Indie game developer Popcar describes a wave of AI-powered decompilation that is enabling mashups of existing games and a boom in preservation projects. Those projects aim to get old games running on newer hardware, often in a browser through WebAssembly. Simon Willison shared Popcar’s account in a link post published on October 14, 2026.

The same capability raises concerns beyond games. If AI can decompile games and other software, people could reuse software as they choose, companies could take competitors’ work, and paid games or apps could be made open source without their owners’ consent, Popcar argues. The post says this risk applies to any software, not only old video games.

Decompilation can also help preserve games by making them easier to port, modify, enhance and access. Popcar points to games becoming unplayable when servers shut down, as well as console makers moving toward digital distribution, and says preservation could let people keep using software they bought regardless of a company’s wishes. The post presents both the risks of unauthorized reuse and the benefits for access and preservation.

Indie game developer Popcar describes a wave of AI-powered decompilation that is enabling mashups of existing games and a boom in preservation projects. Those projects aim to get old games running on newer hardware, often in a browser through WebAssembly. Simon Willison shared Popcar’s account in a link post published on October 14, 2026.

The same capability raises concerns beyond games. If AI can decompile games and other software, people could reuse software as they choose, companies could take competitors’ work, and paid games or apps could be made open source without their owners’ consent, Popcar argues. The post says this risk applies to any software, not only old video games.

Decompilation can also help preserve games by making them easier to port, modify, enhance and access. Popcar points to games becoming unplayable when servers shut down, as well as console makers moving toward digital distribution, and says preservation could let people keep using software they bought regardless of a company’s wishes. The post presents both the risks of unauthorized reuse and the benefits for access and preservation.