Archivist Free and Pro

Archivist Free manages, verifies and launches your collection, with The Canon included. Pro adds The Atlas and The Chronicle to connect releases across systems and explore video game history.

Archivist Free

$0Forever

Manage and play your game collection.

Configure every supported emulator and launch your games
Manage storage and verify game images
The Canon: identify equivalent releases on the same system across preservation providers
Filter tests, demos and non-game entries
Browse concise, reviewed system overviews

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Archivist Pro

$30US · Planned price

Everything in Free, plus The Atlas and The Chronicle.

The Atlas: connect releases of the same title across systems
The Chronicle: explore authored genealogies, family trees, networks and timelines
Every future software version included
Current content plus 12 months of updates to The Atlas and The Chronicle
Keep all included content permanently

Founding checkout coming later

The founding price, benefits and final terms will be stated before checkout opens.

What each includes

The Canon

Included in Free

Cross-provider canonicalisation of same-system releases. The Canon identifies when No-Intro, Redump, TOSEC, MAME or TDC describe equivalent releases for the same system, so Archivist can select a preferred release for your collection.

The Canon’s reusable clone and equivalent-release relationships will also be published as a dataset for other tools to use.

The Atlas

Included in Pro

Cross-system canonicalisation of a title. The Atlas connects a game’s releases across computers, consoles and arcade hardware, so you can see which releases belong to the same title.

The Chronicle

Included in Pro

Bespoke authored research for people passionate about video game history: genre genealogies, franchise family trees, publisher and developer networks, system timelines and other enriching data.

The Chronicle helps you explore how games, people and platforms relate to one another.

Your Pro licence and content updates

The planned one-time purchase includes every future software version, the current content in The Atlas and The Chronicle, and 12 months of content updates. You keep everything issued to you.

Software updatesEvery future Archivist version.

Forever

The Atlas and The ChronicleCurrent content and updates released during your first 12 months.

Included

Further content updatesAfter 12 months, you can buy more updates to The Atlas and The Chronicle. Pricing will be shown before purchase.

Optional

Free & Pro questions

Can I keep using Archivist Free indefinitely?

Yes. Collection management, verification, launching and The Canon remain free. Pro adds The Atlas and The Chronicle.

What happens when my content-update year ends?

You keep Pro, every software update, and all content issued to you for The Atlas and The Chronicle. Buying further content updates is optional.

Is Archivist a subscription?

No. Pro is a planned one-time US$30 purchase. Further content updates after the included 12 months are optional purchases.

Does Archivist include commercial games?

You supply the game software you legally obtain. Archivist configures and manages it.

Can I buy Founding Pro now?

Checkout is currently closed. It will open with the usable build, founding price, delivery date, support process and refund terms.