The Video Game History Foundation (VGHF) has officially launched its Digital Library in early access as of January 30, 2025. This online archive provides free access to a vast collection of video game history materials, including over 1,500 out-of-print magazines, promotional materials, artwork, press kits, and never-before-seen game development documents. The library is designed to serve researchers, historians, journalists, YouTubers, and fans interested in exploring the history of video games.

At launch, the library includes six featured collections:

• Guidebooks and materials from the first 12 years of E3.
  
  
• An international collection of FromSoftware promotional content, donated with the company’s blessing.
  
  
• 100 CD-ROMs of artwork and press releases from GamePro magazine’s archives.
  
  
• Over 100 hours of behind-the-scenes footage from the development of Myst by Cyan, Inc.
  
  
• The “Mark Flitman Papers,” a treasure trove of documents from the former Konami and Acclaim producer.
  
  
• A collection of rare magazines and other media.
  
  

The library is fully text-searchable, allowing users to find specific games, publishers, or even unique terms like “Metroidvania.” This functionality makes it an invaluable tool for studying video game history. The VGHF has been working on this project since its founding in 2017, with the goal of preserving and making accessible materials that would otherwise be lost to time.

While free to browse, the foundation relies on donations through Patreon to continue expanding its archives. Early access users have reported high demand causing occasional server timeouts, reflecting the strong interest in this resource. The VGHF hopes this digital library will inspire more preservation efforts within the gaming industry and encourage contributions from studios and collectors alike.