abandonware

American  

[uh-ban-duhn-wair] / əˈbæn dənˌwɛər /

noun

1. old or outdated software for which the publisher has discontinued updates, technical support, or distribution.

   This Japanese RPG is so old it’s technically abandonware, but I still love playing it.

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abandonware British  

/ əˈbændənˌwɛə /

noun

1. computer software which is no longer sold or supported by its publisher

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Usage

What does abandonware mean? Abandonware is software that has been abandoned by the person or company that made or owns it, that is, the products are no longer being actively sold or supported. How is abandonware pronounced?[ uh-ban-duhn-wair ]What are other words related to abandonware?

• cloudware
• software

Etymology

Origin of abandonware

First recorded in 2000–05; abandon ( def. ) + -ware ( def. )

Explanation

When a publisher no longer updates or supports software, it becomes abandonware. Computer games that can't be played anymore because the publisher hasn't updated them to work with modern systems are a type of abandonware. When a software company goes out of business, its products become abandonware — essentially, "digital orphans." Without updates or bug fixes, these programs eventually stop working on modern computers. Even if a company stays in business, it may choose to stop supporting certain outdated software, leading it to become abandonware. Because this software is often still under copyright, it exist in a legal gray area when it's distributed for free by online preservation sites.

Example Sentences

What’s more, it’s not one of those cases where a company is still taking money for what’s essentially abandonware — the most recent release is WordPerfect 2021.

From The Verge • Jul. 20, 2022

Apple came very late to the home screen widget game on the iPhone, but it’s already surpassed most of the crufty widget abandonware you’ll find from most Android apps.

From The Verge • May 18, 2021