[crosspost from industryinfo..]
One thing we at Google could do is advocate for a scheme for Games.
- Game publishers would put their games in Escrow when they publish.
- Google could publish a spec on how to interpret the game contents.
- 'Orphan' games would actually be preserved.
- Users that purchased the Game would then be entitled to a copy of the escrowed item, plus the design on how to run them.
This, combined with an export of user-generated data would allow for usability after Stadia or the Game Publisher sunsets the service/game.
And TBH I'd love to see this extended to all Online "Stores" that don't let you export usable contents.
Barring something like that Google could enter a with our users if we're serious about the long-haul.. For each purchase a user makes put 10x in a locked escrow fund. When the service cancels that money can be used to migrate the games to a new provider or payout back the user.
- If Stadia gets few users it's not a lot of money to exit and actually would increase satisfaction.
- If Stadia does get popular then there's an explicit feedback loop that reinforces the durability of the system and alignment of interests.
Evernote announced something like this, but never really followed through. A small company called actually does have a preservation fund that is purpose driven.