.256 File Extension

A 256 file is a color palette file used by Descent 2, a first-person shooter in which players pilot a spaceship to destroy mines infected by a computer virus. It contains a list of RGB values that describe colors used by the textures stored in an associated .PIG file. 256 files use the same name as their associated PIG file.

Descent 2 is the sequel to the original Descent video game. Descent 2 contains PIG files that store, among other things, textures used to skin in-game objects. The game also contains 256 files, which correspond to a specific PIG file and describe the color palette that file's textures use. Many of the game's PIG and 256 files are stored in its .HOG mission files.

256 files are not meant to be opened or modified by players. While Descent 2 modders have created utilities that allow them to modify and replace the game's 256 files, none of those utilities are currently available for download.