GOG.com has officially unveiled GOG Patrons, a new community-driven initiative designed to crowdsource the funding and preservation of classic PC games. This program allows dedicated gamers to vote on which legacy titles should be revitalized next, effectively giving the community a direct hand in keeping digital history alive.
Unlike traditional crowdfunding, this initiative focuses on the heavy lifting involved in making old software compatible with modern operating systems. GOG has built its reputation on selling DRM-free classics that work out-of-the-box, but acquiring licenses and reverse-engineering code for ancient titles is expensive and risky.
By mobilizing a subscription-style or tiered support system, GOG aims to offset the costs of acquiring rights and fixing code for games that might not otherwise see a re-release. For retro enthusiasts, this is a significant move against abandonware, ensuring that genre-defining titles remain accessible legally and functionally for future generations.
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