GOG expands preservation program to include 3D scans of classic game packaging

GOG has expanded its Game Preservation Program to include the digital archiving of classic video game packaging. In collaboration with the Big Box Collection, the company is now providing 3D scans of original “big box” containers used during the 1990s and early 2000s.

These 3D models allow users to view the front, back, and spine of the original packaging through standard 3D viewers on Windows and Mac. Beyond digital viewing, the initiative provides flat, printable templates. This allows fans to engage in papercraft projects to physically reconstruct their own replicas of the classic cardboard boxes.

The current wave of preservation includes five specific titles: Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, Armikrog, Descent, Hitman: Codename 47, and Myst. The program aims to preserve not just the software and its compatibility with modern systems, but also the complete historical experience, including manuals, maps, and physical aesthetics.