Xcavator 2025 (NES Cartridge)

Here at iam8bit, its our firm belief that the preservation of video game history is crucial to the medium’s future as a commercial product, an art form, and everything in between. That’s why we’re so excited to partner with the Video Game History Foundationto bring you something truly special; a never-before-seen, long-lost prototype game from legendary programmer Chris Oberth. 

This is Xcavator 2025 (NES Cartridge), a fully functional NES title built from Oberth’s original design of the same name. First developed at Incredible Technologies Inc., the company behind coin-op classics like Golden Tee Golf, Big Buck Hunter, and more, Xcavator was shopped around to multiple publishers across the country way back in 1991, but it never found a home, and was quietly archived and never looked at again.

Recently, the prototype's source code was discovered and rebuilt by the Video Game History Foundation from Oberth's development archives, which were donated by his family after his unfortunate passing. Incredible Technologies then graciously agreed to donate the rights to the game to the VGHF to use as a fundraiser for its charitable work.

The Video Game History Foundation then worked with Mega Cat Studiosto finish the game, staying true to Oberth’s original vision and using the tools and environments that Oberth would have utilized himself to make the game whole.

iam8bit took it from there, creating a truly unique and authentically retro package for Xcavator 2025 that includes a 14-page manualloaded with more info on Oberth and Xcavator, written by the fine folks of the VGHF themselves. It’s exhibit-quality stuff, available for your very own collection.

Best of all, 100% of the profits from the Xcavator 2025 NES Cartridge will go to fund the Video Game History Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching the history of video games.

This is a one-of-a-kind product made to support an important cause. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of video game history. 

© 2025 Video Game History Foundation. All Rights Reserved.