GOG, the DRM-free games platform, has launched an initiative to bring back the "big box" packaging that was a hallmark of PC gaming in the 1990s. Working with Big Box Collection, a decade-long solo project that has been 3D-scanning original game boxes, GOG is letting customers download templates to print, cut and fold their own replica big boxes at home, offering a tangible alternative to purely digital purchases and helping preserve a fading piece of gaming history.

The scheme currently covers a small selection of titles, including the original Hitman: Codename 47, Armikrog, Descent, Myst and Star Trek: 25th Anniversary, with more expected to be added over time. Customers who buy select games can download a ZIP file containing everything needed to assemble the box, which historically served as an oversized, artwork-heavy showcase despite typically containing little more than a CD case and manual.