Video Game History Foundation founder says piracy remains the only viable game preservation method

July 3, 2026 - 19:58

Frank Cifaldi, the founder of the Video Game History Foundation, has publicly backed the argument that piracy remains the only practical method for preserving video games. In a recent statement, Cifaldi placed the blame directly on the industry's own legal and technical barriers, which he says make legitimate preservation nearly impossible.

Cifaldi pointed out that most classic games are locked behind expired licenses, dead hardware, or corporate neglect. Even when companies like Nintendo or Sony show interest in re-releasing old titles, they often remove content, alter gameplay, or only offer a fraction of the original library. This leaves historians and archivists with no legal way to save the full experience. "If you want to play a game exactly as it was in 1985, piracy is often your only option," Cifaldi said.

He also criticized the Digital Millennium Copyright Act for making it a crime to bypass old copy protection, even when the game is no longer sold or supported. The foundation has long pushed for exemptions, but progress is slow. Cifaldi argued that until laws change to allow libraries and museums to archive software freely, unauthorized copies will remain the backbone of game history. His comments have reignited debate over how to balance copyright with cultural preservation.