Nintendo of America has opened a role for a digital archivist with a clear mission: to organize and preserve the company's history — from technical records and engineering documentation to development materials and institutional knowledge about its classic consoles and games.
The role, titled “Digital Archivist, Historical Systems”, was posted on Nintendo's official careers site on November 4, 2026. It is an approximately 12-month contract, hybrid, at Nintendo of America's headquarters in Redmond, Washington, paying US$ 35 to US$ 55 per hour.
According to the listing, the hire will “support the preservation, organization, and accessibility of historical hardware and software information”, building a framework to organize technical records, engineering documentation, source materials and institutional knowledge related to the company's legacy platforms. The work also includes interviewing subject-matter experts and long-tenured employees to capture knowledge that today lives only in the teams' memories. Nintendo says the archivist will help ensure the company's historical records are “preserved for future generations”.
Applicants need a bachelor's degree in library and information science, archives, museum studies or a related field — or equivalent experience — and at least two years of experience with digital archives, records management or metadata.
The context shows why the move matters: according to the Video Game History Foundation, 87% of classic games released in the United States are critically endangered or lost. Nintendo itself has been criticized by preservation groups — in 2022, the foundation called the closure of the Wii U and 3DS eShops “actively destructive to video game history”. Other companies, such as Sony and Blizzard, also keep their own archives.
One expectation check is in order: nothing in the listing promises public access to the archive, re-releases of old games or a digital museum. The repository should first serve Nintendo's internal teams — as a reference for localization, legal matters, remasters and exhibitions. Even so, it is a sign that the company has started treating its own memory as an asset worth caring for.
Image credit: Nintendo of America headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Photo: Nintendo, via TheGamer.
Sources: Nintendo Careers — Digital Archivist, Historical Systems; Polygon — Nintendo Is Officially Investing in Game Preservation; VGC — Nintendo is hiring someone to document the history of its games; Dexerto — Nintendo is hiring someone to preserve its old games and consoles.
Transparency note: this article was produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence, cross-checked against public posts on X and internet sources. We recommend consulting the original sources for more details.
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