Sony's decision to stop releasing new games on physical media from January 2028 has sparked a new wave of discussions about video game preservation. Frank Cifaldi, head of the Video Game History Foundation, reacted to the situation.
He agreed with the opinion that, given the current state of affairs, "piracy remains the only real way to preserve many games for future generations." According to Cifaldi, he and other organizations have unsuccessfully tried for years to achieve legal solutions together with industry representatives.
The expert noted that museums and archives have long been preparing for the disappearance of physical media. The main problem arises when digital stores or access to already purchased games disappear along with discs, and platform owners do not offer ways to preserve them.
Cifaldi also criticized the position of a part of the gaming industry, which has repeatedly opposed changes in legislation that would allow archival organizations to legally store and provide access to historical games.
After Sony's decision, initiatives such as Stop Killing Games, which aim to preserve access to purchased games even after their official support ends, are increasingly being discussed.