Alex Habgood (UCL) - 2025-26 Students
alexander.habgood.23@ucl.ac.uk

Britsoft Unlocked: The Use and Reuse of Video Game Archives in the UK

The UK has a rich video gaming history, being home to a longstanding sector of corporate and independent video game makers. Additionally, over half of UK adults and almost all 3-15 year-olds play games, forming fan communities and growing gaming cultures. Just as professional archives play a crucial role in preserving film and television, archival initiatives could also make our video game heritage accessible for historical reference, retro-gaming, artistic inspiration and creative reuse. Britsoft Unlocked will collaborate with the British Film Institute (BFI), as well as a range of other organisations and groups, to explore the uses of archived videogame materials, particularly for progressive impact. This aims to set a foundation for the development of more sustainable videogame archiving in the UK, with a clearer purpose and stronger advocacy, based on service to users.

Principal supervisor: Dr Hannah Smyth

Supervisor at Partner Organisation: Stephen McConnachie, Head of Data and Digital Preservation

Partner Institution: British Film Institute