Forums / Media / Video Games

I know the discussion of piracy is a controversial one, but I always wondered at what point something is considered "abandonware?"

Obviously 80s and 90s PC games are considered abandonware, but what about console games? What about newer games that are harder to acquire legitimately? At what point is it not "pirating a game" and more "downloading abandonware?"

Also, Internet Archive is such a great place to find abandonware-

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abandonware
About as decent place as any for a simple definition and the various types. But as an example: There's a video game IP called Shadow Hearts. The original developer was bought, and then absorbed, by Universal Entertainment Corporation. UEC is a maker of slots, pachinko, and other gambling games and have gone on record as saying they are not interested in video games. This means that the IP is abandoned but still owned so you must pay either hundreds of dollars on a 3rd-party or emulate it.

Abandonware basically boils down to older versions of software or software that has no official support + no offial way to obtain through legal purchase. This description especially applies when no party has legal ground to prevent modification or usage of such software.

Ah, what an interesting example. What a copyright hell.

I see. Thank you.

This reminds me, a YouTuber I watch occasionally likes to promote this one abandonware site that seems to be pretty trustworthy (as in the site makes sure the stuff uploaded doesn't contain malware). Said site (My Abandonware) only sticks to stuff released before 2011.

I've never downloaded anything from there personally, but I keep seeing people say it's probably the best way to get ahold of PC games that aren't being sold on Steam or GOG (like Silent Hill 2 and 3, Prey 2006, and Wolfenstein 2009). Despite the aforementioned endorsements I'm still too chicken to risk my new PC.

Ah, My Abandonware. I've used that site before. I'll admit, I'm a bit too chicken to use that site as well on my main PC… I mostly test it out on an older laptop. No way to check if the files are untouched, and some of the games I tried didn't work. Can't remember which though.

I know the Internet Archive got PC games that aren't sold on Steam or GOG (like the examples you mentioned), but it's still a gamble if it's legit or not. Your mileage may vary.

God, licensing issues are a headache. If only the video game companies could make it less of a headache to find a game that's like 20 years old.

Still salty over the entirety of Sims 2 being delisted. Bring it back, EA!

Give it ten years, roughly. If they never update with a more modern version, or keep servers up for online games, it's safe to assume it's been abandoned.