Video Game History Foundation Opens Digital Archives to Public
New digital library preserves 30,000 gaming artifacts, including complete Game Informer collection.
The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) has launched its comprehensive digital library, making over 30,000 pieces of gaming history freely accessible to the public. The digital archive encompasses more than 1,500 out-of-print magazines, including the complete collection of Game Informer publications from its 1991 debut to its final issue in 2024.
The initiative arrives at a crucial moment for gaming preservation, particularly following Game Informer’s closure last August and the subsequent removal of its online content. The digital library houses numerous classic gaming publications beyond Game Informer, including the Official US PlayStation Magazine, Electronic Gaming Monthly, and PC Gamer, as reported by VGC.
Beyond Magazine Archives
The foundation’s preservation efforts extend beyond periodicals. The digital library includes event guides from the first twelve years of E3, an international collection of FromSoftware promotional materials (officially sanctioned by the studio), and over 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage from the Myst franchise’s development.
Historical industry documentation features prominently in the collection, including the “Mark Flitman papers,” which contain documents from the game producer’s tenure at companies like Konami and Atari. This comprehensive approach to preservation ensures that both published materials and internal industry documents remain accessible for future reference.
The Video Game History Foundation, established in 2017 as a non-profit organization, continues its mission to catalog and preserve gaming history through this digital initiative. While modern gaming coverage has largely shifted to online platforms, this digital library ensures that decades of print journalism and industry materials remain accessible to researchers, enthusiasts, and the general public.