Game preservation debate grows as PlayStation moves further from discs

Frank Cifaldi, director of the Video Game History Foundation, has warned that piracy could become the only practical route for preserving some games if the industry does not provide lawful alternatives for archives and museums. His comments followed reported PlayStation plans to end physical discs for new releases in 2028 and close older digital storefronts.

The concern is not only about collectors losing access to boxed games. The VGHF argues that discs are an incomplete solution because many modern games never receive physical releases, while others depend on digital updates that are not captured by the disc alone.

The foundation has previously claimed that 87% of classic games are not actively available, describing many older titles as at risk of disappearing from legal access. It is also pushing for reforms that would let cultural institutions preserve digital-only works without running into copy-protection barriers.

For esports and gaming communities, the issue goes beyond nostalgia: competitive scenes, modding histories, early online ecosystems, and influential design trends can be difficult to study if software vanishes from official channels. The core editorial question is whether publishers, trade groups, and archives can find a rights-respecting model before more games become inaccessible.