GOG, the popular PC game retailer, has announced its intention to preserve at least 500 classic PC games by the end of 2025 as part of a new preservation programme. According to Marcin Paczyński, GOG’s senior business development manager, this initiative focuses on actively preserving these titles even when their publishers or developers are no longer supporting them.
Key Points:
- Goals: Preserve at least 500 classic PC games by the end of 2025.
- Unique Aspects: Unlike previous efforts, GOG is committed to long-term preservation and actively addressing issues faced by these titles.
- Selection Process: Games will be selected based on historical importance, fan demand, and compatibility with modern operating systems like Windows 10 or 11.
- Iconic Titles Included: Some very iconic and long-requested games are expected to be part of the programme.
What classic PC games would you like to see preserved through GOG’s new programme?
This whole thing is very confusing to me, because it feels like it’s just, y’know, the thing that GOG already did. Like, we all remember that GOG used to be short for “Good Old Games” because the point was that it was a digital store that preserved old games and made them playable on modern systems… Right?
Listen, I love GOG, they’re great, but isn’t this just them jumping on a bandwagon by promising to do the thing they’re already doing?
GOG launched in 2008 (when windows vista was current), some of the titles added to the catalog over the years will have problems with modern operating systems, hardware, drivers, etc.
Anything they add to the preservation program has confirmed comparability with Windows 10/11 and popular hardware currently in use. There is an element of housekeeping here that goes beyond simple PR.
I don’t think it qualifies as jumping on the bandwagon since, as you point, they’ve been doing it for the longest time anyway. This is just them reiterating their pledge and getting some good publicity out of it, which I think is perfectly fine.
Yeah, it seems like advertising. But whatever. This is their angle. This and maintaining your own installers of your games, if you wish.
Yeah, I mean I’m not hating on GOG, they’re great. Keep your own installers, no DRM, all good stuff. I just find this “Game preservation” campaign really silly.
There are tons of people who have still never heard of GOG. This really is a necessary advertisement campaign.
I mean. Most of the article is devoted to addressing this exact question. Before, it was just about making games playable on modern computers. This is about preserving games for the long term and making sure things are compatible with machines far into the future. The distinction may be a minor one but there is a difference in what this is vs. what they’ve been doing in the past. In fact this initiative is being worked towards because of their past experience in preserving games not separate from it.