Strong National Museum of Play Acquires Volition Game Development Archives: Preserving Nearly 30 Years of Industry History

The Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, has made a landmark acquisition of video game history by receiving an extensive archive of development materials from Volition, the influential studio behind hit franchises including Descent, Red Faction, and Saint's Row.

This initiative marks a significant milestone in video game preservation, allowing the achievements of one of the industry's pioneering developers to be documented and shared with future generations. The recently acquired collection was donated by former Volition staff members—often affectionately referred to as "Volitionites." Spanning almost three decades of creative output, the donation comprises thousands of game builds, original source material, internal documentation, company awards, and development props.

Notably, the archive features artifacts from Volition’s formative years as Parallax Software, including items from the 1995 cult-classic first-person shooter Descent.

Additionally, the Red Faction series, known for its groundbreaking destructible environments, and a comprehensive set of materials from the successful Saint's Row franchise, are well-represented, offering rare insight into both released games and projects that never saw the light of day. Andrew Borman, director of digital preservation at the Strong National Museum of Play, publicly shared his enthusiasm for the project.

He expressed that working on the initial processing of the Volition archive has been an invaluable opportunity to delve into the company’s rich and varied history.

Although the collection will eventually be exhibited for public viewing and made accessible to researchers, Borman highlighted that considerable effort lies ahead in organizing, cataloging, and transferring data from legacy storage mediums before the materials can be fully integrated and displayed. Volition’s legacy began in 1993 when industry veterans Mike Kulas and Matt Toschlog established Parallax Software in Champaign, Illinois.

The studio quickly garnered acclaim for Descent, a title heralded for pushing the boundaries of 3D shooter design on platforms from the PC to consoles of the era.

After its rebranding to Volition, the studio achieved major commercial and critical success with the Red Faction and Saint's Row series, both making a lasting impact on the genres of first-person shooters and open-world action games.

However, after a period of fluctuating sales, industry challenges, and company acquisitions, Volition was ultimately closed in 2023 during a restructuring by parent company Embracer Group. This archival project not only preserves the technical and artistic milestones of Volition on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and beyond, but also cements the studio’s lasting influence on game development and digital entertainment culture.

The Strong National Museum of Play’s stewardship ensures that the creative achievements—and the lessons they offer—will be available to scholars, fans, and creators for years to come.

Red