The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) is set to be a significant presence at the upcoming Game Developers Conference (GDC) in San Francisco, taking place from March 9th to March 13th, 2026. While the organization will not be hosting its customary pop-up museum in the expo hall this year, its representatives will be actively participating in various sessions and events throughout the week, underscoring their ongoing commitment to the preservation and understanding of video game history. The VGHF’s involvement promises to shed light on critical issues facing the preservation of digital heritage, the accessibility of video games in educational settings, and the broader challenges and advancements within the game history field.

Key Engagements and Presentations

A central pillar of the VGHF’s participation will be their presence at the "What’s New in Game History: 2026" panel. Scheduled for Monday, March 9th, at 4:30 PM PST, this session will feature Phil Salvador, the VGHF’s library director, alongside other prominent figures in the game history community. The panel aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in the field, encompassing a wide spectrum of topics from new academic publications to advancements in the crucial area of emulator development.

Salvador is expected to focus his contribution on the state of "Institutions" within game history—a category that includes museums, libraries, and archives dedicated to preserving digital culture. His discussion will likely address the significant funding and stability challenges that many of these organizations encountered throughout 2025. This period has been marked by increasing economic pressures and a growing recognition of the need for sustainable models to ensure the long-term survival of cultural artifacts in the digital age. Salvador’s insights will offer a crucial perspective on the strategies and discussions surrounding the future resilience of game history institutions. The VGHF’s work in cataloging and safeguarding historical video games, including their efforts to digitize and make accessible rare materials, positions them as a vital voice in this ongoing dialogue. Their comprehensive digital archive, a testament to years of dedicated effort, serves as a foundational resource for researchers and enthusiasts alike.

Opening Night at Oracle Park: A Hub for Archival Exploration

Adding to their presence, the VGHF will also be hosting a table at the Opening Night Party at Oracle Park on Monday evening. This event, a traditional kick-off to GDC, provides an informal yet impactful platform for the VGHF to engage directly with conference attendees. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience a hands-on demonstration of the VGHF’s digital archive, a sophisticated platform designed to provide researchers and the public with access to a vast collection of historical game-related materials. Volunteers will be present to discuss the organization’s mission and ongoing projects, offering attendees a chance to learn more about the critical work involved in preserving and celebrating video game history. The VGHF’s commitment to making this history accessible is a core tenet of their mission, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the medium’s evolution and cultural significance.

"Expanding the 13%": Research on Game Preservation in Education

A significant development highlighted at GDC 2026 will be the presentation of research stemming from a collaborative study on video game preservation and accessibility in educational contexts. The Video Game History Foundation has been providing assistance to the University of Washington’s Information School (iSchool) on this initiative. Lane D. Koughan, the lead researcher from the University of Washington, is scheduled to present their findings on Thursday, March 12th, at 2:40 PM PST, in a session titled "Expanding the 13%: Directing Game Access in Game Education."

While the VGHF is not formally involved in this specific presentation, they have expressed keen interest in attending and supporting the research. This study builds upon the VGHF’s landmark "87% of Video Games Are Lost Forever" study, which brought widespread attention to the precarious state of video game preservation. That groundbreaking report, published in 2019, revealed that an estimated 87% of video games released in the United States prior to 2010 are no longer available for purchase or playable in any form. This statistic underscores the urgency of preservation efforts and the need to develop strategies for ensuring the long-term survival of video game history. The UWash research is expected to explore how video games can be more effectively integrated into educational curricula and how to improve access to these materials for academic and pedagogical purposes. This aligns directly with the VGHF’s broader goals of making game history accessible and relevant to new generations. The research’s title, "Expanding the 13%," likely refers to a subset of games that are currently accessible, suggesting a focus on how to increase this percentage through educational initiatives and improved archival practices.

Broader Context: The Growing Field of Game History

The Video Game History Foundation’s activities at GDC 2026 occur within a broader context of increasing academic and public interest in video game history. Over the past decade, the study of video games has moved from a niche hobby to a recognized field of academic inquiry, with university courses, dedicated research centers, and numerous scholarly publications emerging globally. This growth is fueled by several factors, including the recognition of video games as a significant cultural and economic force, the desire to understand the technological evolution of interactive entertainment, and the growing awareness of the challenges posed by digital obsolescence.

The Game Developers Conference, as the premier gathering for game industry professionals, provides an ideal venue for such discussions. GDC has increasingly incorporated sessions dedicated to game history, preservation, and the ethical considerations surrounding the archiving of digital media. The presence of organizations like the VGHF at GDC signifies the industry’s growing engagement with its own past and its recognition of the importance of safeguarding its heritage for future developers and players.

Supporting Data and the Challenge of Preservation

The VGHF’s work is informed by critical data that highlights the scale of the preservation challenge. Their 2019 study estimated that out of approximately 30,000 video games released in the United States before 2010, only around 3,000 were still readily available. This loss is attributed to a multitude of factors, including the rapid pace of technological change, the proprietary nature of game formats and hardware, the fragility of physical media, and the absence of standardized preservation practices in the early decades of the industry.

The VGHF has been at the forefront of addressing these issues through various initiatives:

• Digital Archiving: Developing and maintaining a comprehensive digital archive that includes ROMs, source code, design documents, and marketing materials. This archive is crucial for providing access to games that would otherwise be lost.
• Legal Advocacy: Engaging with legal frameworks, such as copyright law, to advocate for more permissive policies that facilitate game preservation and retro-gaming.
• Research and Education: Conducting and supporting research into game history and preservation, and educating the public and industry about these critical issues.
• Collection and Curation: Actively acquiring and preserving physical artifacts, including consoles, cartridges, and related ephemera, which provide invaluable context for understanding game history.

The success of the "Expanding the 13%" study, and its reliance on the VGHF’s foundational data, underscores the interconnectedness of research, advocacy, and practical preservation efforts. As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, the challenges of preserving digital artifacts only intensify. The VGHF’s presence at GDC 2026 serves as a vital reminder of this ongoing struggle and a testament to the dedication of those working to ensure that the rich history of video games is not lost to the digital sands of time. Their participation in panels, presentations, and informal discussions aims to foster collaboration, raise awareness, and inspire further action within the game development community and beyond.