Sony has been backing up its PS5 game builds as part of a preservation effort

Engadget - Mar 29th, 2025
Open on Engadget

Sony's Preservation team, led by Garrett Fredley, has made significant strides in archiving PlayStation's extensive 30-year history, as detailed at the Game Developers Conference. The team has established the PlayStation Studios Vault, a comprehensive repository of game builds, source code, source art, and various other files, aiming to preserve everything related to PlayStation studio games. The Vault currently houses over 650 terabytes of data, encompassing around 200 million files, with the oldest item dating back to 1994. The data is stored across two main servers located in Las Vegas and Liverpool, and the team anticipates exceeding their current 1-petabyte storage capacity as they continue to gather more game-related materials.

The Preservation team's efforts highlight the challenges of archiving gaming history, especially given that many studios do not store files in a user-friendly manner for future access. Tools like the Vaultron robot assist in reading and archiving discs, but the team still faces hurdles such as developing effective indexing tools and maintaining file usability. This initiative not only safeguards PlayStation's legacy but also signifies the importance of digital preservation in the gaming industry, ensuring that cultural and technological artifacts are accessible for future generations.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.0
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides an informative overview of Sony's efforts to preserve PlayStation's gaming history through the establishment of the PlayStation Studios Vault. It effectively highlights the importance of digital preservation and offers specific details about the initiative. However, the story would benefit from greater source diversity and transparency to enhance its credibility. While it presents a clear and engaging narrative, the lack of balanced perspectives and critical analysis limits its depth and potential impact. Overall, the article succeeds in informing readers about a significant corporate initiative but falls short in providing a comprehensive and nuanced exploration of the topic.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story provides a detailed account of Sony's efforts in preserving PlayStation's game history, with specific claims about the formation of the Preservation team, the establishment of the PlayStation Studios Vault, and the data storage capabilities. The claim about Garrett Fredley's hiring and his role in the team is specific, though it lacks direct source confirmation in the text. The description of the Vault's contents, including game builds, source code, and cultural artifacts, aligns with the known practices of digital preservation but would benefit from more explicit source attribution. The technical details about server locations and storage capacity appear plausible but require verification from Sony or related documentation to confirm precision. Overall, while the article presents a coherent narrative, some claims, particularly those about future plans and specific tools like Vaultron, need further substantiation to enhance factual accuracy.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on Sony's preservation efforts, presenting a positive view of the company's commitment to preserving gaming history. It does not explore potential criticisms or alternative perspectives, such as the challenges of digital preservation or the implications for game developers and consumers. The lack of contrasting viewpoints or stakeholder opinions results in a somewhat one-sided narrative. Including perspectives from industry experts, archivists, or historians could provide a more balanced view of the preservation initiative's broader impact.

8
Clarity

The article is generally clear and well-organized, presenting information in a logical sequence that is easy to follow. The use of specific examples, such as the mention of the tactical RPG *Arc the Lad* and the server locations, helps to illustrate the points being made. The language is straightforward and accessible, making the content understandable for a general audience. However, the article could benefit from additional context or explanations in some areas to enhance reader comprehension, particularly regarding technical aspects of data preservation.

5
Source quality

The article relies heavily on the statements attributed to Garrett Fredley and the Game Developers Conference presentation, as reported by Stephen Totilo. However, it lacks direct quotes or references to primary sources, such as official Sony press releases or interviews with other team members. The reliance on a single narrative source without corroborating evidence from independent or authoritative voices limits the overall credibility and depth of the reporting. Including a wider range of sources would strengthen the article's reliability.

4
Transparency

The article provides limited transparency regarding its information sources and the methodology behind the claims. It does not clearly disclose how the information was obtained or whether the author has any affiliations or potential conflicts of interest. The lack of explicit source citations and context about the reporting process diminishes the reader's ability to assess the impartiality and reliability of the content. Greater transparency in these areas would enhance the article's credibility.

Sources

  1. https://www.gamesradar.com/games/30-years-of-history-reside-in-our-tape-backups-playstations-building-a-game-preservation-mineshaft-vault-with-200-million-files-going-back-to-a-1994-build-of-ps1-jrpg-arc-the-lad/
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zyUeuCg6n4
  3. https://www.techradar.com/news/new-ps5-preservation-team-could-make-retro-sony-games-easier-to-play
  4. https://asset.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/3QLX4OF66ZZTW87/R/file-4f56c.pdf
  5. https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2024/11/playstation-preservation-expert-has-safely-stored-over-half-a-petabyte-of-sonys-gaming-history