.RES File Extension

A RES file contains a resource list used by games developed by Valve, such as Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike. It accompanies a .BSP multiplayer map file and is used to store the locations of custom content added to enhance map gameplay, such as materials and textures for player skins. RES files are saved in plain text.

RES files became prevalent in 1998 with the release of Half-Life, which was the first title from Valve Software. The files were used to store locations of resources instead of the resources themselves to reduce download times. When playing a game, such as Half-Life, the RES file is referenced by the game if the player is playing a custom map then downloads the resources, making them playable within the game.

But as download speeds have increased, new resource formats have been released, and the game engine evolved, actual RES files have become less common. Now, RES files are typically embedded into the map files they are associated with, using BSPZIP, a command-line tool. However, if a map with embedded resource lists cannot be accepted, the RES file can be used.

If the BSP map is incorrectly loaded by the game, it is most likely due to a typo in one or more of the resource paths. You can use a text editor to view and edit the RES file.

NOTE: In order for a RES file to be recognized by a game, it must be placed in the \​maps folder with the BSP map it is associated with and must also bear the same name as the BSP map.

Win32 resource file used when compiling a C++ program; contains resources, such as images, cursors, and version information.

Binary file automatically generated by Delphi programming software; contains the program's main icon and version information (if necessary) and is required for compiling a program; may also include other resources used within the application, such as bitmaps, cursors, and string tables.

File used by Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR), a third-person action game based on the Star Wars series; saved alongside a .SAV saved game file and contains additional descriptive information for the save.

A RES file may also be a resource file created by Godot Engine, a free and open source game engine used to create 2D and 3D games. It contains binary data that is referenced by Godot Engine nodes to perform various functions in the games, such as setting user interfaces, simulating physics, generating 3D models, and drawing sprites.

In Godot Engine, RES resource files are the binary version of .TRES resource files, which are saved in plain text. The TRES format allows developers to more easily control resource versions. When a developer exports the game, Godot Engine converts the TRES files to RES binary files to reduce their size and increase the efficiency of the game package.