The Video Game History Foundation recently published the results of a significant new study on the availability of classic video games in the current commercial market. The findings are alarming – 87% of games released in the United States before 2010 are now considered “critically endangered” and at risk of being lost to history.
As both a gamer and a historian, I find this statistic deeply troubling. Video games are a vital part of our cultural heritage, with a history stretching back over 50 years. Over the decades, the medium has profoundly shaped art, technology, and society. And yet, most classic games are no longer commercially available, making them inaccessible to players and researchers.
Several factors contribute to this growing issue:
- Technical Constraints: Older games were created for obsolete platforms and hardware that are difficult to maintain and emulate. This poses challenges for making these titles widely accessible.
- Rights Issues: Determining who owns the rights to older games and securing licenses to re-release them can be complex and prohibitively expensive. This leaves many titles in legal limbo.
- Industry Disinterest: Most publishers see little financial incentive to keep old games available and instead focus on new releases. This leaves preservation to enthusiasts and non-profits.
- Platform Volatility: When digital storefronts and services shut down, access to games can be permanently lost if they are not preserved elsewhere.
The commercial video game industry has proven unwilling and unable to preserve its history correctly. While re-releases and compilations of famous retro games exist, they represent just a tiny fraction of gaming’s rich heritage.
That’s why organizations like the Video Game History Foundation are so vital. They preserve the context and content needed to study game history seriously through archiving and digitization. This includes source code, design documents, press coverage, merchandise, etc. It paints a detailed picture of gaming’s past that would otherwise be lost.
Game preservation also allows classic experiences to be enjoyed by new audiences. The games may look primitive by today’s standards but represent critical evolutionary steps in game design and technology. They offer genuine historical insights to players and developers alike.
In short, we cannot let short-sighted corporate interests determine what is worth remembering. Video game history belongs to all of us, and we must take responsibility for preserving our shared digital heritage. The Video Game History Foundation’s new study highlights the urgency of this mission. I encourage all gamers who care about this issue to support their essential work.
What are your thoughts? Do you think game publishers have a responsibility to preserve their back catalogs? Or does this duty fall more on museums, academics, and non-profits? Let’s discuss this in the comments!
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