Since its debut in 1995, Sony has played a crucial role in the video game industry, becoming one of the most influential companies in the sector. As video games are increasingly recognized as an art form and an important part of contemporary culture, the preservation of their history becomes essential. With this purpose, Sony has been working since 2022 on an ambitious project aimed at rescuing and storing every aspect of the history of its games.
A measure to ensure their history
The preservation team, led by Garrett Fredley, has managed to accumulate over 650 terabytes of data. This vast collection includes complete PS5 builds, source code, concept art, and internal documentation that reveals the evolution of some of the company’s most iconic titles. It’s not just about preserving technical data, but also about keeping cultural elements that allow us to understand the creative process behind each game.
Despite the significant effort, the team faces important challenges, especially the lack of standardization in the storage of historical files, a problem that has persisted in the industry. Historically, many studios have not followed a uniform method for archiving their files, complicating long-term preservation. To mitigate this problem, Sony has implemented an innovative system using a robot called Vaultron, designed to recover lost files by reading thousands of hard drives.
The collected data is stored on servers located in Liverpool and Las Vegas, and it is expected to soon reach a petabyte of information. However, a future challenge will be to keep these files accessible and functional for generations to come. Sony’s initiative not only aims to preserve its legacy but also to contribute to the broader history of video games as an art form that deserves to be remembered and studied.
