Entertainment08 September, 20262 min read
GOG Gives Away Printable 1990s PC Game Boxes for Myst, Descent, and Four More Titles
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GOG provides printable big-box templates for five classic titles. A ZIP bundle includes a GLB 3D model and printable box art files.
6 outlets told this the same way.
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GOG revives “big box”
GOG has started giving away flat, printable versions of real 1990s PC game boxes so fans can cut, fold and glue their own “big box” packaging at home. The DRM-free storefront says five titles in its GOG Preservation Program—Myst, Descent, Hitman: Codename 47, Star Trek: 25th Anniversary and Armikrog—now come with printable templates alongside interactive 3D scans of the original packaging.
GOG says every one of these five games includes “an interactive 3D scan of its real, physical box art,” with the actual boxes scanned front, back and spine and turned into rotatable 3D models you can download after purchase. The downloads open in the 3D viewer built into Windows and Mac, and GOG says there’s “no extra software or plugins needed.”
Big Box Collection partnership
GOG worked with Big Box Collection, described as “a one-person passion project” that has been turning real game boxes into 3D scans since 2015. Shane the Gamer reports that project is run by Benjamin Wimmer, and GamesRadar+ says GOG worked directly with him rather than simply borrowing his idea.
Wimmer told GOG, “What we definitely need are heroes to step forward and take good care of our games,” framing the effort as care for games beyond just software access. GamesRadar+ also ties the move to Sony’s decision to end disc production, with the outlet saying publishers like Sony are killing physical games while GOG preserves the “classic big box experience.”
What owners can download
Owners can download a ZIP file containing a version of the box art as an animated 3D object file in an easy-to-open GLB format plus “flat printable templates” in PDF, SVG, and Adobe Illustrator formats. Ars Technica says players browsing those games on the GOG store will now see “3D Boxes” listed among the included “Goodies” before purchase.
TechPowerUp adds that, in addition to the new games bringing the GOG Preservation Program’s library up to 304 total, GOG announced a partnership with Big Box Collection to preserve physical game art by 3D scanning game boxes and other physical media inside the boxes. Ars Technica quotes GOG’s announcement that “Scanning them, and letting you print your own, is preservation in a different shape,” positioning the printable packaging as part of the same mission that keeps games running on modern PCs.