Video Game Preservation Museum Faces Setback in Effort to Save Rare Nintendo Prototypes

The campaign to preserve a significant collection of over 200 rare Nintendo prototype cartridges has encountered a major setback, as the Video Game Preservation Museum (VGPM) faces new challenges in its ongoing effort to keep these artifacts from falling into private collections. This initiative aims to safeguard a substantial archive of unreleased or beta Nintendo Game Boy Advance (GBA), Nintendo DS, DSi, and Nintendo 3DS cartridges, alongside various development kits, ensuring their long-term availability for research and historical purposes. The VGPM, a non-profit organization dedicated to video game conservation, launched fundraising campaigns across platforms such as Ko-Fi, Goodhub, and GoFundMe under the umbrella "Project AGES." In May 2025, the organization managed to secure an initial down payment of £5,500 to reserve the collection and prevent it from being split up or lost to private collectors. Their ultimate goal—raising £61,000 to acquire all approximately 300 carts—would enable them to digitally archive game content and distribute the physical cartridges as rewards to their supporters. Backers contributing over £200 were promised a random cart, while those donating more than £1,000 could select a cartridge of their choice. If the campaign failed to reach its target by the start of August, the non-profit assured contributors of refunds or alternative allocation of funds to future preservation projects. Titles in the collection include some of the most sought-after prototype builds for the Nintendo handheld platforms. These range from Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, Sonic Colors DS, and Sonic Generations 3DS to Mario & Sonic at the Winter Olympic Games and several rarer titles like Rhythm Thief & The Emperor’s Treasure, Crush 3D, and Phantasy Star 0. In all, the batch features prototypes from acclaimed franchises, with quantities varying from a single cart to close to 50 for some games. However, recent developments have threatened the campaign's ambitions. According to a source involved with the fundraiser, police in the United Kingdom reportedly raided the home of the individual selling the cartridges and seized the items. The precise reasons for the seizure remain unclear, and public speculation regarding possible involvement from SEGA cannot be confirmed. The VGPM source clarified that these prototype games were originally retrieved from a recycling company contracted by a major video game publisher during the closure of its UK offices, but could not specify the company in question. Previously, the seller had withdrawn from negotiations with the VGPM after receiving higher offers from other parties, rejecting a proposal exceeding £25,000 from the preservation group. The VGPM expressed frustration in a recent statement, explaining that they were left unable to preserve the majority of the collection, though opportunities might remain to acquire select cartridges for archival purposes. Ongoing discussions within preservation and collector communities such as Obscure Gamers have highlighted the urgent nature of this mission. The importance of initiatives like the VGPM’s is underscored by the increasing rarity of undumped prototypes and development hardware for Nintendo’s GBA, DS, DSi, and 3DS consoles. These efforts are critical in ensuring gaming history is preserved for future generations and not lost to private ownership or disposal. As the August deadline for the fundraiser approaches, the Video Game Preservation Museum remains committed to its mission. Despite the legal and organizational hurdles, the group continues to advocate for the proper archival of this remarkable hardware and software collection, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by video game preservationists in the modern era.