Classic games are part of the living history of technology and have also become a small piece of our lives and our own history. However, as time goes by, its preservation becomes more and more difficult, and this means that many of the games we enjoyed ten, twenty or thirty years ago are today is in danger of disappearing completely.

According to a study published by the Video Game History Foundation, 87% of classic games are ‘critically endangered’, so it is in danger of disappearing completely. This study only covers games released in the US market, so it’s clear that if we had global data, the percentage would be even higher.

It goes without saying that as time goes on, the danger of these classic games disappearing is even greater, because ultimately the availability of those used units that are still circulating on the market decreases until we reach the point where -existence, return. Taking a closer look at the data from this study, we see that only 13% of games released before 2010 are commercially available today, and this is possible thanks to the pressure of online stores that use the digital format.

This study was conducted using a random list of 1500 games from a reliable source and during the study looked at different game ecosystems that were categorized as “abandoned”, “neglected” or “active”. Still, the numbers rose rapidly and Finally, the study was extended to a total of 4,000 games.. Among the most important conclusions that can be drawn from this are the following:

• The PS2, the best-selling console in history, had an impressive catalog, but only 12% of it survived the test of time.
• After the closure of the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U online stores, an estimated 1,000 unique games disappeared.
• Antiquated copyright laws in the United States make it impossible to easily preserve classic games.
• Due to the deep debate that has been waged against these laws, they are expected to be revised by 2024.

After all, so are video games a very important part of our culture which in many cases reflect important aspects of society at the time and also show our technological development over the years. Its value as cultural and historical property is unquestionable and should be beyond any copyright law.

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