Key Takeaways
1. The Game Preservation Society (GPS) is a nonprofit from Japan focused on preserving video game history and has started a Patreon for funding.
2. In July 2025, the Japanese government cut GPS funding due to regulatory issues related to scanning images for a digital library.
3. GPS secured partial funding again after negotiations but faced a 20% penalty, relying on donations to cover expenses.
4. The organization has cataloged over 855 Famicom strategy guides and preserved more than 7,000 magazine ads in the past fiscal year.
5. GPS aims for independence from government funding, needing 300 Patreon backers to achieve self-sufficiency and maintain integrity in their mission.
The Game Preservation Society, known as GPS, is a nonprofit organization from Japan that aims to keep video game history alive. They have recently started a Patreon to gain self-sufficient funding and are also planning to establish a sister organization in the United States.
Government Support Issues
In July 2025, the Japanese government decided to stop supporting GPS due to supposed regulatory infractions. These included scanning magazines and images to build a digital library, which is reportedly against the law in Japan. Nevertheless, GPS is still carrying on its work in Tokyo.
Last summer, the government brought up two main concerns: the acquisition of images from books, magazines, and game covers was flagged for violating regulations, and the scanning of entire magazine pages for personal archives was also restricted.
Concerns from Leadership
Josh Redon, who leads the Game Preservation Society, shared his thoughts with Time Extension about the situation, stating:
“It was tough. They informed us that our funding would be cut off; we wouldn’t receive any subsidies in the next round. They said we wouldn’t get any support until we fixed the issue. Yet, they never explained what the problem was.”
Redon noted that officials didn’t clarify what was wrong with the images. After many discussions, they decided to hire a lawyer to look into the matter and communicate with the Agency for Cultural Affairs.
Navigating Challenges
After negotiations with the Japanese government, GPS was able to secure funding again, but with a penalty of 20%. Thankfully, they managed to cover the rest of their expenses thanks to donations received starting in April 2025.
Despite facing numerous challenges, GPS has grown its headquarters in Tokyo, cataloging over 855 Famicom strategy guides and preserving more than 7,000 magazine advertisements this fiscal year. They have now launched a Patreon to gain freedom from government funding.
Different Tiers of Support
Patreon supporters can join for free to receive updates, while a $5 monthly subscription provides email news. Higher tiers are planned, including promises of livestreams from their operations and in-depth features.
Redon emphasized that no money would be used to buy “content” and that all funds would go towards archiving and preserving gaming memorabilia. He mentioned that only 300 backers are needed to achieve independence from government aid, stating:
“With 300 supporters, GPS could become self-sufficient and not depend on the government. This would be a significant achievement. I want us to be independent, avoiding reliance on subsidies and a few big private donors, so we can uphold our integrity and mission. We want to make decisions that are best for the public and preservation.”
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