Game Preservation
Ongoing coverage on Game Preservation.
Latest coverage
That GOG gloss-up of Thief is an excellent way to play the game until we get the Nightdive remaster
GOG's updated version of Thief Gold offers an excellent way to play the classic immersive sim on modern systems, featuring integrated fan mods for controller support and widescreen resolutions. While not a full remaster like Nightdive Studios' upcoming project, this GOG release effectively addresses common issues with older PC games, making them easily accessible.
Atari & Twin Galaxies partner to launch 2026 Atari World Championships
Atari has partnered with Twin Galaxies to launch the 2026 Atari World Championships, a new esports competition featuring five iconic Atari games. The event will include online tournaments culminating in a Grand Finals, with details on specific games and dates to be announced later. This initiative aligns with Atari's recent focus on game preservation and other ventures under CEO Wade Rosen.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 leads call PlayStation killing discs a "sad decision" after buying boxed copies of their own RPG – "For us, physical was something special"
Developers from Sandfall Interactive, creators of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, have expressed sadness over Sony's decision to end physical disc production for PlayStation consoles in 2028. Creative director Guillaume Broche and CTO Tom Guillermin believe physical media is a special and tangible part of art, despite understanding the business rationale. The studio even went out of its way to produce and purchase physical copies of their own game.
2 Star Ocean games go DRM-free on GOG as the storefront promises it's working on embracing the Linux faithful
Two Star Ocean titles, The Divine Force and The Second Story R, are now available DRM-free on GOG, with the storefront also confirming active development to bring its GOG Galaxy launcher to Linux. While the oldest PC entry, Star Ocean - The Last Hope - 4K and Full HD Remaster, is not yet on GOG, the newly added games are part of the GOG Preservation Program.
Roblox game Be Dead Forever Simulator is likely dead forever
The popular Roblox game Be Dead Forever Simulator has been made unavailable due to new age verification rules implemented by Roblox Corporation. The game's creator has not updated it in years, leaving its maturity rating unverified, which prevents players from accessing it. This situation raises concerns about how many games might be lost as a result of these new safety measures.
Game History and Preservation
Discussions around game preservation and the challenges of remaking classic titles like Final Fantasy VI are ongoing. Separately, Giant Bomb explored methods for backing up Sega Saturn games and BIOS using hardware like the Satiator ODE and emulators.
Games Inbox: Why isn’t there a Skyrim remake?
Readers discuss the lack of a Skyrim remake despite numerous special editions, questioning why publishers don't prioritize such projects. Other topics include the viability of a PlayStation 5 boycott, the underutilization of tornadoes in games, and concerns about Capcom's yearly Resident Evil releases and Ubisoft's Far Cry franchise.
Sony May Have the Data on Its Side, but It’s Still Losing the Digital-Only Argument
Sony's decision to move to digital-only games by 2028 has faced significant backlash, with consumers concerned about game preservation and the loss of physical media. Despite this, the company has remained largely silent, possibly anticipating the reaction and relying on declining physical sales data. The article questions the long-term viability of an all-digital future, citing potential issues with online infrastructure and the importance of physical media for certain markets and consumer preferences.
Sony's latest PR masterstroke is promoting vinyl records in the same breath it kills PlayStation discs: "If you can do physical for music, you can do it for games"
Sony's promotion of vinyl records has drawn criticism from PlayStation fans following the company's decision to end support for physical game discs in January 2028. Critics argue that if physical media is viable for music, it should be for games, questioning the profit-driven shift to digital-only sales and its impact on game preservation.
Game History and Preservation
This article discusses game preservation and history, referencing two videos: one on 'Aliens: The Video Game' and another on 'Half-Life' running on a PlayStation 1. The content highlights the importance of archiving and accessing older gaming titles.
PlayStation fans plan week-long blackout over Sony’s disc decision, but will you actually log off?
A week-long PlayStation blackout is being organized by the physical media preservation group Does It Play? to protest Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs by January 2028. The campaign aims to reduce console usage and purchases on Sony platforms to demonstrate player dissatisfaction, though its effectiveness is questioned given the dominance of digital sales and the large number of active PlayStation users.
The new 'backward compatible' Xbox games on PC run on an OG Xbox emulator inside an Xbox 360 emulator, and…
New original Xbox games available on PC through backward compatibility utilize a complex emulation system. These games run on an Xbox 360 emulator, which in turn runs an original Xbox emulator (XeFu). Independent developers have already leveraged these emulators to run other original Xbox and Xbox 360 titles on PC, showcasing the intricate engineering behind Microsoft's backward compatibility efforts and raising discussions about game preservation.
How PlayStation should have handled the news about going all-digital - Reader’s Feature
A reader suggests Sony Interactive Entertainment should have handled its transition to an all-digital PlayStation 5 by 2028 more carefully. The author proposes solutions like offering free digital transfers for physical discs, reducing digital game prices, and creating a dedicated studio for game preservation to appease critics and support physical media.
Thick as Thieves studio does what triple-A won't: keep its game playable
Despite significant layoffs at developer OtherSide Entertainment, the studio is working with publisher Megabit to ensure its game, Thick as Thieves, remains playable. A small remaining team is developing an update to transition from cloud-based servers to a peer-to-peer system for co-op play, ensuring the game's longevity.
Game History and Preservation
Microsoft has included a native Xbox 360 emulator with its recent backwards-compatible PC releases. Modders have reportedly managed to run Xbox 360 games on PC with minimal adjustments, highlighting advancements in game preservation and emulation technology.
Conceived in a secure military facility, this Jedi Knight fansite has been running consistently for almost 30 years: 'It looks really close to what it did back in 1998'
The Massassi Temple, a fan website dedicated to Star Wars Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2, has been continuously operating since 1998, making it one of the internet's longest-running gaming communities. Founded by Brian E. Lozier, the site began as a hub for tutorials and has evolved into a comprehensive archive of mods and multiplayer maps, supported by a dedicated community. Despite the decline of many early gaming websites and the shift towards larger platforms, The Massassi Temple persists, with Lozier now focusing on preserving its extensive community creations.
Xbox releases four original console games on PC thanks to Backwards Compatibility, but they chose the wrong ones
Microsoft has released four original Xbox console games on PC via backwards compatibility, including Fuzion Frenzy, BLiNX: The Time Sweeper, Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, and Conker: Live & Reloaded. The article criticizes the selection of games and the lack of achievements at launch, suggesting more popular titles like Halo: Combat Evolved or Jade Empire would have been better choices.
Game History and Preservation
This article discusses the importance of game preservation, highlighting the Amiga Freeware Archive as a valuable resource. It touches upon the challenges and significance of archiving digital games for future generations.
Saudi-led EA buyout receives EU approval, Xbox trials ad-supported game streaming, and Poinpy is eternal - Patch Notes #62
The European Commission has approved the Saudi-led buyout of Electronic Arts, while Xbox is trialing ad-supported game streaming for select titles. Separately, the mobile platformer Poinpy has returned, and news emerges about a revived Kinect game, scrapped Pokémon designs, and legal disputes involving Nintendo and Bethesda employees.
Mario Kart Wii is being "rebuilt for PC," but the project's AI vibe coding instantly soured many Nintendo…
A fan project is rebuilding the Nintendo game Mario Kart Wii for PC, with a beta release planned for August. However, the project has faced backlash from parts of the community due to its use of AI for coding, a practice many developers are actively trying to avoid in favor of traditional methods.
