[Telaneo]

> So that's potentially ~100 versions, just for Java edition. Should all of those be archived?

Minecraft is a great example here, because the answer it brings to the table is yes. You can play any version of Minecraft (barring some really early versions that are lost to time) natively in the launcher. Yes, even the stupid sub-versions. If Minecraft can do it just fine, I see little reason other games can't (barring licencing issues, ugh).

> What about games in which major features regularly get removed, like Fortnite?

Give the option to revert back. Provide the relevant files so someone can do it by themselves. Be a decent human being.

> Maybe we should just accept that big online games are more like cultural happenings than media objects.

Fuck off. You had to be there for WoW Classic too. Doesn't mean we can't still have it. There are WoW Classic server up right now, with people playing it. Not that that has much to do with Blizzard (they caved only after illicit Classic servers became stupid popular, and it's not like setting up those servers was an easy feat).