.WAD File Extension
Doom WAD File
| Developer | id Software |
| Popularity |
4.2 | 174 Votes |
What is a WAD file?
A WAD file is a game data file used by Doom and Doom II, as well as other first-person shooter games that use the original Doom engine. It contains data such as sprites (graphics), level information, and items. WAD files are used for storing original game content as well as game modifications.
More Information
The WAD format has been classified into two categories: 1) IWAD ("Internal WAD") and 2) PWAD ("Patch WAD"). The IWAD file type is used for loading core game content, and PWAD files are used for adding optional data to the game.
Because of Doom's popularity and the customizability of WAD files, the WAD format became one of the more widely known and widely used game data file formats. Community gamers developed thousands of WAD-based mods for Doom and other games. However, since Doom and Doom II were released in the 1990s, the format is not as commonly used as it once was.
The original WAD format, referred to as WAD1, evolved into subsequent formats, including WAD2 and WAD3. These versions were reduced in scope to include only game textures and were used for Quake and Half-Life. Quake WAD texture files can be edited with programs such as Wally.
How to open a WAD file
You can open, view, and edit a WAD file with SLADE, a free, multiplatform Doom modding application. However, if your WAD file is saved as a Half-Life package, you may have to select and save the file as a WAD2 file to keep your edits.