87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
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87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
As of 2026, libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally *share* games, and can provide on-premises access only. Libraries *are* allowed to share books, films, and music both onsite and remotely.
This is all very messed up.
@killyourfm @paco
Video stores used to rent games, is that still allowed? (Not refuting your point.) -
R relay@relay.infosec.exchange shared this topic
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87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
As of 2026, libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally *share* games, and can provide on-premises access only. Libraries *are* allowed to share books, films, and music both onsite and remotely.
This is all very messed up.
@killyourfm there is no interest in preserving old games for multiple reasons, lots of old libraries and hardware that would require a herculean effort to replicate, and even if it was possible it won't be a 1 to 1, ofc there is a financial incentive in not letting libraries store this pieces of media, I won't deny that -
R relay@relay.an.exchange shared this topicR relay@relay.publicsquare.global shared this topic
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87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
As of 2026, libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally *share* games, and can provide on-premises access only. Libraries *are* allowed to share books, films, and music both onsite and remotely.
This is all very messed up.
@killyourfm
In UK & Ireland Libraries must pay a library licence and a per loan royalty.Neither lending libraries nor commercial video libraries can buy regular retail videos (tape in past nor disc now).
So the situation is more complicated than your post suggests.
Internet Archive made up their own rules for Open Library and many of their loans of books and downloads of everything violate copyright. IA should have stuck to websites.
Gutenberg offers free download of US PD books & magazines. -
@killyourfm @paco
Video stores used to rent games, is that still allowed? (Not refuting your point.)@FritzAdalis @killyourfm @paco for consoles, generally yes, but not for PC since nothing comes on optical media any more and once you've installed it you've functionally got a permanent copy.
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@FritzAdalis @killyourfm @paco for consoles, generally yes, but not for PC since nothing comes on optical media any more and once you've installed it you've functionally got a permanent copy.
@FritzAdalis @killyourfm @paco although when was the last time you saw a video store that was still in business
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@FritzAdalis @killyourfm @paco although when was the last time you saw a video store that was still in business
@gsuberland @killyourfm @paco
Fair, I just didn't know if laws had changed. -
@gsuberland @killyourfm @paco
Fair, I just didn't know if laws had changed.@FritzAdalis @killyourfm @paco it's not really a law thing, it's just that PC game distributors don't offer rental terms.
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@killyourfm There needs to be a rule, that when someone abandons distribution and support of a game title, they are now longer allowed to take legal action or in anyway prohibit, or hinder, others from sharing that game. Futhermore, the moment the decision is made to no longer distribute and support a game, there needs to be a patch made available, that circumvents any DRM.
@rasmus91 @killyourfm But we might release it for virtual console someday!
<insert sarcastic SpongeBob meme here> -
@rasmus91 @killyourfm But we might release it for virtual console someday!
<insert sarcastic SpongeBob meme here>@jdechko @killyourfm *lights torches, brandishes pitchfork*
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87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
As of 2026, libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally *share* games, and can provide on-premises access only. Libraries *are* allowed to share books, films, and music both onsite and remotely.
This is all very messed up.
@killyourfm "87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase. "
Computer games should be enjoyed as warez with cracktro screens anyway...
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@killyourfm There needs to be a rule, that when someone abandons distribution and support of a game title, they are now longer allowed to take legal action or in anyway prohibit, or hinder, others from sharing that game. Futhermore, the moment the decision is made to no longer distribute and support a game, there needs to be a patch made available, that circumvents any DRM.
@rasmus91 @killyourfm I don't understand what loss they are at if someone else makes compatibility patch and offers game for download. You're not selling or distributing it anymore, so what's the issue? Only rule should be it shouldn't be financially motivated with exception of distribution costs and work on the compatibility. Take GOG as example if they take over since it costs to maintain it.
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87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
As of 2026, libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally *share* games, and can provide on-premises access only. Libraries *are* allowed to share books, films, and music both onsite and remotely.
This is all very messed up.
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@rasmus91 @killyourfm I don't understand what loss they are at if someone else makes compatibility patch and offers game for download. You're not selling or distributing it anymore, so what's the issue? Only rule should be it shouldn't be financially motivated with exception of distribution costs and work on the compatibility. Take GOG as example if they take over since it costs to maintain it.
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@killyourfm there is no interest in preserving old games for multiple reasons, lots of old libraries and hardware that would require a herculean effort to replicate, and even if it was possible it won't be a 1 to 1, ofc there is a financial incentive in not letting libraries store this pieces of media, I won't deny that
@keyshooter @killyourfm It’s amazing what emulator hobbyists can do
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@keyshooter @killyourfm It’s amazing what emulator hobbyists can do
@avirr @killyourfm always remember to donate to your favorite emulator open source project -
@killyourfm @rejzor WOULD YOU STOP WITH THE PROFANITY?!
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87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
As of 2026, libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally *share* games, and can provide on-premises access only. Libraries *are* allowed to share books, films, and music both onsite and remotely.
This is all very messed up.
@killyourfm The good news is that the vast majority of them are not server dependent, and so the bootlegs will run forever. Preserving current generation games will be much more difficult.
Someone mentioned The 7th Guest. It has been revived in VR, and is amazing.
It is messed up that different types of media have different rules, based on how effectively that specific industry has bought Congress.
What if there was Spotify for games, with a similar complete catalog?
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87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
As of 2026, libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally *share* games, and can provide on-premises access only. Libraries *are* allowed to share books, films, and music both onsite and remotely.
This is all very messed up.
@killyourfm Beyond the legal barriers, many old games cannot even run on modern hardware or operating systems for technical reasons.
Games should be made open source to preserve them for future generations.
Let’s make games open source, so future generations can enjoy them
As platforms evolve, old games become unplayable. Open sourcing them will help us preserve them for future generations.
Jairaj Devadiga (jairajdevadiga.com)
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87% of video games released in the U.S. before 2010 are technically unavailable for legal purchase.
As of 2026, libraries and archives can digitally preserve, but not digitally *share* games, and can provide on-premises access only. Libraries *are* allowed to share books, films, and music both onsite and remotely.
This is all very messed up.
@killyourfm So...one could build a MAME cabinet at a local library and they can legally run all the old games on it, there, on site? As in, one could, as long as one was on library owned property, just build a whole arcade of old games for zero dollars? I feel like if the local hobbyist community donated the hardware this might be an easy sell for some libraries.
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@killyourfm So...one could build a MAME cabinet at a local library and they can legally run all the old games on it, there, on site? As in, one could, as long as one was on library owned property, just build a whole arcade of old games for zero dollars? I feel like if the local hobbyist community donated the hardware this might be an easy sell for some libraries.
@dirtwizard666 Fascinating idea! I'm not sure of the legalities there, but it might be worth asking your local library about it.
