Video Game Preservation
Ongoing coverage on Video Game Preservation.
Latest coverage
Sony bringing back PS1 games including WipEout and Ape Escape claim rumours
Rumors suggest Sony Interactive Entertainment is exploring the revival of several older intellectual properties, including PlayStation 1 titles like WipEout and Ape Escape, as well as the inFamous series. While Sucker Punch Productions is reportedly not involved in the inFamous revival due to their work on Ghost of Tsushima, leakers indicate Sony is considering bringing back unused IPs. This move could be a strategy to address criticism regarding a limited number of first-party releases by offering remasters and lower-budget sequels.
Piko Interactive Announces the Return of Blender Bros. for Game Boy Advance
Piko Interactive has announced the physical re-release of the cult-classic Game Boy Advance title, Blender Bros. The game will be available in Standard and Collector's Editions, along with a vinyl soundtrack. Piko Interactive also plans to bring Blender Bros. to modern platforms, release its manga in English, and produce collectible toys.
Marvel MaXimum Collection review – Marvellous Curation
The Marvel MaXimum Collection offers a curated selection of Marvel games from the 16-bit era, including titles like Spider-Man and X-Men, alongside some 8-bit entries. While some games show their age, the collection provides a historical look at Marvel's gaming legacy with updated presentation and bonus materials, making it accessible for both returning fans and newcomers.
If Black Flag Resynced isn't enough for you, rumours swirl that we're also getting a full remake of the original Assassin's Creed game
Rumors suggest that following the remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag, Ubisoft is also planning a full remake of the original Assassin's Creed game. This potential remake would make the first title playable on modern consoles and align with the company's stated goal of revisiting older series entries. The original Assassin's Creed is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary in November 2027.
"I'd say mission achieved for this one": Stop Killing Games on the latest European Commission public hearing
Stop Killing Games founder Ross Scott and organizer Moritz Katzner attended a European Parliament hearing on the European Citizens Initiative Stop Destroying Videogames. Both participants expressed optimism about the positive reception from MEPs and the European Commission, viewing the hearing as a significant step in the legislative process for video game preservation.
After spending $60,000 on an "unheard of" first-party Nintendo prototype, anonymous collector pulls the ultimate good guy move and releases the ROM for preservationists to study for free
An anonymous collector purchased a rare prototype of Nintendo's Punch-Out!! for over $60,000 and has released the ROM for free, allowing for the preservation and study of early game development. This move is praised by preservationists like Frank Cifaldi of the Video Game History Foundation, who notes the rarity of such an early build of a major first-party title.
Heretic II has a new reverse-engineered source port
A new reverse-engineered source port, Heretic2R, has been released for the classic 1998 first-person shooter Heretic II. This community-driven project brings several enhancements including widescreen support, improved loading times, and bug fixes. While it currently runs via Proton on Linux, efforts are underway to create a native build.
Opinion: As Resident Evil Turns 30, It's Time Capcom Revisits The Classics
As the Resident Evil franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary, this opinion piece argues that Capcom should revisit and re-release older, less accessible titles like Survivor, Outbreak, Gaiden, and Dead Aim. While acknowledging the success of modern RE Engine remakes, the author believes these classic games offer a unique glimpse into the series' original vision and the late '90s pop culture, and should be made available on modern platforms.
"It's all of us against apathy, entropy, and loss of art" - Stop Killing Games has reached the EU Parliament, but what happens now?
The 'Stop Killing Games' initiative has presented its case to the European Parliament, advocating for end-of-life policies for video games to ensure their continued accessibility after server shutdowns. While initially met with a lack of understanding regarding modern gaming, the movement successfully framed the issue as a consumer rights problem, gaining bipartisan support. The initiative aims to preserve games as cultural artifacts, facing challenges in maintaining long-term political engagement against industry interests and the constant emergence of new game closures.
From a 'single save-passing exercise' to an 'international community': How GTA’s world-hopping Chain Game has endured through hundreds of rounds—and how it's preparing for its biggest test yet with GTA 6
The Grand Theft Auto Chain Game is a community-driven initiative where players collectively achieve 100% completion of various GTA titles by passing save files. Originating as a simple exercise, it has evolved into an international community that fosters teamwork and friendship, with plans to adapt the format for the upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6.
The Quadruple Death and Rebirth of Resident Evil 4 - IGN
Resident Evil 4 underwent a famously troubled development cycle, with at least four distinct versions being scrapped before its 2005 release. Early concepts by Hideki Kamiya evolved into Devil May Cry, while later iterations explored psychological horror and traditional zombies before Shinji Mikami's final vision took hold. These abandoned projects significantly influenced the final game and the broader survival horror genre.
As the Game Boy Advance turns 25, here are seven of the best GBA games you can play on Switch right now, and five we hope show up soon
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Game Boy Advance, this article highlights seven beloved GBA titles currently playable on the Nintendo Switch and five more that fans hope will be added soon. The author shares personal memories and discusses the enduring legacy of the handheld's vast library, including iconic series and new franchises that were born on the platform.
Canceled Star Wars FPS Is Playable Again: "Amazing And Sad At The Same Time," Dev Says
The canceled Star Wars FPS, Star Wars: First Assault, is now playable thanks to fans who managed to get its closed technical beta working online. Former developer Patrick Wren expressed mixed emotions seeing the game playable after over a decade, noting it was only months from release before cancellation. The article also touches on other canceled Star Wars games and the current licensing landscape for Star Wars titles.
The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time Is Set To Receive A Fanmade Port For The Sega Dreamcast
A fanmade port of Nintendo's classic action-adventure game, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, is in development for the Sega Dreamcast. This project aims to bring the beloved title to a new platform through community efforts.
There's a "TV apocalypse" in video game preservation as CRTs go extinct, expert says, and that's just the tip of the iceberg as work continues to save retro hardware
The extinction of CRT televisions poses a significant challenge to video game preservation, as many retro games were designed with their display characteristics in mind. Experts at the Game Developers Conference 2026 highlighted this 'TV apocalypse' as part of a larger crisis facing game historians, who are working to preserve not only playable games but also crucial development materials like schematics to aid in emulation and future game presentation.
PlayStation 3 emulator RPCS3 is getting improved handheld PC support
The PlayStation 3 emulator RPCS3 is receiving updates to improve its user experience on handheld PCs like the Steam Deck and Legion Go. Upcoming features include a redesigned in-game home menu, on-the-fly settings changes, better button mapping, and the ability to add games to Steam directly from RPCS3.
Copyright trolling kept evidence of Japanese cult classic Cookie's Bustle offline, until now
The Video Game History Foundation has successfully defended the obscure Japanese point-and-click game Cookie's Bustle against copyright trolling by Graceware. Graceware had repeatedly used DMCA takedowns to remove content related to the 1999 game, but the VGHF pushed back, leading to Ukie ceasing its takedown services for Graceware. This victory helps preserve the game's history and online presence.
Preview: Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Feels Well-Organized
The Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection aims to preserve seven Nintendo DS titles with a well-organized presentation, similar to the Mega Man Battle Network Legacy Collection. The compilation features clear game structuring, supplemental features like an art gallery and music player, and display options for the dual screens. The collection is set to release on March 27, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.
Ahead of Myrient's RAM crisis-linked demise, volunteers are working to archive its entire collection
The video game preservation service Myrient is set to shut down at the end of March due to a lack of funding, exacerbated by rising hardware costs. In response, a volunteer group named Minerva is working to archive Myrient's entire collection of millions of files to prevent permanent loss.
For better or worse, Pokemon FireRed and LeafGreen's Switch ports aren't exactly as we remember them - but is that a problem?
Nintendo's rerelease of Pokémon FireRed and LeafGreen on the Nintendo Switch has sparked community outcry due to their £16.99 price point each. While not direct ports, featuring a profanity filter and bug fixes like the 'Roaming Roar bug', the changes and cost have divided fans. The article discusses whether these alterations and the price are acceptable for accessing classic Pokémon titles on modern hardware.
