When MMOs End: A Survival Checklist for Your Character, Inventory and Memories

Facing an MMO sunset? Save your character, inventory and memories—fast

When a live MMO announces it's closing (think New World’s 2025–26 wind‑down), players feel a rushing, visceral loss: hours of progression, rare cosmetics, guild history and social ties can vanish in a single server flip. This checklist is a no‑fluff, step‑by‑step survival plan for your character, inventory and memories. Follow it now—before the lights go out.

Why this matters in 2026

Late 2025 and early 2026 saw multiple high‑profile MMOs give formal shutdown timelines. The industry response has changed: developers now sometimes provide data exports, community‑hosted server options appear more often, and preservation groups push for standardized archive tools. Still, the reality is uneven—many assets and social networks can disappear without a trace. That makes a proactive, timestamped archive your best defence.

Immediate triage: First 72 hours (most critical)

Start here the moment a sunset is announced. These actions preserve proof and stop time‑sensitive losses.

1. Take authoritative screenshots and clips
   • Capture the character sheet, level, skill trees, mounts, titles and all equipped gear—use PNG for screenshots (lossless) and MP4 (H.264 or H.265) for video clips.
   • Include UI elements that show timestamps (chat with date, server time, quest logs). If the game doesn’t show time, open your OS clock overlay or record a short video with a visible clock app.
   • Record inventory pages and bank tabs. Page‑through slowly so nothing is missed; record a continuous video of you opening each container.
2. Preserve metadata
   • Don’t edit images in a way that strips EXIF data. If you must crop, save copies of the originals too. Use tools like ExifTool to inspect and preserve metadata if you’re comfortable with command‑line tools.
   • For videos, keep the raw capture file before compressing; OBS recordings or console raw clips are best.
3. Archive public profile pages
   • Open your public profile, guild page, leaderboard entry and achievement pages in a browser and archive each URL with the Wayback Machine (web.archive.org) or similar archiving services. Save the final archived URL and the original.
   • Download Steam/Epic/console achievement pages. For platform achievements, take screenshots of the platform UI showing the achievement timestamps.
4. Gather purchase receipts and transaction history
   • Download receipts for any in‑game purchases, season passes, or marketplace sales. These help prove ownership and may be necessary for refunds or dispute claims.

Export data where possible (accounts, friends, logs)

By 2026, several devs started offering limited export tools; where those aren’t available, official data requests are often your next option.

1. Check official export tools and APIs
   • Search the game’s support pages and forums for “export”, “data download”, “account export” or API docs. Some MMOs now provide JSON dumps of character stats or transaction logs.
   • If an API exists, use it or community tools to pull your character JSON. Save copies and store them in zipped archives with a README explaining contents and date.
2. Use privacy/data access laws where applicable
   • Regions with GDPR, CCPA or similar laws give players a right to request personal data. Submit a formal data request to the publisher’s data‑protection or support email asking for all account data—character history, transaction logs, chat logs (if retained), and any exported player data.
   • Keep copies of your request and responses. These help document official preservation attempts.
3. Export friends and guild rosters
   • Take screenshots of your friends list, guild member rosters, guild bank contents and recent activity logs. If the game supports CSV export for guild rosters or logs, use it.
   • On Discord, use server backup bots (if you’re an admin) or export invite lists and member roles. Exporting private messages is sensitive—get consent before archiving others’ PMs.

Inventory and valuable items: proof, provenance and redress

Virtual goods are tricky. You can’t always transfer them, but you can build an evidentiary trail that proves ownership and value.

1. Item snapshots
   • Screenshot every rare item with tooltip visible (name, rarity, level, owner tag if shown). Record the item in context (equipped on character, listed in inventory slot, or in a market listing).
2. Market listings and transaction logs
   • Save marketplace pages for item listings, buyer history, and completed sales. If the game has trade receipts, download them.
3. Receipts for purchases and currency
   • Collect receipts for skins, mounts, currency packs or bought items. These are key if you pursue refunds, store credit, or legal redress.

Achievement preservation: proof that you did it

Achievements and leaderboards are fragile—platforms can delist pages. Preserve them strategically.

• Screenshot achievement notifications and your platform profile showing achievement lists with timestamps.
• Record video of the achievement moment (boss defeat, final score, timed run). Video is stronger evidence than still images.
• Archive leaderboards via web capture tools and by saving CSV or HTML snapshots.
• Post public proof on your social accounts (X, Mastodon, YouTube) with date — public posts create distributed timestamps and make it harder for records to vanish completely.

Creator archives: clips, VODs and monetization history

If you streamed or posted content from the MMO, gather all creative assets and metadata now.

• Download Twitch VODs and export chat logs for context. Twitch offers VOD export for creators; save highest quality copies.
• Download YouTube uploads and ensure descriptions list dates and timestamps for key moments.
• Export revenue receipts from creator platforms—these prove earnings tied to the game and may be relevant for future negotiations or claims.

Community preservation: how to keep your guild alive

Players who lose a game still keep the friendships. Prioritize the social network.

1. Create a guild archive pack
   • Compile member lists (with consent), screenshots of guild achievements, guild bank snapshots and a short “history” document that highlights milestones, raid logs and media. Export a zipped folder and host it on cloud storage or GitHub (if appropriate).
2. Move to an external home
   • Set up a dedicated Discord/Matrix server, a private forum, or a simple website. Encourage members to save contact info (email, Twitter/X handle, Discord tag). Use community backup bots for role and channel structure.
3. Organize future events
   • Plan a final in‑game meetup, then schedule regular post‑sunset events on the new platform: movie nights, memory streams, charity auctions of guild memorabilia (digital or physical).

Legal and refund options (practical guidance)

There’s no universal answer—publishers’ policies vary. But a documented approach improves outcomes.

• Read the announcement and TOS: check dates for refunds, currency conversion, or store credit offers. Developers sometimes offer partial refunds or in‑game currency exchange; the terms matter.
• File support tickets early: open a ticket requesting data export or refund information and keep copies of correspondence.
• Use consumer protection laws: cite GDPR/CCPA when requesting personal data or account exports where applicable. If you paid for a service that ceased without notice, local consumer law may provide recourse.
• Group actions: community petitions or coordinated refund requests have sometimes prompted publishers to offer better compensation.

Long‑term preservation: store, share, and make discoverable

Once you’ve captured screenshots and exports, follow an archive plan so these memories survive beyond your hard drive.

1. Redundancy: 3 copies, 2 formats, 1 offsite
   • Keep originals, a compressed archive (7z/zip) and an offsite cloud copy (Google Drive, OneDrive, or a dedicated archival service). Use checksums to verify file integrity over time.
2. Descriptive metadata
   • Include a README.txt in every archive describing what’s inside, the date, server name, character name and the capture tool/version used. This matters years from now.
3. Make a public snapshot
   • Upload curated highlights—screenshots, montage videos, guild history—to a public platform and tag them clearly. Public mirrors act as a distributed archive and are often easier to cite than private archives.

Practical tech tips and recommended tools (2026)

These are lightweight, battle‑tested options for quick preservation.

• Screenshots: ShareX or native Steam/Epic capture (PNG).
• Video capture: OBS Studio (record at 60fps, 1080p, use MKV or FLV to avoid corruption; remux to MP4 after recording).
• Archiving: 7‑Zip or 7z for compression (high compression for large VODs), ExifTool to inspect metadata.
• Web archiving: Wayback Machine, Perma.cc for legal‑grade snapshots.
• Cloud backup: Use at least one major provider and an independent archiving service. Consider versioned backups to track edits.

Fast checklist: What to do in the last 30 / 7 / 2 / 0 hours

Last 30 days

• Start exporting data and tickets.
• Catalog purchases and receipts.
• Announce guild migration plans and collect contact info.

Last 7 days

• Record walkthroughs of character progression and bank contents.
• Archive public pages and leaderboards.
• Request formal data exports or refunds if offered.

Last 48 hours

• Capture every rare item with tooltip and marketplace pages.
• Download VODs and high‑quality clips.
• Create guild archive pack and back it up offsite.

Final hour

• Do one last recording: character parade, guild name shoutouts, and final group photo in‑game.
• Push public highlights to social platforms with timestamps.
• Save an account snapshot (profile page/screens) and submit any last support tickets.

What not to waste time on

• Don’t try to reverse‑engineer server files or run private servers without legal clarity—this can breach the ToS and create legal exposure.
• Don’t rely on single backups or a single social post as your only preservation method.

Case study highlights (player strategies in late 2025–2026)

When recent MMOs announced sunset dates, communities that triaged early—archiving leaderboards, mass‑exporting guild assets and coordinating refunds—retained the richest memories and smoother transitions to community hubs.

Common successful strategies: creating public highlight reels, staging final in‑game ceremonies, and coordinating a single shared archive (a zipped “Guild Memory Pack”) hosted on multiple platforms.

Final takeaways

• Act quickly: Screenshots, VODs and archived web pages are your first line of evidence.
• Document everything: receipts, support tickets, and a README for every archive increase the weight of your preservation effort.
• Protect your community: export guild rosters, migrate chats, and plan future meetups offsite.
• Use the law when needed: data access requests under GDPR/CCPA can yield account exports you can’t otherwise get.
• Make it public: distribute highlights across platforms to create shared, timestamped memories.

Your action plan — 1‑page cheat sheet

1. Take PNG screenshots of character sheet, inventory and achievements.
2. Record 1080p/60fps video of bank, equipment and achievement moments (OBS recommended).
3. Archive public profile and leaderboard URLs to the Wayback Machine.
4. Download receipts and open a support ticket requesting account data export.
5. Create a guild pack (members list, media, README) and back it up to cloud + local.
6. Post public highlights to social media for third‑party timestamping.

Call to action

Sunsets hurt, but memories don’t have to. Download our free printable MMO Sunset Survival Checklist, join the ludo.live Preservation Hub to store your guild pack, and share your archive tips with other players. Preserve your legacy—start your archive today and help the community keep its history alive.

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