Game Preservation
Ongoing coverage on Game Preservation.
Latest coverage
Marvel's Wolverine "fully playable" on disc when it releases, Insomniac clarifies, perhaps making it one of the last few PlayStation games that will be
Insomniac Games has confirmed that Marvel's Wolverine will be fully playable on disc upon its PlayStation 5 release on September 15th, clarifying it will not require a full download. This announcement comes amidst Sony's controversial decision to cease producing game discs by January 2028, a move that has sparked backlash over concerns about second-hand sales and digital store monopolies.
You have fewer than 200 days to migrate all your old Pokémon from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon Home, or they're gone forever
The Pokémon Company has announced that Pokémon Bank, a storage application for the Nintendo 3DS, will cease operations on February 25, 2027. Players have until this date to migrate their Pokémon from Pokémon Bank to Pokémon Home, as any remaining Pokémon will be lost permanently. Compatibility for Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen with Pokémon Home is expected in October 2026.
Pokemon Bank shuts down next year, cutting off the only transfer path from older Pokemon games to the Switch generation
The Pokemon Company announced that Pokemon Bank, a service for transferring Pokemon from older Nintendo 3DS titles, will cease operations on February 26, 2027. This marks the end of the primary method for moving creatures from the 3DS generation to the Nintendo Switch via Pokemon HOME. Players have until the shutdown date to transfer their Pokemon.
Nintendo Is Pulling The Plug On One Of The Best Ways To Get Rare Pokemon
Nintendo is shutting down Pokemon Bank, a service that allowed players to store rare Pokemon, on February 27, 2027. This closure marks the end of an era for the Nintendo 3DS, as the eShop for the console has already been closed. While a replacement service, Pokemon Home, exists for Nintendo Switch, iOS, and Android, transferring Pokemon from older games will become more difficult.
UNC Greensboro game preservation project back on track after Trump funding cuts
A game preservation project at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, led by Dr. Colin Post, has resumed after funding cuts by the Trump administration were overturned in court. The project aims to establish how libraries can preserve and provide access to digital video games. This initiative gains urgency with Sony Interactive Entertainment's announcement to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games, highlighting the critical need for digital preservation strategies.
Amazon are getting out of the MMO game, handing control of Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty to developers, but it won't all be smooth for players
Amazon Game Studios is exiting the global publishing of MMOs, handing over control of Lost Ark to Smilegate and Throne and Liberty to FireSpark Games. While Amazon will cease live service operations for Lost Ark in early 2027, some player data like chat history and friend memos will be lost. This transition aims to align global updates with Korean releases for Lost Ark and is expected to be less disruptive for Throne and Liberty. The move comes as Amazon shifts its focus away from external publishing and internal MMO development.
Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire ports coming to Nintendo Switch this year says insider
An insider claims that ports of Pokémon Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald are planned for a late September/October release on the Nintendo Switch. This follows the successful release of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen ports earlier this year. Dataminers have found evidence in the source code of the existing ports suggesting future compatibility.
Sony has 'zero understanding for what their customers want' says gaming preservation group
Gaming preservation advocate Clemens Istel criticizes Sony and other companies for disregarding customer rights and pushing towards digital-only distribution, potentially leading to games becoming inaccessible. He highlights issues with physical game compatibility and the loss of true ownership, contrasting console practices with the more DRM-free options available on PC.
Stop Killing Games joins Dutch consumer rights lawsuit as its founder talks about its mission in an interview
The Stop Killing Games movement has joined a Dutch consumer rights lawsuit against Sony, arguing that the company's discontinuation of physical game releases is anti-consumer. The lawsuit, filed by Stichting Massaschade & Consument, seeks alternatives to the PlayStation Store, fair pricing, and refunds for alleged overcharges. In an interview, Stop Killing Games founder Ross Scott emphasized the importance of game preservation and publishers' responsibility for end-of-life plans.
"I'm not interested in bypassing DRM" - Preservationist brings back physical PC games using discs and…
Preservationist Ryan Enstrom is creating physical PC game discs and cartridges using existing storage media like SD cards, USB sticks, and even old HDDs. These physical copies can be used with storefronts like GOG, Steam, and the Xbox app without bypassing DRM. The project aims to keep physical media alive and demonstrates that digital collections can be made tangible.
Marvel's Wolverine "fully playable" on disc when it releases, Insomniac clarifies, perhaps making it one of the last few PlayStation games that will be
Insomniac Games has confirmed that Marvel's Wolverine will be fully playable on disc upon its PlayStation 5 release on September 15th, clarifying it will not require a full download. This announcement comes amidst Sony's controversial decision to cease producing game discs by January 2028, a move that has sparked backlash over concerns about second-hand sales and digital store monopolies.
Stop Killing Games join lawsuit against the PlayStation Store's "Sony Tax," in latest venture beyond game preservation
Game preservation advocates Stop Killing Games have joined a Dutch lawsuit against Sony and the PlayStation Store, alleging monopolistic practices and an illegal "Sony Tax" on digital games. The group is also involved in broader consumer advocacy efforts, including opposing VPN bans and social media age verification plans.
Evening Reading - August 10, 2026
This edition of Shacknews Evening Reading covers various game reviews including Agent 64: Spies Never Die and D-Topia. It also touches on upcoming titles like 1666: Amsterdam, the potential for a Payday TV show, and No Man's Sky's 10th anniversary. The article also mentions discussions around AI in gaming and the Xbox 360 era.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite Cloud Version on Nintendo Switch Has Been Shut Down
The cloud version of Aliens: Fireteam Elite has been shut down on Nintendo Switch, preventing players who purchased it from accessing the game. This shutdown follows the game's delisting from the eShop and raises concerns about game preservation in the era of cloud streaming. While services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus continue to offer cloud gaming, the closure of Google Stadia serves as a cautionary tale about the format's long-term viability.
This Switch Game You Might Have Bought Is Now Totally Unplayable
The Nintendo Switch version of Aliens: Fireteam Elite is now unplayable after its cloud servers were shut down on August 5. Developer Cold Iron Studios confirmed the shutdown, which affects players who purchased the game on the eShop. This event highlights ongoing concerns about game preservation and the potential pitfalls of cloud-dependent gaming, especially as companies like Take-Two Interactive predict a future dominated by commercial streaming.
20% rabatt på ISK-tshirt #5 - den med SULFUR
SULFUR, an indie action game, has received a review highlighting its unique premise of a cheese protagonist. The article also touches upon other game releases and industry topics, including Peak's final update, Serious Sam: Shatterverse, and the implications of not owning digital games.
A lost Final Fantasy 7 game has just been saved 20 years after its release, though it cost one preservationist $900
A previously lost Final Fantasy 7 spin-off, Dirge of Cerberus - Lost Episode, has been successfully preserved over 20 years after its release. Video game preservationist Yuvi spent over $900 to develop a brute-force program and GPU farm to recover the encrypted data from an old SD card. This mobile game, a midquel to Dirge of Cerberus, is now playable again and serves as a primer for Vincent Valentine's appearance in the upcoming Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Cancelled Quake 4 expansion gets surprise GitHub release after former XCOM 2 developer discovers it on an old hard…
A cancelled expansion for Quake 4, titled Awakening, has been unexpectedly released on GitHub after former XCOM 2 developer Justin Marshall discovered a build on a second-hand computer. The expansion, developed by Ritual Entertainment, was previously shelved by Activision due to poor sales of the base game. Marshall uploaded the build for preservation, hoping the community can utilize the near-complete content.
Chrono Trigger Turned 31, and Square Enix Still Hasn’t Made Anything Better
Chrono Trigger, released 31 years ago, remains Square Enix's benchmark for JRPG quality, a standard the company has yet to surpass despite its rich history. The game innovated by removing random encounters, featuring a compelling story, and boasting a legendary soundtrack, all thanks to a dream team of industry veterans. Despite its enduring legacy, Square Enix has failed to bring Chrono Trigger to modern platforms, hindering its accessibility and preservation.
Game History and Preservation
The Atari ST Public Floppy Database has been launched as an online archive, making classic games and homebrew titles accessible. This initiative aims to preserve the history of the Atari ST platform. A prototype video for Demon's Souls was also mentioned.