Game Preservation
Ongoing coverage on Game Preservation.
Latest coverage
The Crew – Ubisoft Hit by a New Lawsuit in France Supported by Stop Killing Games
Ubisoft is facing a new lawsuit in France from consumer association UFC-Que Choisir, supported by Stop Killing Games, over its decision to revoke licenses for The Crew. The lawsuit alleges deceptive business practices and abusive terms regarding the game's revocable license. CEO Yves Guillemot defended the company's actions, stating that game support cannot last forever and that this is an industry-wide issue.
Nightdive's Larry Kuperman retires after 25-year career in games: 'We never looked at games as products'
Larry Kuperman, Vice President of Business Development at Nightdive Studios, has announced his retirement after a 25-year career in the games industry. Kuperman, who was instrumental in Nightdive's game preservation efforts and the System Shock 2 remaster, cited personal losses and a desire to support new industry entrants as motivations for his decision. He plans to remain active with the International Game Developers Association.
Ubisoft sued again over The Crew shutdown, this time by French consumer group backed by Stop Killing Games alleging…
Ubisoft is facing a new lawsuit from French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir over the shutdown of its 2014 racing game, The Crew. The group alleges deceptive business practices and abusive contract clauses for making the game unplayable. This follows a previous class-action lawsuit and the formation of the Stop Killing Games initiative.
French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir sues Ubisoft over The Crew shutdown
French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir is suing Ubisoft over the shutdown of its game, The Crew. Launched in 2014, the game was delisted in December 2023, and its servers were shut down in March 2024, rendering it unplayable. The lawsuit questions publishers' ability to revoke licenses for purchased games, impacting digital ownership and game preservation.
Game History and Preservation
An in-development beta version of Grand Theft Auto IV has been discovered, revealing unreleased features and content. This discovery highlights the importance of game preservation and offers a glimpse into the game's development history.
Morning Legal Briefs
A French consumer group, J'Accuse!, has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft over the company's decision to shut down the online servers for the game 'The Crew'. The lawsuit raises questions about consumer rights and game preservation when online services are discontinued.
Major French consumer group sue Ubisoft over always-online game shutdowns with the backing of Stop Killing Games
A major French consumer group, UFC-Que Choisir, backed by the Stop Killing Games movement, is suing Ubisoft over the shutdown of The Crew's servers. The lawsuit argues that Ubisoft infringed consumer rights by making the game unplayable and questions the practice of selling licenses for games that can later be revoked. This action aims to set a precedent for publishers discontinuing online support for games.
"Best-in-class emulation from over five decades of gaming" - The Evercade Nexus is a brand new cartridge-based handheld with thumbsticks, local multiplayer support, and a bonus N64 Banjo-Kazooie collection
Blaze has announced the Evercade Nexus, a new cartridge-based retro handheld featuring dual analogue sticks, a 5.89-inch screen, and local multiplayer support. It will launch in October for $199.99 and includes Banjo-Kazooie and Banjo-Tooie. The device aims to offer a modern handheld experience for emulation fans, with a special limited "64 Edition" also planned.
Evening Interviews
Daybreak Game Company is exploring strategies to attract new players to its 27-year-old MMORPG, EverQuest. The company believes that the game's classic raiding mechanics can still appeal to a modern audience, despite its age.
Starfield PS5 Won't Play Off Physical Disc without a Download
Starfield's physical edition for PlayStation 5 requires an 81GB download from the Blu-ray disc, with the full game size being approximately 123GB. This necessitates an internet connection for the initial setup, raising concerns about long-term game preservation as the disc may become unplayable if Sony's servers are eventually shut down.
Raiding like it's 1999: Why Daybreak thinks new players will try a 27-year-old MMO
Daybreak Games and indie studio Game Jawn are launching EverQuest Legends, a project focused on recreating the original 1999 MMORPG experience with modern quality-of-life improvements. The game aims to attract both nostalgic players and newcomers by offering a more approachable solo-friendly experience than the famously hardcore original. EverQuest Legends will utilize excavated assets and code from Daybreak's archives, entering closed beta before its July launch with a subscription-based business model.
Game History and Preservation
A YouTuber has constructed a dedicated building to preserve PC gaming oddities. This initiative highlights the growing concern and effort towards preserving digital history in the face of technological obsolescence.
ScummVM 2026.2.0 "Railmonicon" out now supporting more retro games
ScummVM 2026.2.0 "Railmonicon" has been released, adding support for eight new classic games including Necronomicon: The Dawning of Darkness and Mad Dog McCree. This update also includes various fixes and improvements to existing game engines, PC Speaker emulation, and launcher functionality across multiple platforms like PC, PlayStation 3, Wii, and iOS.
Xalavier Nelson Jr, director of Space Baby Warlord Trading Simulator, will never uninstall Warframe and would love to see an Outriders 2: 'I think that game would have been really special'
Xalavier Nelson Jr, director of Space Warlord Baby Trading Simulator and founder of Strange Scaffold, discusses the games installed on his PC. He highlights Warframe as a live-service game he'll never uninstall due to its evolving nature and respect for player time, and expresses a desire for an Outriders 2, praising the original for its flawed charm. Nelson Jr also shares his appreciation for older titles like Cultic and Blood: Fresh Supply, emphasizing the importance of understanding game history.
The top 10 best Super Mario games ranked
This article ranks the best Super Mario games, highlighting the value and convenience of video game compilations. It mentions titles like Capcom Fighting Collection 2, Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection, and Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered as examples of compilations that offer multiple games. The re-release of Super Mario Galaxy 2 in a compilation is also noted.
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Brings Childhood Magic to Modern Platforms
Capcom has released the Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection on modern platforms, including PC, bringing all seven games from the series to new audiences. The collection enhances the original Nintendo DS titles with accessibility features and quality-of-life improvements while preserving the unique blend of real-world drama and digital combat. This release celebrates game preservation and may hint at future installments for the overlooked series.
Elder Scrolls mobile spinoff Blades is shutting down this summer after eight years, but at least all its store items are…
The Elder Scrolls: Blades, a mobile spinoff game, will permanently shut down on June 30 after an eight-year run. This follows the earlier closure of The Elder Scrolls: Legends digital card game. The article notes the lack of an offline-only version for Blades, contrasting it with the playable status of The Elder Scrolls Legend: Battlespire.
Saturday Patches
A reverse-engineered sourceport for the forgotten FPS Heretic 2 has been released, offering bug fixes, improved framerates, and cosmetic enhancements for PC players. This unofficial patch aims to preserve and improve the classic game.
The Daily Grind: Did you do anything profound before your favorite MMO shut down for good?
This article discusses the emotional process players go through when their favorite Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) shuts down permanently. It prompts readers to share how they spent their final days with these games, whether through normal play, completing bucket lists, attending events, or spending time with guilds and friends.
Equinox Announces Timeline For End of Official Altered TCG Support
Equinox has announced a timeline for the end of official digital support for its Altered TCG, following a failed crowdfunding campaign. The company will offer access to its final card sets, Roots of Corruption and Neverending Journey, to active digital account holders. Print On Demand orders will cease in mid-April, with the digital collection and marketplace closing at the end of May 2026. Equinox also plans to release the card list and artwork on GitHub and is in discussions to bring the game to Board Game Arena.
