game preservation Archives

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

Fallout creator laments the loss of the game’s earliest development materials: ‘I had that in digital form and was ordered to destroy it’

Tim Cain, the creator of the original Fallout, shared insights on his YouTube channel about his career and the game's origins, including the purposes of the Vaults and the game's setting in 2161. He recounted a past incident with publisher Interplay, where he was compelled to destroy a collection of early Fallout materials, including design notes and game builds, to avoid legal conflict. Cain highlighted the industry's failure in game preservation, noting that when he left Fallout, he was instructed to destroy his entire archive. A study indicated that about 87% of all games created are now unplayable without piracy or archival visits, underscoring the challenges in preserving both games and development materials.

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

25 Years Later, This Cult-Classic Capcom JRPG Has Been Modernized For PC

Breath of Fire 4 has been re-released by GOG as a new PC port that is DRM-free and optimized for Windows 10 and 11. The game features both English and Japanese localizations and supports modern controllers, including the Sony DualSense. Enhancements include restored sound effects, new rendering options, and fixes for previous crashing issues. Originally launched for PlayStation in 2000, this is the second PC port, following the first in 2003. The game's story involves two isolated continental powers and the protagonist Ryu, who can transform into a dragon, as he seeks to stop an immortal emperor. GOG has also been expanding its game preservation program, which started in November 2024, and allows community voting on classic titles for revival.

AppWizard

April 25, 2025

Capcom’s wonderful Breath of Fire 4 is finally available digitally thanks to GOG—I just wish it wasn’t quite so faithful to a 22-year-old port

GOG's game preservation program, launched in November, has curated over 100 titles to ensure classic games run smoothly on modern hardware and provides technical support for buyers. A recent addition is Capcom's PC port of Breath of Fire 4, which is now available digitally for the first time. The game features a captivating narrative, artwork, and a fishing minigame, but its port lacks unique enhancements and is considered inferior to other versions. Despite GOG's updates for controller support and technical issues, the experience is similar to the original PlayStation version. GOG claims this is the best PC version of Breath of Fire 4, though it is the only available PC port.

AppWizard

March 29, 2025

It still makes me uneasy that my hundreds of Steam games can’t be passed on when I die, at least not without violating the EULA

Shoot Many Robots was delisted from Steam at the request of its publisher, but it remains in the owner's Steam library. Steam's terms of service classify bequeathing an account as account sharing, limiting legitimate access for others. The gaming industry is experiencing volatility with frequent shutdowns of live service games, leading to calls for prioritizing game preservation, exemplified by the 'Stop Killing Games' campaign. GOG offers DRM-free titles and allows users to bequeath their libraries to heirs with proof of death, but acknowledges the lack of legal guidance on video game preservation. There is a growing demand for more robust frameworks governing game ownership and sustainable digital alternatives for future generations.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

Silent Hill 4, Deus Ex And F.E.A.R. Among Latest Games To Enter GOG’s Preservation Program

GOG has launched its Preservation Program to ensure over 100 classic video games remain accessible on modern systems. Recently, the program expanded to include titles such as Silent Hill 4: The Room, Deus Ex, and the original FEAR. GOG has committed to maintaining these games for compatibility with modern PCs indefinitely. The program also includes Fallout 2, Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption, Alone In The Dark 1 to 3, all eight original Ultima games, and the first three Tomb Raider titles. Silent Hill 4 has been enhanced with previously unreleased scenes. Many of these titles are currently available at significant discounts.

AppWizard

March 21, 2025

27 more classic PC games have joined the GOG Preservation Program, including Silent Hill 4

GOG has expanded its Preservation Program by adding 27 classic PC games, ensuring they remain playable on modern PCs. Notable new titles include Silent Hill 4: The Room, F.E.A.R. Platinum, and three Tomb Raider installments. The complete list of newly added games includes: - Alien Breed + Tower Assault - Alone in the Dark: The Trilogy 1+2+3 - Cannon Fodder - Cannon Fodder 2 - Deus Ex – Game of the Year Edition - Fallout 2 - F.E.A.R. Platinum - Jagged Alliance 2 - Port Royale 3 Gold - Privateer 2: The Darkening - Silent Hill 4: The Room - Tomb Raider Anniversary - Tomb Raider Legend - Tomb Raider Underworld - Ultima 1+2+3 - Ultima 4+5+6 - Ultima 8 Gold Edition - Vampire: The Masquerade – Redemption - Wing Commander 1+2 Each game is marked with a special stamp on the GOG store, and GOG provides a Preservation Log detailing updates for compatibility and performance. Silent Hill has been updated for Windows 10 and 11 with modern controller support, while Tomb Raider Underworld has improved DirectX compatibility and cloud save support. The total number of titles in the Preservation Program is now 141, with plans to expand to 500 games by the end of 2025.

Winsage

March 13, 2025

Microsoft isn’t launching its Xbox handheld this year, but Asus might be

Microsoft is developing a next-generation Xbox platform aimed at unifying its Windows and Xbox ecosystems, with a handheld gaming device codenamed Project Kennan in prototype phase, expected to launch in a few years. The goal is to create a universal library of games accessible across devices, with substantial changes anticipated by 2025. Project Kennan will offer a handheld experience powered by Windows, resembling the Xbox interface, as part of a broader strategy called Project Bayside. Microsoft is also focusing on streamlining game development for seamless operation across handhelds, consoles, and PCs. A dedicated team for game preservation and compatibility was established in early 2024, indicating a commitment to maintaining digital libraries. A premium successor to the Xbox Series X is projected for release in 2027. Microsoft is hosting a 50th anniversary event on April 4th to share updates on its Copilot AI and other innovations. Additionally, Copilot will have a new press-to-talk hotkey on Windows, and the Remote Desktop app will be replaced by a new Windows app by May 27th. Forza Horizon 5 will require a Microsoft account on PS5 for online features, and a recent Xbox Alpha update caused some consoles to reset to factory settings. A Windows 11 update has caused issues with USB printers, and Microsoft Edge on Android is receiving six new extensions. Microsoft is reportedly dropping some CoreWeave services ahead of a billion IPO, while Copilot is being integrated into GroupMe.

AppWizard

March 8, 2025

Run Xbox 360 Games On Your PC With XenonDecomp

XenonRecomp is a project focused on preserving Xbox 360 games by transforming them into native x86 software, enhancing their graphical fidelity. The Xbox Series X currently supports only 632 out of 2,155 Xbox 360 titles through emulation. XenonRecomp faces challenges such as understanding system architecture, supporting PowerPC instructions, and addressing the lack of MMIO support. Developers must also obtain assets from legal copies of the original games. The game Sonic Unleashed has been successfully ported using this method, with enhancements demonstrated by Modern Vintage Gamer.

AppWizard

March 4, 2025

Sonic fans are leading the charge on a new preservation tool that can help give any Xbox 360 game a native PC port

Sonic Unleashed has been released on PC after 17 years, enabled by a tool called XenonRecomp, which allows fan developers to convert Xbox 360 executables into C++ code for various platforms. This tool simplifies the process of creating adaptations, although it is not as simple as dragging and dropping a .iso file. The current focus is on Unleashed Recompiled, which features enhancements like higher native resolutions and unlocked frame rates. The emulation options for Xbox 360 are limited, with the unofficial emulator Xenia supporting only a small portion of the library, while many Xbox 360 games have previously received official PC ports or were available on the PlayStation 3. The potential for new native PC ports offers the promise of improved performance and gameplay adjustments compared to emulation.

BetaBeacon

March 3, 2025

Forget emulators, native ports of Xbox 360 games are closer than ever

Emulation has advanced with the development of new static recompilation tools, allowing for native PC ports of Xbox 360 games. The first fan port showcasing this technology is Sonic Unleashed, offering various enhancements. The project requires original game files, an Xbox 360, and an Xbox 360 hard drive for operation. The tool is currently limited to x86 devices, but there is potential for native Android ports in the future. This development marks a significant milestone in retro game preservation and could change the landscape of Xbox and Xbox 360 emulation on PC and Android platforms.