The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF), led by founder Frank Cifaldi, has reiterated its position that piracy has become the only effective method for preserving many video games, due largely to industry practices that restrict long-term access to digital content.

The discussion was highlighted in response to ongoing concerns about the video game industry’s shift away from physical media, including Sony’s announcement that PlayStation titles will become fully digital by 2028.

This shift raises fears that future games may be tied exclusively to corporate servers, making them vulnerable to removal or loss when storefronts close or licenses expire.Cifaldi and the VGHF argue that preservation efforts are hindered by legal and institutional barriers.

They point to the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), which represents major publishers, as having opposed legal exemptions that would allow museums, libraries, and archives to preserve abandoned or online-only games for research purposes.

According to the foundation, these lobbying efforts have repeatedly blocked reforms to copyright and DRM laws that would enable legitimate archival access.

The article also criticizes the current approach used by institutions such as the Library of Congress, describing it as outdated and impractical, with minimal requirements that fail to capture full software systems.In one example, only small portions of source code are requested, making accurate preservation difficult.Additionally, many modern games require online updates or are distributed digitally-only, further complicating long-term access.

The VGHF maintains that because legal pathways for preservation are limited or obstructed, archival communities are often left with piracy as the only reliable method to ensure games are not lost to history.

The organization argues that without significant reform in copyright policy and industry cooperation, large portions of video game history risk becoming inaccessible or permanently исчез.