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Lost 1991 NES Game 'Xcavator' Revived as Charity Cartridge With Preorders Now Open

Mega Cat completed the unreleased Chris Oberth game from source code recovered by the Video Game History Foundation.

Overview

  • Preorders are live at $100 through iam8bit, close January 10, and shipments are planned for Q2 2026.
  • The physical package includes a working NES cartridge, period-style packaging, and a 14-page manual authored by the foundation, produced with Retrotainment.
  • Partners say 100% of profits will fund the Video Game History Foundation’s preservation work.
  • Originally built at Incredible Technologies in 1991 and never published, the game’s rights were donated to the foundation to enable this release.
  • The project was announced during the Day of the Devs showcase as a faithful reconstruction by Mega Cat guided by Oberth’s materials.