Myrient ROM index closing March 31, 2026, cost and bandwidth cited
© console-classics.com Myrient is a public “video game preservation service” that hosts a large set of curated collections for download. Its own front page describes the library as “over 390 terabytes of organized collections.”
The site’s file index shows it was not just one console set. It grouped content into large preservation-style categories such as No-Intro (cartridge and digital ROM sets), Redump (optical disc sets), arcade sets like MAME and FinalBurn Neo, TOSEC/TOSEC-ISO, and other large archives like Total DOS Collection, plus a section labeled “Internet Archive.”
Myrient’s operator announced it will shut down on March 31, 2026 . In the Telegram post, they list three main drivers: donations not keeping pace with traffic and costs, the rise of “paywalled download managers” that bypass site protections and enable commercial re-use, and higher RAM, SSD, and HDD pricing that increased hosting and upgrade expenses.
Unlike most projects that recently went offline due to copyright takedowns, this one appears to be driven by rising costs. It is also possible that other factors were involved but were not made public.
Information about the closure of Myrient
I have decided to shut down Myrient on 31 March 2026. Until then, the site will continue to remain available in its current state. Please download any content you find important, as you have around one month to do so.
There are several reasons for the closure:
– Insufficient funding
As traffic continued to increase last year, the amount of funding from donations remained the same. I have been paying more than $6000 out of pocket every month in order to cover the difference which is not sustainable.– Paywalled download managers
In the past several months, many specialized download managers were created that completely bypassed the site, donation messages, and download protections. Some of these download managers locked certain features behind a paywall that required users to pay in order to gain access. The use of Myrient for commercial, for-profit purposes has always been strictly forbidden. Such egregious and abusive usage of the site cannot be tolerated anymore.– Rising RAM, SSD, and HDD prices
Since last September, RAM, SSD, and HDD prices have surged dramatically and continue to rise due to the ongoing extreme demand for AI datacenters. This has caused Myrient’s hosting expenses to go up as well. Necessary upgrades to the storage and caching infrastructure only exacerbated the problem. With a large number of servers and the aforementioned existing monthly deficit in excess of $6000 out of pocket, there is no way to pay for the increased hosting and hardware upgrade costs. […]
Source: Myrient (Telegram)
