The Future of Game Preservation: Challenges and Opportunities in the Digital Age

The recent announcement by Nintendo that some Switch 2 cartridges will be Game-Key Cards, which act as keys to unlock a download of the title rather than storing the game itself, has sparked concerns about the preservation of games in the digital age. Stephen Kick, CEO of Nightdive Studios, expresses his disappointment, stating that a company like Nintendo, with such a rich history, should take preservation more seriously. The worry is that when the Switch 2 eShop eventually closes, these Game-Key Cards will be dependent on Nintendo's servers to support downloads, highlighting the need for a more sustainable preservation strategy. Jon-Paul Dyson, director of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong Museum, notes that the shift towards digital games is inevitable, and Nintendo is not the first to take this step. However, this raises questions about how to preserve digital games and what exactly should be saved. Dyson emphasizes the importance of preserving not just the game itself but also its history, including the stories and experiences of players. Professor James Newman, co-founder of the Videogame Heritage Society, agrees, suggesting that preserving games is not just about saving bitstreams but about creating collections of documents and insights from various stakeholders, including designers, developers, players, and historians. The challenge of preserving digital games is further complicated by the fact that many games, especially mobile games, can change significantly over time, making it difficult to determine which version to preserve. Dyson notes that The Strong Museum typically preserves multiple versions of a digital game at different points in its lifetime. The museum also uses various storage methods, including professional cloud-based digital preservation platforms, local storage devices, and even magnetic tape. While institutions like The Strong play a crucial role in game preservation, they cannot do it alone. Fan communities are invaluable in this effort, as they often have the freedom to work in grey areas, such as emulation and file sharing. However, their efforts may not be sustainable in the long run, emphasizing the need for a joint effort among institutions, communities, and companies. Newman stresses that game preservation requires a distributed effort, with different organizations contributing their expertise and knowledge to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks. The recent commitment by companies like Square Enix, Sega, Capcom, and Taito to archive development materials is a positive step, but more needs to be done. Dyson argues that companies should have a plan in place for preserving their games and materials for the next 50 or 100 years, forcing them to think about the long-term implications of their actions. Kick would like to see more big game companies showing love to their older titles, following the example of EA's Command and Conquer remaster. Ultimately, the preservation of games and their history is a complex issue that requires a collaborative effort from all stakeholders to ensure that these important cultural artifacts are protected for future generations.