Nintendo's Shift to Digital Games Raises Concerns About Preservation

The recent reveal of Nintendo's Switch 2 Game-Key Cards has sparked concern among game preservationists. These cards, which act as keys to unlock game downloads rather than storing the game itself, have raised questions about the long-term accessibility of digital games. Stephen Kick, CEO of Nightdive Studios, expressed disappointment at Nintendo's approach, stating that a company of its size and storied history should take preservation more seriously. Jon-Paul Dyson, director of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong Museum, noted that Nintendo's move towards digital-only games is part of a broader industry trend. Professor James Newman, co-founder of the Videogame Heritage Society, pointed out that even when a cartridge contains data, games are often patched and updated, making the cart more like a physical copy protection dongle. As digital games become the norm, preserving them for the future poses significant challenges. Dyson highlighted the importance of preserving not just the games themselves, but also the history and cultural context surrounding them. Newman emphasized the need to rethink what game preservation entails, suggesting that it should focus on creating collections of documents and insights about games, rather than just saving bitstreams. Fan communities play a vital role in game preservation, but institutions like The Strong Museum are also working to preserve games and their history. The museum uses a range of methods, including professional cloud-based preservation platforms, local storage devices, and magnetic tape. However, even with the best efforts, not every game can be preserved, and institutions must prioritize their efforts. A joint effort among groups worldwide is necessary to ensure the long-term preservation of games. While some companies, like Square Enix and Sega, are taking steps to archive their development materials, more needs to be done to ensure the preservation of gaming history. The commercial benefit of archiving old materials is becoming increasingly clear, but preservation remains a secondary commitment for most companies. Ultimately, a distributed effort is required to preserve the broad range of activities, audiences, and skills involved in game preservation.