Help:Accessing the game files

Accessing the game files can be done by anyone who downloads Team Fortress 2. The accessible files consist of textures (for backpack icons, HUD elements, decals, etc.), voice lines (for all classes, the Administrator, Halloween bosses, etc.), models (for props, weapons, classes, etc.), and other miscellaneous files. These files are all contained in .vpk (Valve Pak, also shortened to simply Pak) files. Note that any files used on community-created maps are contained within the .bsp file instead.

Accessing the files

Most of the files Team Fortress 2 uses require special programs to open. Below is a list of programs that can be used to open and extract each of these file types. To find the .vpk files for Team Fortress 2, navigate to steamapps\common\Team Fortress 2\tf. There are many Pak files, but the _dir files will contain everything. There are 4 different types, tf2_misc_dir.vpk, tf2_sound_misc_dir.vpk, tf2_textures_dir.vpk, and tf2_sound_vo_[lang].vpk (this file depends on your in-game voice language setting. Supports English, Russian, Spanish, French, and German. Only the language you've selected will appear in your folders).

• .vpk and .bsp (map files)
  • GCFScape
  • VPKEdit
  • Gibbeds VPK Extractor (.vpk files only)
• .vtf and .vmt
  • VTF Explorer
  • VTFEdit
• .nut, .cfg, and .pop
  • Any text editor or IDE
• .zip
  • WinRAR
  • 7zip

List of files

Below is a non-exhaustive list of files and their uses on the Wiki.

Type	Where	Wiki usage	Notes
	tf2_textures_dir.vpk Stored in .vtf format.	Strange Filter images Map Stamp images Backpack icon images Kill icons HUD images	Use the {{ExtractTF2}} license If it is artwork, such as the Quickplay art, it uses {{ArtworkTF2}}. Textures for community maps are stored in their .bsp files.
Textures
	tf2_sound_misc_dir.vpk Mostly stored in .mp3 or .wav format.	Audio cues Weapon and Building sounds	Uses the {{AudioTF2}} license.
Sounds
	tf2_sound_vo_[lang].vpk Mostly stored in .mp3 or .wav format.	Voice commands Voice responses	Uses the {{AudioTF2}} license. Name of the .vpk file changes based on game language (Options > Audio > Audio (spoken) language). Supports English, Russian, Spanish, French, and German.
Voice lines
	tf2_misc_dir.vpk	Not used on Wiki itself, but can aid in editing: Config (.cfg) files Model (.mdl) files for cosmetic image renders in HLMV Material (.vmt) files	This .vpk shares a similar file structure to the /tf/ folder.
Miscellaneous files
	tf2_misc_dir.vpk Population (.pop) files in tf\scripts\population	Used on Robot articles to determine attributes. Used on mission pages to determine which Robots show up on a wave.	This .vpk shares a similar file structure to the /tf/ folder. Split up into two different types: Mission files, containing information about waves (which Robots spawn, credit drops, etc.). Robot template files, stores information about Robots like weapons, name, health, skill, attributes, etc. for use in mission files.
Mann vs. Machine Robot files
	steamapps\common\Team Fortress 2\tf\maps Stored outside of .vpk files.	Accessing map-specific assets: Community-made posters Map-specific announcer voice lines Loading menu photos	Files cannot be extracted from .bsp files, rather the .zip file needs to be extracted then unpacked.
Map files
	Stored in the map's .bsp file. Stored in .nut format.	Zombie infection abilities Carrier health table Figuring out gameplay changes in Versus Saxton Hale	Written in Squirrel (documentation). If a page has a VScript reference, add {{VScript refnote}} at the top of the references section. Values found in VScript should always be referenced in the following format: vscripts\folder\file.nut:L1-10 Example reference: vscripts\infection\infection.nut:L525-526. Function names/specific values are not required, but can be added for extra clarity.
VScript