Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox brand, warned that the history of video games is at risk because older titles can become difficult or impossible to access as technology changes. In an interview on the Kinda Funny podcast, he urged the industry to cooperate in preserving what it means to play.
Why preservation matters, according to Spencer
Spencer compared the current situation in gaming to what the Paley Center did for television archives. He said the Paley Center recognized the danger of losing old television programs when tapes were being discarded and acted to save them so future audiences could revisit shows such as The Ed Sullivan Show.
“I really wish that, as an industry, we would come together and help preserve the history of what playing is so we don’t lose the ability to go back,” Spencer said, arguing that games deserve similar archival attention rather than being discarded as formats change.
Cloud gaming as a practical path to preservation
Spencer noted that collectors who keep old PCs, obscure consoles and boxed copies with manuals have affection for physical media, but he questioned how effective that is for broad preservation. He proposed cloud-delivered games as a way to remove dependence on physical packaging, legacy hardware or emulators.
He pointed to existing online services as already supporting preservation efforts: both classic and recent releases benefit from being available through connected services, which can also inform possible futures for the industry.
Game Pass role in keeping games accessible
Spencer highlighted Xbox Game Pass as a significant starting point. He said the service became more powerful when Bethesda joined, enabling Microsoft to reintroduce many titles—what he called “new old” or “old new” games—and showcase the legacy of certain intellectual properties.
He added that Microsoft will continue pursuing similar initiatives because the Game Pass business model is viable and supports making more games accessible over time.
Call to industry cooperation
Beyond technical solutions, Spencer made an appeal for the industry to set aside rivalries and collaborate on preserving gaming’s legacy. He expressed a desire for collective action so future players and historians retain access to the works that shaped the medium.
Source: PC Gamer
