Video game preservation

Code and assets can be lost during consolidation of companies or similar business activities; for example the assets for the 1997 ''[[Blade Runner (1997 video game)|Blade Runner]]'' game were lost when [[Electronic Arts]] had physically moved [[Westwood Studios]] following their acquisition, making it difficult for [[Night Dive Studios]] to attempt a remaster of the game around 2020.{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/replicating-blade-runner-why-the-adventure-game-classic-is-so-tough-to-remaster | title = Replicating Blade Runner: why the adventure game classic is so tough to remaster | first = Wesley | last = Yin-Poole | date = October 24, 2020 |accessdate = June 12, 2022 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }} Another example includes the original code and art asset files for [[StarCraft (video game)|''Starcraft'' (1998)]], which were lost during the development for ''[[StarCraft: Remastered]]''. As a result, the sprites had to be redone from scratch.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/06/hands-on-with-starcraft-remastered-ahead-of-its-august-14-launch-for-15/|title = ''StarCraft'' Remastered devs unveil price, explain how much is being rebuilt|first=Sam|last=Machkovech|date=June 29, 2017|accessdate=August 21, 2022|work = [[Ars Technica]] }}{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/18/16153628/starcraft-remastered-blizzard-zerg-terran-protoss|title=The trouble with Zerglings: How Blizzard updated a classic (while keeping it the same)|first1=Ben|last1=Kuchera|date=2017-08-18 |accessdate=2022-08-21|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }} Physical archives of older game material can also be suspectible to losses when companies clear out or consolidate offices. Several Japanese developers that were first founded in the 1980s and 1990s, including [[Square Enix]], [[Capcom]], [[Taito]] and [[Sega]], have committed their own internal efforts to keep physical archives in special locations to prevent accidental disposal while also working to digitize these assets.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/square-enix-capcom-taito-and-sega-commit-to-archiving-past-development-materials | title = Square Enix, Capcom, Taito, and Sega commit to "archiving past development materials" | first = Vikki | last = Blake | date = April 22, 2025 | accessdate = April 22, 2025 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] }} The rights to older games have also defaulted to persons that may have been tangentially involved with the game and are unaware of their rights' ownership. In one case [[GOG.com]] stated they had to hire a private investigator to locate such a rights-holder for games they wanted to preserve that was otherwise living off the grid.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/games/just-in-case-you-thought-reviving-dead-games-seemed-easy-enough-gog-had-to-hire-a-private-investigator-to-find-an-ip-holder-living-off-the-grid-for-its-preservation-program/ | title = Just in case you thought reviving dead games seemed easy enough, GOG had to hire a private investigator to find an IP holder living off the grid for its preservation program | first = Justin | last = Wagner | date = October 18, 2025 | accessdate = October 18, 2025 | work = [[PC Gamer]] }}

Code and assets can be lost during consolidation of companies or similar business activities; for example the assets for the 1997 ''[[Blade Runner (1997 video game)|Blade Runner]]'' game were lost when [[Electronic Arts]] had physically moved [[Westwood Studios]] following their acquisition, making it difficult for [[Night Dive Studios]] to attempt a remaster of the game around 2020.{{cite web | url = https://www.eurogamer.net/replicating-blade-runner-why-the-adventure-game-classic-is-so-tough-to-remaster | title = Replicating Blade Runner: why the adventure game classic is so tough to remaster | first = Wesley | last = Yin-Poole | date = October 24, 2020 |accessdate = June 12, 2022 | work = [[Eurogamer]] }} Another example includes the original code and art asset files for [[StarCraft (video game)|''Starcraft'' (1998)]], which were lost during the development for ''[[StarCraft: Remastered]]''. As a result, the sprites had to be redone from scratch.{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/06/hands-on-with-starcraft-remastered-ahead-of-its-august-14-launch-for-15/|title = ''StarCraft'' Remastered devs unveil price, explain how much is being rebuilt|first=Sam|last=Machkovech|date=June 29, 2017|accessdate=August 21, 2022|work = [[Ars Technica]] }}{{cite web |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/18/16153628/starcraft-remastered-blizzard-zerg-terran-protoss|title=The trouble with Zerglings: How Blizzard updated a classic (while keeping it the same)|first1=Ben|last1=Kuchera|date=2017-08-18 |accessdate=2022-08-21|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }} Physical archives of older game material can also be suspectible to losses when companies clear out or consolidate offices. Several Japanese developers that were first founded in the 1980s and 1990s, including [[Square Enix]], [[Capcom]], [[Taito]] and [[Sega]], have committed their own internal efforts to keep physical archives in special locations to prevent accidental disposal while also working to digitize these assets.{{cite web | url = https://www.gamesindustry.biz/square-enix-capcom-taito-and-sega-commit-to-archiving-past-development-materials | title = Square Enix, Capcom, Taito, and Sega commit to "archiving past development materials" | first = Vikki | last = Blake | date = April 22, 2025 | accessdate = April 22, 2025 | work = [[GamesIndustry.biz]] }} The rights to older games have also defaulted to persons that may have been tangentially involved with the game and are unaware of their rights' ownership. In one case [[GOG.com]] stated they had to hire a private investigator to locate such a rights-holder for games they wanted to preserve that was otherwise living off the grid.{{cite web | url = https://www.pcgamer.com/games/just-in-case-you-thought-reviving-dead-games-seemed-easy-enough-gog-had-to-hire-a-private-investigator-to-find-an-ip-holder-living-off-the-grid-for-its-preservation-program/ | title = Just in case you thought reviving dead games seemed easy enough, GOG had to hire a private investigator to find an IP holder living off the grid for its preservation program | first = Justin | last = Wagner | date = October 18, 2025 | accessdate = October 18, 2025 | work = [[PC Gamer]] }}

[[File:Waluigi's Foot Fault (Waluigi's Toenail Clipping Party) logo.png|thumb|left|''Waluigi's Foot Fault'', a [[Nintendo]] game in which players clip [[Waluigi]]'s [[toenail]]s, was only released in a digital format online, and is currently lost after it was removed from Nintendo's websites.]]

Preservation also has become an issue with the prevalence of [[digital distribution]] on console platforms; as manufacturers drop support for older hardware, games that exist only in digital form may be lost. This issue came to light when [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] announced plans to shut down storefronts for the [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation Portable]] and [[PlayStation Vita]] by mid-2021, though which Sony later reversed, leaving the PlayStation 3 and Vita stores open indefinitely, while limiting PlayStation Portable purchases to the Vita and PlayStation 3 storefronts.{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/22392132/playstation-store-ps3-ps-vita-psp-shut-down-cancel-reversed-why | title= PlayStation Store for PS3, PS Vita will not shut down, Sony announces | first = Owen | last = Good | date = April 19, 2021 | accessdate = April 19, 2021 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }} An estimated 2,200 games across these platforms were only available digitally, and while most have versions on other platforms, about 120 were exclusive to the Sony platform and would become completely unavailable after the stores' closure. Prior to reversing their decision, Sony did not provide any immediate plans to offer these titles by other means.{{cite web | url = https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/analysis-2000-digital-only-games-will-disappear-when-playstation-closes-its-stores/ | title = Analysis: 2,000 digital-only games will disappear when PlayStation closes its stores | first = Chris | last = Scullion | date = April 2, 2021 | accessdate = April 2, 2021 | work = [[Video Games Chronicle]] }} In 2022, Sony started its own preservation team, which by March 2025, had saved over 1,000 builds (including alpha and beta builds in addition to releases) available by various means on the PlayStation 5, including source code and art assets.{{cite web | url = https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-has-been-backing-up-its-ps5-game-builds-as-part-of-a-preservation-effort-150025423.html?src=rss | title = Sony has been backing up its PS5 game builds as part of a preservation effort | first = Mariella | last = Moon | date = March 29, 2025 | accessdate = March 29, 2025 | work = [[Engadget]] }}

Preservation also has become an issue with the prevalence of [[digital distribution]] on console platforms; as manufacturers drop support for older hardware, games that exist only in digital form may be lost. This issue came to light when [[Sony Interactive Entertainment]] announced plans to shut down storefronts for the [[PlayStation 3]], [[PlayStation Portable]] and [[PlayStation Vita]] by mid-2021, though which Sony later reversed, leaving the PlayStation 3 and Vita stores open indefinitely, while limiting PlayStation Portable purchases to the Vita and PlayStation 3 storefronts.{{cite web | url = https://www.polygon.com/22392132/playstation-store-ps3-ps-vita-psp-shut-down-cancel-reversed-why | title= PlayStation Store for PS3, PS Vita will not shut down, Sony announces | first = Owen | last = Good | date = April 19, 2021 | accessdate = April 19, 2021 | work = [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] }} An estimated 2,200 games across these platforms were only available digitally, and while most have versions on other platforms, about 120 were exclusive to the Sony platform and would become completely unavailable after the stores' closure. Prior to reversing their decision, Sony did not provide any immediate plans to offer these titles by other means.{{cite web | url = https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/analysis-2000-digital-only-games-will-disappear-when-playstation-closes-its-stores/ | title = Analysis: 2,000 digital-only games will disappear when PlayStation closes its stores | first = Chris | last = Scullion | date = April 2, 2021 | accessdate = April 2, 2021 | work = [[Video Games Chronicle]] }} In 2022, Sony started its own preservation team, which by March 2025, had saved over 1,000 builds (including alpha and beta builds in addition to releases) available by various means on the PlayStation 5, including source code and art assets.{{cite web | url = https://www.engadget.com/gaming/playstation/sony-has-been-backing-up-its-ps5-game-builds-as-part-of-a-preservation-effort-150025423.html?src=rss | title = Sony has been backing up its PS5 game builds as part of a preservation effort | first = Mariella | last = Moon | date = March 29, 2025 | accessdate = March 29, 2025 | work = [[Engadget]] }}