Game Preservation
Ongoing coverage on Game Preservation.
Latest coverage
The Video Game History Foundation calls on the ESA to offer "meaningful solutions" for preserving digital-only games
The Video Game History Foundation, through its director Frank Cifaldi, is urging the Entertainment Software Association to develop meaningful solutions for preserving digital-only games. Cifaldi highlights that physical media is becoming obsolete and even digital patches render physical copies unrepresentative of the final product, calling for legal frameworks to aid archives and museums in preservation efforts.
Game History and Preservation
The Video Game History Foundation has urged the Entertainment Software Association to develop a legal framework for preserving digital-only games for research purposes. The ESA has indicated that game preservation is not part of its current responsibilities.
Game preservation expert says stop killing games if you don't want piracy, because companies like PlayStation and Rockstar "refuse to offer a meaningful alternative"
Game preservation expert Frank Cifaldi argues that companies like Sony and Rockstar Games are contributing to piracy by refusing to offer alternatives to digital-only or soon-to-be-discontinued physical game formats. Cifaldi, director of the Video Game History Foundation, stated that piracy is currently the only effective form of game preservation due to industry practices.
Nintendo Could Inherit The Physical Gaming Crown By Default
Sony and Microsoft are rumored to be moving towards digital-only consoles for their next generations, potentially leaving Nintendo as the sole major manufacturer still supporting physical game releases. Industry analyst Mat Piscatella believes Nintendo will continue its own strategy, unaffected by competitors' shifts. While Nintendo Switch has a strong physical market share, a significant portion of its sales are digital, and some physical releases utilize Game-Key Cards, raising concerns about long-term game preservation.
The Daily Grind: Is there any old content in your favorite MMO you hope never gets updated?
This article discusses the sentiment among Massively Multiplayer Online Roleplaying Game players regarding the preservation of older, sometimes janky, in-game content. It questions whether updating and polishing outdated elements always improves the player experience or if it can sometimes diminish the charm and unique character of older game features.
"Long live physical media": Devs and publishers of Baldur's Gate 3, Silksong, and more call Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation games "genuinely heartbreaking"
Sony's decision to cease production of physical PlayStation game discs starting in 2028 has been met with dismay from developers and publishers. Many express sadness and a loss of desire to develop for the platform, citing the importance of physical media for preservation, collector value, and the joy it brings to players. Companies like Larian Studios, Lost in Cult, and Fangamer are particularly vocal about the impact on their work and their commitment to physical releases.
Sony kills game ownership and says it's all your fault
Sony is phasing out physical game discs for new PlayStation titles by 2028, effectively ending the concept of game ownership as players will no longer be able to buy, sell, or preserve physical copies. This move, driven by business decisions and a lack of competition, raises concerns about game preservation, consumer rights, and the loss of tangible connection to games and their creators.
‘Piracy isn’t theft' but 'moral imperative' say fans after PS5 goes digital-only
Following Sony's announcement to transition the PlayStation 5 to digital-only releases, many gamers and industry figures are advocating for piracy as a means of game preservation and ownership. Critics argue that without physical copies, players lose true ownership, making pirated games a 'moral imperative' for ensuring long-term access to titles.
Even Hideo Kojima is afraid that 'digital data will no longer be owned by individuals' and that access to art…
Hideo Kojima has expressed concerns about the future of digital ownership, fearing that players will eventually lose control over their digital data and access to art. This sentiment is amplified by Sony's reported move towards a fully digital PlayStation ecosystem by 2028, raising anxieties about game preservation and the potential loss of access to purchased content due to external factors like server shutdowns or company closures.
"We are profoundly disappointed" - boutique special edition game makers react to PlayStation's discless future
Boutique special edition game makers like iam8bit, Lost in Cult, and Red Art Games have expressed profound disappointment and protest over Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs for PlayStation consoles in January 2028. These companies emphasize the importance of physical media for game preservation, ownership, and consumer choice, vowing to continue their efforts to release physical editions for as long as possible.
Xbox Reportedly Testing Feature Allowing You To Digitize Physical Discs
Xbox is reportedly testing a new feature called 'Disc2Digital' that would allow users to digitize their physical game discs and add them to their Xbox account. This feature would only apply to Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S games, with older Xbox 360 discs not supported. The move comes amid industry trends towards digital-only releases and potential future console designs without disc drives.
Next Xbox, Project Helix, Will Reportedly Not Have a Disc Drive
Reports indicate the next Xbox console, codenamed Project Helix, will be a discless model, eliminating support for physical media. This follows PlayStation's announcement of ending physical disc production in 2028 and Rockstar Games' confirmation of no disc version for Grand Theft Auto VI. The move raises significant concerns for game preservation and the physical game market, with figures like Frank Cifaldi of the Video Game History Foundation highlighting the challenges for archiving digital-only content.
As PlayStation kills discs, former Blizzard boss says "we can't live in a world of fear if our games will work…
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra has expressed concerns regarding Sony Interactive Entertainment's move towards an all-digital, disc-less future for PlayStation consoles, starting in January 2028. He urges platform holders to establish clear digital promises for consumers, ensure game accessibility in the long term, and innovate game sharing features to match the ease of physical disc lending.
Physical media retailers respond to PlayStation's discontinuation of disc-based games
Sony has announced its decision to cease production of physical disc-based games for PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028. This move has drawn disappointment from physical media retailers like GameFly, Fangamer, and iam8bit, who emphasize the importance of physical media for ownership, preservation, and consumer choice. While GameStop and Limited Run Games have not yet commented, Sony cites shifting consumer trends for its decision, which may also suggest cost-cutting measures for future hardware.
Issues and Activism
The decline of CD keys highlights the precarious nature of game ownership in the digital age, with analysts suggesting this trend brings us closer to the death of physical game sales. This shift raises concerns about long-term access and preservation of digital titles.
Death Stranding Director is Afraid of the World Going Fully Digital After PlayStation’s Announcement
Hideo Kojima has expressed concerns about Sony's move towards digital-only game releases on PlayStation, fearing that individuals will lose ownership of their digital data. He cited the delisting of P.T. as an example of how digital content can become inaccessible. Kojima's new horror game, OD, is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
PlayStation’s Plan to Kill Physical Games is as Confusing as It Is Insulting
Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to phase out physical game discs for PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, exclusively offering digital versions. This decision, citing consumer trends and digital sales dominance, has sparked significant backlash due to concerns over digital ownership, game preservation, and potential monopolization of the market by the PlayStation Store. The move also follows the controversial shutdown of the PlayStation 3 and Vita storefronts, raising further questions about the future of accessing purchased digital content and the potential implications for future consoles like the PlayStation 6.
Hideo Kojima's fears resurface as PlayStation ends physical games: "Eventually, even digital data will no longer be owned by individuals on their own initiative"
Hideo Kojima has voiced concerns about the shift to digital-only games, echoing sentiments from 2021 about the potential loss of ownership. He fears that access to digital media, including games, could be revoked due to global events or publisher decisions, citing the delisting of P.T. as a prime example of digital game unavailability.
'They refuse to offer a meaningful alternative': Game preservation leader agrees that piracy is the only…
Frank Cifaldi, director of the Video Game History Foundation, agrees that piracy is currently the only effective method for game preservation, especially with Sony's planned discontinuation of PlayStation 5 discs in 2028 and the closure of older digital storefronts. He criticizes the industry for not providing legal alternatives for preservation institutions, despite acknowledging the problem.
Downloading GTA 6 with the "hope it'll run in 50 years is not a preservation solution," Video Game History Foundation says as PlayStation kills discs
The Video Game History Foundation criticizes Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation disc production and close older digital stores, stating it poses challenges for game preservation. Director Frank Cifaldi argues that relying on piracy or physical media is insufficient for long-term preservation, especially for digital-only titles like Grand Theft Auto 6. He calls for the industry to provide legal solutions for archives to preserve digital content, as current copyright laws and industry opposition hinder these efforts.
