.SC2REPLAY File Extension

Blizzard StarCraft 2 Replay File

Developer Blizzard Entertainment
Popularity
4.2  |  5 Votes
 

What is an SC2REPLAY file?

An SC2REPLAY file is a game replay created by StarCraft 2 (SC2), a real-time strategy (RTS) game where players compete as Terran, Protoss, and Zerg races. It contains the sequence of events that played out during a single-player custom game or a multiplayer game. It also includes the replay name, duration, version of the software, and the date when the replay was captured. SC2REPLAY files are helpful for reviewing games, creating strategies, and sharing results of competitions with other players and game casters.

More Information

To open a downloaded SC2REPLAY file, you can either double-click the file and open it manually, or you can first place the file in one of the following directories and then open it from the Replay menu in StarCraft II:

Windows SC2 replay folder:

[user]\​Documents\​StarCraft II\​Accounts\​...\​Replays\​

macOS SC2 replay folder (updated by Blizzard in September 2010):

[user]/​Documents/​Blizzard/​StarCraft II/​Accounts/​.../​Replays/​

To create a replay file, select "Save Replay" in StarCraft II after a single or multiplayer game is complete. There are multiple subdirectories for different saved replay types. For example, VersusAI is for replays against the computer. Each subdirectory can be browsed from inside the program.

How to Watch an SC2 Replay

To play back a replay, click on the Replay menu in the user's game profile. Replays are split into Recent, Multiplayer, Versus A.I., and Challenge categories. In the Multiplayer, Versus A.I., and Challenge categories, users can create new subfolders to organize their replays. StarCraft II automatically stores the last ten games played in the Recent folder.

While viewing an SC2 replay, you can speed up or slow down the playback, as well as jump backward to anywhere on the replay timeline (NOTE: you can't jump forward since the replay must sequentially move through the steps of play). You can also view the replay from each player's perspective, which includes the "fog of war." Users can also navigate the map, select units, and turn on statistics, such as how many units, what level of technological advancement, or what APM (actions per minute) rating each player has.

SC2REPLAY files do not contain actual video data. They only contain the actions, movements, and state of the map during gameplay. This is how the files can remain relatively small in size compared to a video file equivalent. This storage technique enables users to click on units, structures, and match statistics during replays. However, it also has the limitation that viewers can't jump forward on the timeline without replaying the sequence of events first.

NOTE: SC2REPLAY files are not backward compatible with earlier software versions. For example, replays saved with the beta testing version of StarCraft II are not playable with the official released version. Therefore, to play older replays, you must use the appropriate version of the software. StarCraft, the predecessor to StarCraft II, stores replay files with an .REP extension.

Open over 400 file formats with File Viewer Plus.Free Download

Programs that open or reference SC2REPLAY files

Windows
Linux

Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the Blizzard StarCraft 2 Replay file format and Mac, Windows, and Linux apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

If you would like to suggest any additions or updates to this page, please let us know.