this post was submitted on 27 Feb 2026
116 points (99.2% liked)

datahoarder

10264 readers
56 users here now

Who are we?

We are digital librarians. Among us are represented the various reasons to keep data -- legal requirements, competitive requirements, uncertainty of permanence of cloud services, distaste for transmitting your data externally (e.g. government or corporate espionage), cultural and familial archivists, internet collapse preppers, and people who do it themselves so they're sure it's done right. Everyone has their reasons for curating the data they have decided to keep (either forever or For A Damn Long Time). Along the way we have sought out like-minded individuals to exchange strategies, war stories, and cautionary tales of failures.

We are one. We are legion. And we're trying really hard not to forget.

-- 5-4-3-2-1-bang from this thread

founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
archivist@lemmy.ml
116
Myrient is shutting down on March 31st, 2026 (best ROM preservation and hosting site with over 390 terabytes) (lemmy.ml)
submitted 2 weeks ago by thingsiplay@lemmy.ml to c/datahoarder@lemmy.ml
18 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

https://myrient.erista.me/ - main site

This is arguably the best site ever made for this kind of preservation. And they shutdown because of insufficient funding and increased prices for hardware. They have full sets for NoIntro, Redump, TOSEC, MAME, RetroAchivements supported games, exo sets and lots of important coverage from good Internet Archive sources. All of this with direct downloads, no ads, super fast. Everything neatly organized and always available.

Either people start donating fast, or its gone. I recommend to download as fast as possible what you need. Its closing in about a month from now on March 31st, 2026.

top 18 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] ItsNotImportant24@lemmy.ml 21 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Its already being uploaded and hosted elsewhere now. New site will be Minerva. So, while its sad, its not gone and will still continue on elsewhere.

Here is their matrix server https://chat.minerva-archive.org/

They are also taking anyone’s help that has storage and can help download anything that still hasn’t been downloaded yet. They have a backup tracker that you can check to see what still needs downloaded. They are also working on data for the checksums to ensure everything matches.

And here is their website if you wish to help and see updates.

https://minerva-archive.org/

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Good to know. The question is, about the quality of the site (no ads, fast downloads, direct links) and so on.

[–] ItsNotImportant24@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

It will be the exact same. Theyve already posted screenshots and it will be no different. It looks the exact same as well other than the name Minerva now. Looks like theyre preserving and mirroring Myrient as closely as possible.

[–] ItsNotImportant24@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

They also have a Discord now, errrrm as well where you can track progress and talk to them. If Discord is your thing now lol

[–] Novis 19 points 2 weeks ago

It sounds like it's MORE than just the funding issue but the funding issue is one of the big, CORE reasons why. Honestly, hosting this stuff also puts a target on the host-er's back, so not sure if they even want to take that risk on anymore. The internet Wild West has been dead for a long while.

[–] rottenmummy@lemmy.ml 11 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

Donated! Don't think it will help much, but here goes nothing.

[–] onlooker@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Ugh, a dagger in my heart. That sucks, I really like Myrient. Anyone know what their Discord and/or Telegram channels have to say about this? I don't have an account for either (nor do I want one).

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I also did just upload a copy of a screenshot (not made by me). The screenshot here is the message from Discord or Telegram: https://lemmy.ml/pictrs/image/3ce1c9cc-7332-4367-9acd-ed6948e5e735.png

[–] onlooker@lemmy.ml 7 points 2 weeks ago

Thanks for this. The message is really disheartening to read. But points #2 and #3 in particular just piss me off. Just shitty moves all around and of course AI is somehow involved in this. We can't ever have nice things, man.

[–] xvertigox@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

This is legitimately crushing news. Myrient is an invaluable archive and I hate to think of it disappearing. I use it constantly :(

[–] capuccino@lemmy.world 6 points 2 weeks ago

no no no no , goddamnn

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago

as i start to work harder on my 8080 emu with a goal to get cp/m working then move on to NES… this kind of stuff makes me sad. :(

[–] Lemmchen@feddit.org 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

A sad day for emulation and game preservation.

Edit: Oh wow, their download speeds are terrible currently. I assume everybody and their mum is in the process of archiving.

[–] ItsNotImportant24@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Yes, they have alot of people to help archive for the new site. They just posted that the best way to help is to use their script to take some of the workload off the site and increase speeds. Minerva, that is.

[–] Xraygoggles@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

Dang, I had never heard of this one. A shame but maybe some folks like me will hear about it for the first time and chip in. 6k out of pocket every month is wild, is that a realistic cost? I can't even imagine being in a place to consider shelling that out.

[–] LiamTheBox@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago

There is another project called RetroTorrents, it seems to take a different approach, and is more deserted due to the lack of interest with the playable formats .chd .rvz and .wux, .zip is good but sucks with disc based games.

[–] Lemmchen@feddit.org 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Am I reading this correct that hShop will not be affected?

[–] thingsiplay@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 week ago

No announcements about a closure on https://hshop.erista.me/announcements . If I understand correctly, both hShop and Myrient are operating independently and are hosted on erista.me.