GOG Launches Preservation Program to Ensure Classic Games Last Forever

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GOG has introduced a new video game preservation initiative aimed at ensuring that classic titles don’t become lost to time. Founded to combat the widespread video game piracy in 1990s Poland, GOG eventually shifted its focus to offering DRM-free digital versions of older games that were previously only available through physical copies.

With this dedication to providing access to both new and classic titles in a digital format without restrictions, GOG has become a leader in video game preservation. The company's mission is clear: "We make games last forever." To achieve this, GOG ensures that older games are compatible with modern hardware and operating systems, addressing issues and updating titles when necessary.

As part of its efforts, GOG has launched the GOG Preservation Program, which will designate games that have been tested and improved with a special “Good Old Game” stamp. This seal of approval will allow buyers to easily identify games that are compatible with current systems. On the GOG storefront, users will be able to filter their search results for games with this “Good Old Games” tag.




The importance of this initiative is underscored by a 2023 report from the Video Game History Foundation, which revealed that 87% of video games released before 2010 are no longer easily accessible. As more gamers and historians work to address this problem, GOG is stepping up with its new program.

The GOG Preservation Program is starting by re-releasing 100 classic titles from its catalog, ensuring they remain playable on modern systems. Even games no longer supported by their original developers have been tested and updated for accessibility. The program has already improved over 500 classic games, including Heroes of Might and Magic 3: Complete, Fallout: New Vegas, System Shock 2, Myst: Masterpiece Edition, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, and Diablo + Hellfire. In a further preservation effort, GOG confirmed it will also allow users to transfer ownership of their games upon death.

Despite these efforts, video game preservation faced a setback in October. A petition from the Software Preservation Network, seeking an exemption from the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to allow out-of-print games to be shared digitally for non-commercial use, was denied by the US Copyright Office.