The Gaming Giant's Mission to Save Classic Games from Digital Extinction

In an era where countless classic video games disappear into digital obscurity, GOG.com is stepping up as the industry's preservation champion. The CD Projekt subsidiary has been quietly building relationships with major Japanese developers, including gaming giant Capcom, to bring beloved classics back to modern PCs.

Senior PR representative Piotr Gnyp in an interview with Automation Media recently revealed how GOG's Preservation Program goes far beyond simple re-releases. The initiative ensures every included game remains playable on current systems, even after official support ends. This means proactive updates, compatibility fixes, and modern features like controller support and cloud saves—all while preserving the original gaming experience.

The process isn't easy. Building trust with Japanese developers requires patience, persistence, and treating classic game launches as full new releases with comprehensive quality assurance. GOG's community-driven Dreamlist helps prioritise which games get the preservation treatment, with player votes and personal memories adding weight to negotiations with IP holders.

With around 350 games targeted for the program by year's end, GOG is positioning itself as the last line of defense against gaming's digital dark age. As the "Stop Killing Games" movement gains momentum, GOG's preservation efforts couldn't be more timely.

With consoles more frequently having digital only versions, and media not containing the full game, the need for preservation is important that ever as we look to safeguard the history of gaming.

You can read the full interview here.