GOG Partners with European Game Preservation Society to Enhance Archiving Initiatives
Digital game marketplace GOG is advancing its modern game preservation initiatives by joining the European Federation of Game Archives, Museums, and Preservation Projects (EFGAMP).
The European collective curates and conserves digital video games, representing “over 20 heritage institutions and various organizations devoted to safeguarding video games as cultural heritage.” GOG stands out as the first Polish entity in its ranks, which includes the France-based MO5, Berlin’s Computerspielemuseum, and the Video Game Museum in Rome.
GOG’s preservation initiatives
In November, GOG introduced its namesake preservation program, committing to maintain classic video games (defined as those 10 years or older) compatible with current and future Windows hardware. In December, the initiative broadened to encompass titles removed by their developers, including the first two Warcraft games from Blizzard. Gamers who purchased these titles on GOG before their removal still retain access, and the company assured that all delisted games joining this endeavor will “continue to work with modern systems, preserving their playability for years ahead.”
“Preserving classic games and ensuring their availability for future generations has always been central to our mission,” stated GOG’s managing director Maciej Gołębiewski. “As a European company, we feel a duty to lead the way in safeguarding gaming heritage. Joining EFGAMP strengthens this commitment.”
EFGAMP COO Andreas Lange acknowledged the storefront’s “distinct perspective” in game distribution, noting that it “enhances the work of our existing members by adding additional digital expertise to our shared efforts. GOG is a remarkable addition to EFGAMP, whose members primarily originate from the cultural heritage field.”
With its new role in EFGAMP, Gołębiewski remarked that GOG will “broaden institutional collaboration with museums and both governmental and non-governmental organizations globally. […] We are also engaged in discussions about exciting new game preservation initiatives, which we anticipate sharing soon.”