
Tales of Eternia Remastered review: We should do better
Tales of Eternia Remastered is a disappointing re-release that fails to meet modern standards, particularly in its handling of visual assets. While it restores some content like skits and adds quality-of-life features, the poor upscaling of animations and in-game graphics, along with a questionable UI design, detract significantly from the experience. The game is available on PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S.
Toy Story 3 and Retro Roundup interview: dev on origins, lack of N64/Dreamcast versions, including A Bug’s Life, more
Digital Eclipse editorial director Chris Kohler discusses the upcoming Nintendo Switch releases of Toy Story 3: Complete Edition and Toy Story: Retro Roundup. The interview covers the inclusion of A Bug's Life, the decision to omit N64 and Dreamcast versions, and the technical improvements made to the games, including 4K resolution and 60 FPS support for Toy Story 3.
Ace Combat Zero gets its own standalone app on Steam, freeing it from the 136GB install of Ace Combat 8
Bandai Namco Entertainment has announced that Ace Combat Zero will be released as a standalone application on Steam, separating it from the large install size of Ace Combat 8. This change, which is currently undergoing final testing, will allow players who own Ace Combat Zero as a pre-order bonus for Ace Combat 8 to download and launch it independently, and will also add Steam Cloud save support. The news has been positively received by fans.
Asha Sharma announces Xbox Labs project to "explore new technology," which sure sounds like tinkering with old games through AI
Asha Sharma announced the creation of Xbox Labs, a new R&D initiative focused on exploring emerging technologies like AI for game remixing and rejigging. While Microsoft clarified AI usage won't be mandatory, the initiative aims to turn new ideas into player experiences, potentially by decompiling and rebuilding old games or making new ones more moddable. The article expresses skepticism about the initiative's true goals, linking it to recent layoffs and a focus on existing franchises.
Casual game marketplace Legacy Games to close online store this December
Casual game marketplace Legacy Games will close its online store on December 31, 2026, preventing players from re-downloading previously purchased titles after February 28, 2027. Separately, Rockstar Games discussed its increased workforce and development pipeline for Grand Theft Auto 6, aiming for faster future releases and addressing concerns over recent game leaks.
Toy Story: Retro Roundup review for Nintendo Switch 2 and Switch
Toy Story: Retro Roundup is a highly commendable collection of classic Toy Story games, developed by Digital Eclipse and published by Atari. It features eleven versions of six titles across multiple classic consoles, enhanced with modern quality-of-life features like save states, rewind, and customizable controls. The collection also includes an extensive museum mode detailing the franchise's history and game development, making it a must-have for fans of retro gaming and the Toy Story franchise.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening's Nintendo Switch remake now has a PC port if you can stomach an…
A PC port of the Nintendo Switch remake of The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening has been created using AI, sparking controversy within the gaming community. While the developer claims it was necessary for their skill level, Nintendo's stance against AI and unofficial ports raises concerns about potential legal action.
Xbox Labs is a New Team That Will Turn “Emerging Ideas” Into Things That Can be Experienced
Xbox has launched a new initiative called Xbox Labs, led by CTO Scott van Vliet, to explore making older console games accessible in web browsers. CEO Asha Sharma stated the team will focus on emerging ideas, leveraging advancements in game decompilation and AI, with a commitment to transparency and sharing tools with the industry.
Bungie boss casually shares Destiny 1 running on PC at 60 FPS in 4K thanks to fan project – "Seems like a pretty game, wonder if it will do well"
Bungie's head of product, Josh Deane, shared a fan-made PC port of Destiny 1 running at 4K and 60 FPS, sparking speculation about a potential official revival. While the fan project focuses on game preservation by recreating server functionality, the article expresses doubt about Bungie revisiting Destiny 1 due to current studio priorities with Destiny 2 and Marathon.
Introducing XBOX LABS
Microsoft has announced the formation of Xbox Labs, a new initiative focused on exploring emerging technologies and their potential impact on gaming. Led by Scott, the group will investigate areas like AI, cloud gaming, and game preservation, aiming to make games more accessible and empower players as creators.
Games Inbox: What is the next FromSoftware game?
Readers discuss upcoming game releases like The Duskbloods and Phantom Blade Zero, express concerns about Activision's Call of Duty franchise, and praise the unique experience of Big Walk. There are also requests for PlayStation 3 repair services and commentary on EA's acquisition history and the impact of AI on game emulation.
Wing Commander and Ultima are making comebacks in surprise Origin revival
Electronic Arts has announced a remaster of Wing Commander 3: Heart of the Tiger, featuring upscaled full-motion video cutscenes and 60fps gameplay for PC. Concurrently, series creator Richard Garriott is set to regain control of the Ultima intellectual property in 2027, potentially leading to new releases or re-releases. These announcements signal a revival for classic franchises originally developed by Origin Systems.
Steam Week in Review: The curious case of Wonder Boy in Monster Land's dubious PC debut
A PC version of Wonder Boy in Monster Land, released on Steam by Retro Maniac, is alleged to be an illegitimate ROM running in an emulator, lacking official licensing from SEGA or LAT Corp. The listing has been flagged for potential copyright infringement and is reportedly being processed for removal, highlighting issues with intellectual property rights and the availability of classic games on modern platforms.
Sunsetted VR MMO OrbusVR is resurrected by one of the original devs as two ‘community editions’
The VR MMORPG OrbusVR, which was sunsetted last year, has been resurrected by one of its original developers, Riley. Riley has released 'community editions' of both the Classic and Reborn versions of the game on GitHub, allowing players to download and play them for free. The provided license also permits players to distribute, mod, and run community servers, with server operators allowed to charge for their services.
Now Playing at SUPERJUMP, Issue 44
This issue of SUPERJUMP's 'Now Playing' features a diverse range of titles, including a deep dive into the enduring appeal of Shadow of the Colossus and a reflection on the legacy of Cave Story+. Grand Theft Auto III is revisited for its timeless sandbox experience, while the social game Big Walk is praised for fostering connection among friends. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is also highlighted for its impressive recompilation on handheld devices.
Games Inbox: Which 2026 video game has the best melee combat?
Readers discuss which upcoming games will feature the best melee combat, with Onimusha: Way Of The Sword and Nioh 3 being highlighted. The discussion also touches on the controversial Grand Theft Auto 6 leaker, issues with Amazon's game delivery, the pricing of live service cosmetics, and the potential for dormant game franchises to be revived.
Why a 21-year-old coder finally ported the real P.T. to PC: 'That something so influential could eventually become…
Programmer Lorean Xavier has successfully ported the influential horror game P.T. to PC, allowing it to run natively on Windows and Linux without copyrighted assets. This fan-made project aims to preserve the original experience while adding modern graphical features and mod support, addressing concerns about the game's limited availability since its delisting in 2015.
Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald Switch ports feel all but confirmed, fans believe as new Pokemon Home update suggests more GBA games could be on the way
Fans believe that ports of Pokemon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald to the Nintendo Switch are likely following an update to Pokemon Home. The update allows transfers from the Game Boy Advance versions of FireRed and LeafGreen, and a generic 'GBA games' button suggests support for more titles. The success of the FireRed and LeafGreen re-releases indicates a strong financial incentive for The Pokemon Company to release the Gen 3 games.
Games Inbox: Will there be an official GTA 6 and PS5 console bundle?
Readers discuss the potential for a Grand Theft Auto 6 and PlayStation 5 console bundle, with some expressing surprise at the lack of an official announcement. Other topics include the pricing of the PlayStation 5 Pro, the multiplayer modes in Teardown, the appeal of retro games like Dizzy and Alien Breed, and disappointment with the sequel to Control.
