The National Videogame Museum has rolled out a comprehensive, UK‑wide questionnaire designed to assess the current landscape of video‑game preservation across the nation. This initiative, titled "Behind the Screens," is being conducted in collaboration with the industry trade association Ukie and is financially supported by the British Film Institute’s Screen Heritage Fund. The purpose of the survey is to gather detailed information from a broad spectrum of stakeholders—including developers, publishers, independent studios, former industry professionals, and private collectors—about any video‑game‑related archives they may possess. Respondents are asked to describe the nature of their holdings, which can range from game development artefacts such as concept art, source code, design documents, and marketing collateral, to physical hardware like consoles, arcade cabinets, and peripheral devices.
The questionnaire also probes participants' attitudes toward preservation, asking how they view the importance of safeguarding these materials for future research, education, and cultural appreciation. According to the museum, the data collected will be instrumental in shaping conversations about the most effective ways for the United Kingdom to protect, celebrate, and disseminate its video‑game heritage. By mapping out what already exists, the museum hopes to pinpoint gaps where important items are at risk of deterioration or loss, and to identify opportunities for collaborative efforts among developers, archivists, and cultural institutions. Such cooperation could lead to joint preservation projects, shared storage facilities, or coordinated digitisation programmes aimed at securing at‑risk assets.
"The UK games sector has produced internationally acclaimed titles, world‑leading studios, and a wealth of creative talent," said John O'Shea, co‑CEO and Creative Director of the National Videogame Museum. "Yet much of that history is vulnerable to being forgotten unless we take deliberate steps to preserve it.
This survey represents a crucial first move toward understanding the breadth of material that already exists and discovering how we can collectively safeguard the UK's videogame legacy for future generations." Ukie’s chief executive, Nick Poole, echoed this sentiment, describing the questionnaire as "a step towards properly recognising and preserving" the industry's cultural contributions. Marta Berto, manager of the BFI Screen Heritage Fund, added that the project aligns with the BFI’s ten‑year Screen Culture 2033 strategy, which explicitly includes video games as an integral component of the UK's broader screen culture ecosystem. The National Videogame Museum itself opened its doors in Sheffield in 2018 and has since attracted more than 350,000 visitors.
Its own collection comprises close to 5,000 items that span the history of interactive entertainment, from early arcade cabinets and classic home consoles to rare promotional artwork, prototype hardware, and personal memorabilia from developers. The museum’s experience in curating and exhibiting such objects positions it well to lead a national effort aimed at documenting and protecting similar collections held elsewhere. Beyond simply cataloguing items, the "Behind the Screens" survey seeks to foster a dialogue about best practices in preservation.
Respondents are invited to share insights on challenges they face—such as media degradation, copyright constraints, or limited storage capacity—and to suggest potential solutions, including the use of climate‑controlled archives, digital emulation, or public‑private partnerships. By collecting this qualitative data alongside the inventory of physical and digital assets, the museum hopes to produce a nuanced picture of the preservation ecosystem and to recommend actionable policies for government bodies, funding agencies, and industry groups. The questionnaire is now live and open to anyone with relevant holdings or expertise.
Participants can complete the survey online, and the museum has pledged to keep the responses confidential while aggregating the results for public reporting. The final report, expected later next year, will be shared with stakeholders across the sector and will inform future initiatives, such as targeted grant programmes, educational outreach, and the development of a national video‑game archive. In a broader cultural context, the effort reflects a growing recognition that video games are not merely entertainment products but also significant cultural artifacts that document technological innovation, artistic expression, and social trends.
As games continue to influence media, education, and even politics, preserving their development history becomes essential for scholars, creators, and fans alike. The National Videogame Museum’s "Behind the Screens" survey thus represents a pivotal moment in the United Kingdom’s commitment to safeguarding its interactive media heritage.
By inviting the entire industry—and the dedicated collectors who support it—to contribute their knowledge and resources, the project aims to ensure that the stories behind the most beloved and groundbreaking games are not lost to time. The survey remains open for submissions, and interested parties are encouraged to participate promptly to help shape the future of game preservation in the UK.