GOG.com has announced a new Preservation Program, a category of games on the platform which their internal teams have done work on to make them playable on modern PCs. The roster currently includes 100 titles like Diablo + Hellfire, Resident Evil 1, 2, and 3, The Secret of Monkey Island, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, Myst, Sam & Max Hit the Road, Earthworm Jim, Ultima 7, RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, and many more.
The GOG Preservation Program ensures classic games remain playable on modern systems, even after their developers stopped supporting them. By maintaining these iconic titles, GOG helps you protect and relive the memories that shaped you, DRM-free and with dedicated tech support.
Each game sports a certified ‘Good Old Game’ banner and a separate “preservation log” with updates made by GOG. Some of these are as simple as adding cloud saves but they run the gamut from bug fixes, to streamlined installers, new rendering options, new regional localizations, and more.
A brief FAQ on the new Preservation Program page reveals some other details: These GOG-maintained releases will only be Windows compatible for the time being. The program isn’t only for decades-old games and titles released “just a few months ago” may be eligible if GOG determines that they can take on the work. New titles will be added over time with GOG hoping to see “hundreds” join the roster through 2025.
Another question asks about implementing fan-made mods, patches, and graphics fixes. GOG states that while they are making changes to the games to make them playable on modern machines, they want to preserve the “original experience”. Not only does this forgo the complication of potentially illicit fan-made mods, it more importantly avoids stepping on the toes of any potential “HD Remakes” or remasters that could lead to these versions being delisted. And to that point, one of the last questions asks if any games will be removed from the program with GOG stating that “we don’t see a reason it should happen”. I hate to be a downer but those are some classic famous last words.
You can check out the full roster of ‘Good Old Games’ by using the new flag on the site’s search page. As a bonus, 39 of the 100 titles are currently on a pretty deep discount sale through next week.