It’s almost funny how quickly video games based on popular movies seem to disappear from the spotlight. Although a movie can remain popular for decades, its video game adaptations are a completely different story, as they are often left collecting dust somewhere on a shelf. Of course, what doesn’t help the situation is that licensed games can become particularly difficult to access over time, especially considering that intellectual property rights and outdated platforms often get in the way. Fortunately, Toy Story: Retro Roundup! is here to switch up the old narrative and give some forgotten titles another chance.
The collection is scheduled to be released on October 15, 2026, and it will bring back some classic Toy Story games from 1995 to 2001. It will contain modern enhancements and archival material as well, but what’s more important is that it opens an interesting discussion that maybe should have happened a long time ago. Maybe studios should consider bringing old games back as complete historical packages rather than just simple ports, as the history surrounding licensed games is important even when those games are not necessarily masterpieces.
Preserving Games Means Preserving Their History
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with bringing an old game to modern platforms and calling it a day, but generally, this is closer to the bare minimum than anything else, and it doesn’t mean that publishers should just settle for that. Toy Story: Retro Roundup! is a great example of how publishers could take things a little further by including a virtual museum filled with development documents, photographs, and other behind-the-scenes materials that are interesting to see, especially given the distance of time. So, instead of just revisiting an old game, players will also have an opportunity to learn more about how it was created.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Rearrange the covers into the correct US release order.
Easy (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)
What’s particularly interesting is that Digital Eclipse has experimented with this approach before. The Making of Karateka is a collection that also includes design documents, developer commentary, and a generally closer look at the creative process behind the game, which is also a very good way to connect with your audience. Moreover, by focusing only on preserving the finished products, publishers often risk losing some amazing details about the development of different titles, which could be quite interesting to see in, let’s say, 30 years from now.
Modern Improvements Can Make Classic Games More Enjoyable for Today’s Players
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Image via: Disney/Pixar -
Image via: Avalanche Software -
Image via: Traveller’s Tales
Although many people love revisiting older games, there’s just no denying the fact that certain gameplay mechanics are torture to deal with today. Yes, it’s true that nostalgia plays a big role, and it makes the struggle less frustrating, but if younger generations give it a shot, they will certainly not appreciate the struggle of using an outdated mechanic. Thankfully, Toy Story: Retro Roundup! also introduces several features for a smoother experience, including Rewind, Practice Mode, and Rex’s Cheat Codes, which provide infinite lives or invulnerability in some cases.
This is because the original Toy Story from 1995, for example, has some challenging sections, and being able to rewind after missing a jump will definitely make a difference. However, looking at the bigger picture, these improvements are a great demonstration of how preserving older games doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to force players to deal with all the limitations of the original experience. Maybe publishers are simply avoiding having to remake everything from scratch, though this is simply not necessary, as a few simple quality-of-life improvements can go a long way not only for returning players but also for those who don’t have any nostalgic attachment to the original titles.
Not Every Game Needs to Be a Masterpiece to Deserve Preservation
As you probably already know, Toy Story: Retro Roundup! is not going to focus exclusively on one game, but it will bring together a collection of different genres and adaptations, including platformers, racing games, and even a title that is based on the animated television series. Yes, the games belong to the same general franchise, but they still demonstrate how differently developers approached licensed adaptations at the time, so it is definitely an interesting thing to see.
Toy Story: Retro Roundup! is scheduled to release on October 15, 2026.
Which, when you think about it, might be exactly why publishers shouldn’t limit preservation efforts only to games that were considered masterpieces. Sometimes, relatively ordinary releases speak volumes about the industry’s history, even when it comes to exploring the reasons why something was not popular at the time. But even if we look at the bigger picture, not every licensed title is a masterpiece, and not every one of them actually needs to be.
But just because the chances of creating the most popular game out there are low doesn’t mean that smaller studios should never release any games. The same rule applies when it comes to preserving the history of the gaming industry through projects like Toy Story: Retro Roundup. Moreover, if publishers only bother saving legendary titles, they will be leaving a pretty substantial part of gaming history behind.
- Released
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October 15, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
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Digital Eclipse
- Multiplayer
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Local Co-Op
