We sometimes muse about what archaeologists will think about our era a thousand years into the future when they unearth relics from our lifetimes. Will they be able to access our digital formats and unlock the vast knowledge of the early internet? Video games are a huge part of our pop culture heritage. But a new study indicates that there may not be all that much in the artifacts as time goes on. It's getting harder to find classic games for sale. The Video Game History Foundation and the Software Preservation Network, who conducted the survey, found that 87% of games released before 2010 are not readily available for purchase.
The conclusion of the study is that video game producers are not doing much to preserve the legacy of gaming. But then again, these are businesses. The simple answer is that they really don't care about the legacy of gaming, if they can sell you on the newest titles. On the other hand, it could be a deliberate policy. They would rather you not be able to find your favorite childhood game for your Commodore 64, so maybe you'll upgrade to a Nintendo Switch and buy The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom to play on it. Read more about the study and why it's important at Digg.