Agenda
What's New in Game History: 2027
Phil Salvador (Library Director, Video Game History Foundation)
Laine Nooney (Associate Professor, New York University)
Kendra Albert (Partner, Albert Sellars LLP)
Pass Type:
Academic Pass, Festival Pass, Game Changer Pass, Indie Pass, Start-Up Pass -
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Track:
Culture & Sustainability, Educators
Audience Level:
All
Format:
Panel
Vault Recording: TBD
Audience Level: All
What's New in Game History returns for its fourth year with an annual survey of the most important developments in game history, preservation, and archival practice. Through four concise, fast-paced presentations, experts from academia, preservation, law, and community initiatives highlight the year's most significant books, research, legal developments, institutions, and grassroots projects shaping how games are documented, interpreted, and preserved. Rather than treating game history as nostalgia, the panel examines how questions of ownership, access, digital preservation, and cultural memory increasingly affect the industry's future. Designed for developers, researchers, and anyone interested in the long-term life of games, the session translates a rapidly evolving landscape into an accessible overview filled with practical resources, recommended reading, organizations, and initiatives attendees can explore long after GDC concludes.
Takeaway
Attendees leave with an annual briefing on the year's most important developments in game history and preservation, including key books, legal changes, archival initiatives, and community projects. They gain practical resources, organizations, and reference points that deepen their understanding of how games are preserved, studied, and remembered.
Intended Audience
This session benefits developers, producers, archivists, educators, journalists, researchers, and anyone interested in the long-term cultural life of games. No prior knowledge of game history or preservation is required. The presentation is designed to be accessible while offering valuable references and perspectives for experienced professionals.