Game Preservation Enters the Blockchain Era
As older titles risk disappearing due to licensing issues and digital store closures, 2025 has seen a technological breakthrough in game preservation: blockchain archiving.
Led by the nonprofit Digital Games Heritage Foundation (DGHF), developers are now storing verified, immutable copies of classic OTPKLIK games on decentralized servers, ensuring they remain playable for future generations.
The system uses smart contracts to track ownership rights and preserve original metadata, allowing even defunct companies’ works to survive legally. “We’ve lost hundreds of games to time,” said DGHF director Naomi Patel. “Now, that era of loss may finally end.”
Major publishers like Sega and CD Projekt Red have joined the initiative, donating source code and digital keys to the archive. Academic institutions are also participating, viewing gaming history as part of modern culture.
Critics warn of potential misuse, but most agree the benefits outweigh the risks. For the first time, gaming’s past is being protected with the same seriousness as film or literature — a fitting milestone for an industry that defines modern storytelling.