Nintendo is seeking to hire someone to help preserve its gaming history, as more and more classic titles risk being lost to time.
Video game preservation has become an increasingly important issue, especially as older consoles become obsolete and digital storefronts shut down. With many games never receiving modern re-releases, some are becoming virtually impossible to play without tracking down their original hardware.
In fact, a 2023 study found that 87% of classic games released in the US were no longer commercially available.
Now, Nintendo is taking steps to ensure that important parts of its own gaming history are preserved for future generations.
Nintendo is hiring a video game archivist to preserve old software
According to its official job listing, the company is searching for a Digital Archivist, who will help preserve technical records and development materials from previous generations.
“We are seeking a Digital Archivist, Historical Systems to support the preservation, organization, and accessibility of historical hardware and software information,” the description reads.
The successful applicant will be responsible for organizing historical documents, creating a searchable database, and interviewing long-serving employees to record their knowledge.
Nintendo says the goal is to ensure information about its older hardware and software remains accessible to its engineering, development, and research teams.
The position is based in Redmond, Washington, and pays between $35 and $55 per hour on a 12-month contract. Applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience, alongside at least two years working in areas such as digital archiving or records management.
However, while the move could help safeguard Nintendo’s history, it doesn’t necessarily mean that more classic games will become available to players.
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The role focuses on preserving internal information rather than restoring old titles or releasing them on modern platforms.
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