[gmueckl]

Besides, there are often no entities who can legally keep archives of the work done at a studio when it is closed down.

Publishers should institute a rule for their own sake that says that the deliverable must not only be the full game but also all source files in editable format, including proprietary tools as well as an image of a build server capable of producing a running product when follwing a documented sequence of instructions. But this will likely cause legal trouble when third party engines and tools are involved. I guess this also needs a cultural change in the wohle industry.

[dkersten]

That’s a very good point. Yes, it would be incredible if publishers would take archival on and have code + source assets as part of the deliverables.

[gmueckl]

With remasters of old titles now being economically viable, the necessary incentives for publishers are becoming real.