A huge retro gaming archive that looked set to disappear at the end of March has now been preserved, thanks to a large-scale community effort.

Myrient, one of the biggest repositories of retro video game files on the internet, announced earlier this year that it would shut down on March 31, 2026 due to rising operating costs. The site hosts hundreds of terabytes of ROMs, ISOs, and other game preservation files.

Now, members of the gaming community say they have successfully backed up the entire archive before the shutdown happens.

Community Backup Preserves Entire Myrient Library

According to a post shared on X by Pirat_Nation on March 12, the Myrient archive has been “100% backed up by the community”.

https://t.co/1YB0tjuyTx

— TheWizWiki (@TheWizWiki) March 12, 2026

The archive reportedly contains more than 390 terabytes of organised video game data, including ROMs and disc images spanning decades of gaming history.

Multiple reports confirm that community members quickly coordinated after the shutdown announcement. The goal was simple but enormous in scale, download and mirror every file before the servers went offline.

As a result, the full dataset has now been preserved. Some sources place the final backup at roughly 385TB, reflecting the verified portion of the archive that was successfully mirrored and validated by volunteers.

What Myrient Is And Why It Matters For Retro Gaming

Myrient has long been a major resource for retro gaming enthusiasts and emulation communities. The site organised massive collections of game ROMs and disc images used for emulating classic systems.

These included titles from older consoles and computers, along with later systems such as PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii U.

For preservationists, archives like Myrient play an important role in keeping gaming history accessible. Museums and research projects have increasingly highlighted video games as a significant part of modern culture, and losing large digital collections can mean losing parts of that history.

Why The Archive Was Shutting Down

Despite its importance to the preservation community, Myrient’s operators announced that they could no longer afford to keep the service running.

Reports indicate the archive cost roughly US$6,000 per month to host, largely due to the enormous storage requirements needed to maintain hundreds of terabytes of data.

The team behind the project also cited several other problems affecting the site. These included abusive download managers that bypassed donation requests, as well as commercial services using the archive despite its strict non-profit rules.

At the same time, hardware prices have been rising sharply. Increased demand from AI data centres has driven up the cost of RAM, SSDs, and hard drives, making large-scale storage projects significantly more expensive to maintain.

How The Backup Effort Worked

Members of the SaveMyrient community began coordinating downloads almost immediately after the shutdown announcement.

One moderator involved in the effort, known online as Ill-Economist-5285, confirmed that volunteers worked behind the scenes to download and verify the archive. According to posts shared in the community, the full mirror of the database has now been completed and validated.

The next step is distributing the data. The team is currently generating torrent files so the archive can be shared more widely, though organisers say torrents are likely a temporary solution while longer-term hosting options are explored.

Community members have also discussed launching an updated website in the future, though no official replacement platform has been announced yet.

What Happens When Myrient Goes Offline

The original Myrient website is still scheduled to shut down on March 31, 2026.

However, because the full archive has already been backed up, the data itself will not disappear when the servers are switched off. Instead, it will likely continue circulating through community mirrors, torrents, and future preservation projects.

Exactly what form that will take is still unclear. For now, though, retro gaming fans appear to have pulled off one of the largest grassroots preservation efforts the hobby has ever seen.

With hundreds of terabytes of classic games now safely copied, decades of gaming history will remain available for future preservation work and research.

The post Gamers Save 385TB Myrient Retro Game Archive Before Shutdown appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Speculation around the price of Grand Theft Auto VI has been swirling for months, with some fans convinced Rockstar’s next blockbuster would be the first mainstream $100 game. According to a former senior developer, that simply is not happening.

Obbe Vermeij, previously the technical director at Rockstar Games, has downplayed the idea that GTA 6 will launch at a premium price, suggesting the base game will likely stick to the standard $70 price point, with optional premium bundles offered on top.

Why Rockstar Has No Need to Push a $100 Base Price

Speaking in a recent interview with GamesHub, Vermeij explained that the push for a $100 price tag is not coming from Rockstar itself, but from online speculation.

According to him, the studio’s long term thinking is centred on reach, not upfront cost. With GTA 6 expected to launch alongside a new version of GTA Online, Rockstar’s priority will be attracting the largest possible player base at release.

Rather than charging an extra $30 upfront, Vermeij believes Rockstar will once again rely on post launch monetisation through GTA Online, where microtransactions and an evolving in game economy generate revenue over many years. It is a strategy that has already proven wildly successful with GTA V.

Optional Premium Editions Are Still on the Table

While the base game is expected to land around $70, Vermeij did not rule out more expensive bundles. Deluxe or Ultimate editions priced closer to $99 are still likely, offering early access perks, bonus in game content, or GTA Online incentives.

This approach allows Rockstar to capture additional revenue from dedicated fans without locking casual players out with a high entry price.

Development Costs Are Enormous, But Pricing Is Strategic

There is no denying that GTA 6 is shaping up to be one of the most expensive games ever made. Vermeij believes it may hold that title for years, especially as development has stretched across more than a decade.

However, he also pointed out that future projects may not reach the same extremes. Advances in AI assisted tools and procedural generation are already reducing the amount of repetitive work required from artists, which currently accounts for a large portion of development costs.

Even with its massive budget, GTA 6 is expected to earn back its investment over a very long lifespan, not just through initial sales, but through ongoing online content and player engagement.

GTA 6 Is Now in the Polishing Phase

Despite its delay to November 19, 2026, Vermeij claims development is now firmly in the polishing stage. According to him, no further delays are expected, and the focus has shifted to refinement rather than major feature changes.

Rockstar originally planned to release the game earlier, but with GTA V and GTA Online still generating significant revenue, the studio has the freedom to take extra time to ensure quality.

Community Reactions Show Price Isn’t the Real Concern

Interestingly, the pricing debate has sparked strong reactions across social media, with many fans saying cost will not affect their decision to buy the game.

Some players have openly joked that they would happily pay several hundred dollars if it meant getting their hands on GTA 6 immediately. Others warned that Rockstar should not take that enthusiasm too seriously, acknowledging how easily a higher price could become the new industry standard.

Dont let Rockstar know this. We all would… pic.twitter.com/MtiDb8gIiH

— John Michael (@JohnMic05308706) December 26, 2025

There is also a strong belief among fans that pushing beyond $70 would be unnecessary. Many pointed out that GTA V earned many times more than its original development budget through long term support and online content, making an aggressive launch price feel counterproductive.

A recurring sentiment is that GTA is not just a game, but a shared experience. For players who have spent over a decade making memories in GTA Online with friends, even subscription style access would not be a deal breaker, provided the experience lives up to expectations.

At the same time, some fans expressed concern that if Rockstar were to normalise a $100 standard edition, other studios might quickly follow, reshaping pricing across the entire industry.

Vice City’s Return and a Familiar GTA Formula

GTA 6 will take players back to Vice City, a setting Vermeij described as a perfect match for the series. With its over the top tone and modern cultural influence, the location fits GTA’s identity better than riskier ideas that were once discussed internally, including cities outside the United States.

While Rockstar has experimented with concepts like Tokyo in the past, Vermeij believes the franchise will continue revisiting iconic American cities that resonate globally.

The Bottom Line for Players

For fans worried about needing to pay $100 just to jump into GTA 6, the message is reassuring. Everything points to a standard priced release, with optional upgrades for those who want more.

Rockstar appears focused on doing what it has always done best, launching big, building massive online communities, and turning GTA into a platform that lasts for years rather than a one off purchase.

The post GTA 6 Likely to Launch at $70, Not $100, Says Former Rockstar Developer appeared first on Shane the Gamer.