Look, let's be honest: Hideki Kamiya, the mastermind behind Okami and Devil May Cry, has pointed out that securing an environment where games can continuously run for future generations is far more urgent than rushing out physical discs.

The developer made these remarks in an interview with VGC published on July 2nd. During the chat, Kamiya raised a critical awareness that as the console industry gradually phases out the production of physical media, copyright-holding companies must continue to guarantee accessibility to these works as cultural assets. In particular, the director strongly emphasized that even if gamers' purchasing habits shift towards digital downloads and physical discs completely exit the stage, companies need to fulfill their management responsibilities so that the next generation can experience previously released games without restrictions.

Kamiya then pointed out that the industry is littered with masterpieces that simply cannot be run on current-generation hardware, arguing that game IP holders must keep access channels open as a matter of transmitting culture rather than treating games as a mere hobby. Furthermore, the director mentioned Japanese game company Hamster's classic game porting business, pointing to the restoration that allows classic masterpieces to be easily run even on current-generation consoles as an exemplary preservation case.

Meanwhile, the gaming industry has recently faced continuous issues due to the cessation of physical disc releases and a sales format involving license issuance—where buying a game essentially means renting it. Critical voices are growing louder regarding situations where consumers who paid for a product find themselves unable to enjoy the game due to unilateral decisions by game companies or publishers. Consequently, EUand the United Stateshave even seen bills proposed based on the 'Stop Killing Games' movement, though they ultimately floundered.

Regardless of this trend, in South Korea, various events emphasizing the importance of game preservation are being held to highlight its significance. Since last July, the National Library of Korea has emphasized the importance of preserving gaming archives through 'Discontinued Korean Games, Turned Back On'and also proposed the necessity of projects for collecting and preserving discontinued software through the 'Discontinued Game Preservation and Utilization Seminar'.