PK3 (file extension)
Encyclopedia
A .PK3 file is a renamed ZIP
file, used in games based on the Quake III engine. It usually contains a checksum to prevent the opening and recompression of the file, or the addition of extra maps to demo versions. The .PK3 file contains the maps, models, textures, weapons, sounds, scripts and other assets for the game.
They can usually be viewed or extracted using a file archiver with support for the ZIP
file format. PK3 files can be created using software designed for that purpose.
Quake Live
also uses PK3 files, but these files have been encoded by means of a bitwise XOR with a string of characters and therefore cannot be opened with a regular ZIP program like other PK3 files. However, open source utilities have been created to decode these PK3 files, such as the quakelivedec program.
Quake 4
, the sequel to Quake III Arena
, uses .PK4
files alongside the Doom 3 engine.
ZIP (file format)
Zip is a file format used for data compression and archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to reduce file size, or stored as is...
file, used in games based on the Quake III engine. It usually contains a checksum to prevent the opening and recompression of the file, or the addition of extra maps to demo versions. The .PK3 file contains the maps, models, textures, weapons, sounds, scripts and other assets for the game.
They can usually be viewed or extracted using a file archiver with support for the ZIP
ZIP (file format)
Zip is a file format used for data compression and archiving. A zip file contains one or more files that have been compressed, to reduce file size, or stored as is...
file format. PK3 files can be created using software designed for that purpose.
Quake Live
Quake Live
Quake Live is a first-person shooter video game by id Software designed to run on x86-based computers running Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X or Linux that is downloaded and launched via a web browser plugin. It is a variant of its predecessor, Quake III Arena .Quake Live is free to download and play...
also uses PK3 files, but these files have been encoded by means of a bitwise XOR with a string of characters and therefore cannot be opened with a regular ZIP program like other PK3 files. However, open source utilities have been created to decode these PK3 files, such as the quakelivedec program.
Quake 4
Quake 4
Quake 4 is the fourth title in the series of Quake first-person shooter computer games. The game was developed by Raven Software and published by Activision. Raven Software has collaborated with id Software, the creators and historical developers of preceding Quake games...
, the sequel to Quake III Arena
Quake III Arena
Quake III Arena , is a multiplayer first-person shooter video game released on December 2, 1999. The game was developed by id Software and featured music composed by Sonic Mayhem and Front Line Assembly...
, uses .PK4
PK4 (file extension)
The PK4 file format is a .zip file identical to the PK3 file format. It has been used in Doom 3, Quake 4 and other games using the id Tech 4 game engine to store levels and other game files....
files alongside the Doom 3 engine.