The National Videogame Museum has launched a UK-wide survey aimed at mapping the state of video game preservation across the country.
In partnership with trade body Ukie and with funding from the BFI’s Screen Heritage Fund, the survey – called Behind the Screens – asks developers, publishers, studios, former industry professionals, and collectors to share details of any video game-related collections they hold, including “game development materials and artwork to hardware, design documents, marketing assets, and company archives.” It also asks about attitudes toward preservation within the industry.
The museum said the results will “inform discussions about how the UK can best preserve, celebrate and share its video game heritage,” and identify where collaboration across the industry could help protect at-risk material.
“The UK games industry has created world-renowned games, studios and talent, but much of that history risks being lost if it isn’t actively preserved. This survey is an important first step in understanding what already exists and how we can work together to protect the UK’s videogame legacy for future generations,” said John O’Shea, co-CEO and creative director of the National Videogame Museum.
Ukie CEO Nick Poole said the survey was “a step towards properly recognising and preserving” the industry’s legacy, while BFI Screen Heritage Fund manager Marta Berto said the project aligns with the BFI’s 10-year Screen Culture 2033 strategy, which covers games as part of the UK’s wider screen culture.
The National Videogame Museum opened in Sheffield in 2018 and says it has welcomed more than 350,000 visitors since. It holds a collection of close to 5,000 video game-related objects, including consoles, arcade machines, and other memorabilia.
The Behind the Screens survey is open now.