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The Witcher 2 — XeNTaX Forum Knowledge

Extracted and organized from XeNTaX forum discussions (2011–2022). Covers the REDEngine 2 file formats of The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings — the .w2ent entity containers, .w2mesh meshes, .xbm textures, .w2speech dialogue audio, .usm video, and .fsb music — plus the community tools used to unpack and import them (Gibbed's RED Tool, chrrox's QuickBMS scripts, Szkaradek123's Blender 2.49 importer, REDkit).

1. Archive Unpacking (pack0.dzip)​

The game's data is packed in .dzip archives (e.g. pack0.dzip). The community unpacked them with either:

  • Gibbed's RED Tool (WitcherNexus file id 52) — unpacks pack0.dzip. (RobeN, 2011-06-03, t=6660)
  • chrrox's QuickBMS script for unpacking pack0.dzip (w2_dzip_unpack.bms). (Szkaradek123, 2011-06-03; srcs34k, 2018-04-17, t=6660/t=13838)

When importing into Blender, select the entire unpacked game directory (pack0 root), not the texture folder — the importer needs to read all the textures across the tree. (Szkaradek123, 2011-05-30; odrin, 2011-06-07, t=6660)

2. Models: .w2ent vs .w2mesh​

The Witcher 2 stores its models in .w2ent (entity) files and standalone .w2mesh files.

  • .w2ent files contain the mesh data — they are not just references. (odrin, 2011-06-10, t=6660)
  • Not all .w2mesh data lives inside .w2ent files; when a .w2ent contains .w2mesh data, the importer opens the package and lets you select them. (CMihai, 2011-09-22, t=6660)
  • .w2ent files usually contain data other than CMesh objects too (camera config, entity settings). (Rick, 2011-06-10; SkacikPL, 2015-06-09, t=6660/t=12869)
  • Model location example: pack0.dzip\game\npc\riszon.w2ent holds richon__body1_b1.w2mesh (Letho). (MichaelDarkAngel, 2012-06-01, t=6660)

Standalone vs embedded mesh data differ​

shakotay2 compared the same mesh (scoiatael_woman__body1_b1) inside a 5.22 MB .w2ent vs a standalone 873 kB .w2mesh — the data structures are different, so a script that loads one does not trivially load the other. (shakotay2, 2013-07-31, t=6660)

# inside q102_elf_woman_hanger.w2ent (embedded)
# 1. e0d2d:
v 0.178874 -0.028297 1.424668
# 00 01 02 03 92 4F 19 04 86 00 80 FF FF FF FF FF
vt 0.348128 0.709508

# standalone scoiatael_woman__body1_b1.w2mesh
# 1. 759:
v 0.178874 -0.028297 1.424668
# 00 01 02 03 0.574310 0.310812 0.098458 0.016420 0.055559 -0.998417 0.008791
# FF FF FF FF

3. Textures: .xbm → DDS​

.xbm texture files are essentially DDS files without the DDS header — usually DXT1 or DXT5. (chrrox, 2011-05-20, t=6649)

  • To convert: throw a DDS header on them and you're done. (chrrox, 2011-05-20, t=6649)
  • The community produced a witcher2_texture_converter (QuickBMS + cmd scripts) for .xbm ⇄ .tga/.dds conversion, based on chrrox's initial work. (hhrhhr, 2015; srcs34k, 2018-04-17, t=13838)
  • The converter runs with quickbms.exe placed next to the unpacked files, producing filename_DXT(1,5).bin (binary info) and filename_DXT(1,5).tga (the texture). (hhrhhr via ellegirl01, 2016-01-17, t=13838)

Relevant QuickBMS scripts (from the witcher2_texture_converter pack, srcs34k, 2018-04-17, t=13838):

  • w2_xbm2dds.bms — .xbm → .dds
  • w2_dds2xbm.bms — .dds → .xbm
  • w2_dzip_unpack.bms — unpack .dzip

4. Blender Importer (Szkaradek123)​

Szkaradek123's Blender 2.49 importer was the primary tool for importing Witcher 2 models (geometry, weights, UVs, textures, bones). (Modman69, 2011-05-30, t=6649)

Requirements & usage​

  • Must use Blender 2.49 with Python 2.6 (not 2.5x / Python 3.x) — the scripts are not compatible with Blender 2.5+. (Szkaradek123, 2011-06-01; Tosyk, 2011-06-07, t=6660)
  • Run from the Scripts window (open the .blend, right-click the script window, Execute). (Tosyk, 2011-06-07, t=6660)
  • Select the unpacked game dir (the whole pack0), load a .w2ent model. (Szkaradek123, 2011-06-03, t=6660)
  • The importer reads all needed textures and converts them to .dds; if it can't, the script breaks. (Szkaradek123, 2011-05-30, t=6660)
  • Some models error out because the Witcher 2 file format was not 100% known. (Szkaradek123, 2011-05-30, t=6660)

Version history (feature additions)​

Version dateAdded
2011-06-05materials, bones (no joints)
2011-06-23'magic' button, better mesh names, texture import, static meshes, bone parenting

(Szkaradek123, 2011-06-05 & 2011-06-15, t=6660)

The 'magic' button fixes .w2ent/.w2mesh files that fail to import correctly — mainly body meshes. (soulslayerzx, 2013-08-13, t=6660)

Common troubleshooting​

  • Textures don't apply → load them manually from the character folder (search .dds), or use the UV/Image editor; a "single user" material workaround helps when the hair texture covers the body and vice versa. (jcarl904, CMihai, Modman69, 2011-06-03..06-05, t=6660)
  • No face → faces are stored in \templates\characters\appearances\main npc. (CMihai, 2011-06-05, t=6660)
  • Bones import but aren't connected → parent them manually (select armature → TAB → shift+RMB child+parent → ctrl+P → Keep Offset), then remove doubles and disable deform on roll joints. (Szkaradek123, CMihai, 2011-06-11..06-17, t=6660)

Armature / rigging notes​

  • The bones are all present but not connected; parenting them is manual. (Ladoo, 2011-06-11, t=6660)
  • Most characters share a common bone structure — one saved armature works for many models (Geralt, Iorweth). (CMihai, 2011-06-17, t=6660)
  • Roll joints (elbows, forearms, hands) need manual re-parenting to bend correctly. A documented arm hierarchy: Bicep2 → Bicep → ShoulderRoll → Forearm/Elbowroll → Forearmroll1/2 → Handroll → Hand. (CMihai, 2011-06-17, t=6660)
  • Exporting to 3ds Max: use the Blender 2.49 DAE (or FBX) exporter, or the md5mesh exporter for the best Blender↔Max cross-import, then Max→FBX→UDK. (junk angel, shakotay2, zardalu, 2012-01..2013-08, t=6660)

5. Dialogue Audio: .w2speech​

.w2speech files contain localized dialogue. (tomatofarmer, 2013-01-25, t=10079)

  • The audio is thought to be MPEG layer 2 @ 48000 Hz (decodable as such), with at least 21,568 individual samples. (tomatofarmer, 2013-01-25, t=10079)
  • A voice-over is referenced as VO_<1>_<2>_<3>:
  • <1> = voice tag id (e.g. TRIS for Triss)
  • <2> = scene/set number (all VOs in a scene usually share it, e.g. 300202)
  • <3> = line number (e.g. 0343)
  • Example: VO_TRIS_300202_0343 (from q104_triss_interaction_oneliner.w2scene) (tomatofarmer, 2013-01-25, t=10079)
  • The header format was not fully documented; individual samples were hard to find. (micTronic, 2021-12-06, t=10079)
  • REDkit extracts all speech automatically after install, and you can run the extraction manually (see §7). The extractor only outputs the already extracted samples — it can't convert other-language .w2speech that isn't in the same format. (micTronic, 2021-12-07; nikich340, 2021-12-09, t=10079)

6. Video: .usm (Xbox 360)​

The Witcher 2 Xbox 360 version uses .usm files for cutscenes. (MiLØ, 2012-04-18, t=8789)

  • Demux to M2V + ADX with VGMToolbox; convert ADX → WAV, then mux into MKV with mkvmerge. (MiLØ, 2012-04-18, t=8789)
  • Some .usm-derived .m2v streams play in VLC but are not recognized by mkvmerge (end-of-file / unknown type) — possibly a slightly different MPEG encode inside those particular files. (MiLØ, 2012-04-18, t=8789)
  • VGMToolbox was the only widely known USM demuxer at the time. (MiLØ, 2012-04-18, t=8789)

7. REDkit (official modding tool)​

REDkit (RedKit, CD Projekt RED) is the official Witcher 2 editor, released May 2013. (Modman69, 2013-05-17, t=6660)

  • As of 2013 it had no import/export for skeletal meshes; it could only export static meshes as .3ds, .obj, and .fbx (no characters/NPCs). (Modman69, 2013-05-17, t=6660)
  • It ships a 3DS Max 2009/2013 plugin that exports only the .re static mesh format. (Modman69, 2013-05-17, t=6660)
  • REDkit also extracts all speech (VO) — run the editor, or use:
"<SteamLibrary>\steamapps\common\the witcher 2\bin\editor.exe" exportstrings exportvo

This extracts the currently-selected Steam language. (micTronic, 2022-03-17, t=10079)

8. Music: .fsb (Unknown codec)​

Early on the Witcher 2 music .fsb files used an unknown codec that fsbext couldn't identify and towav/other FSB tools wouldn't decode. (OrangeC, 2011-05-16, t=6625)

  • A coder later released a Witcher 2 music FSB unpacker that worked great. (OrangeC, 2011-05-23, t=6625)

9. Tools Reference​

ToolPurposeNotes
Gibbed's RED ToolUnpack pack0.dzipWitcherNexus file id 52; used for W2, also supports W1/W3 later
chrrox QuickBMS scriptsUnpack pack0.dzip (w2_dzip_unpack.bms)Referenced by Szkaradek123
witcher2_texture_converter.xbm ⇄ .tga/.ddsQuickBMS + cmd scripts; w2_xbm2dds.bms, w2_dds2xbm.bms
Szkaradek123 Blender 2.49 importerImport .w2ent/.w2meshGeometry, weights, UVs, textures, bones; not 100% complete
VGMToolboxDemux .usm (M2V + ADX)For Xbox 360 cutscenes
mkvmergeMux M2V+ADX → MKVSome M2V streams unrecognized
REDkitOfficial W2 editorStatic mesh export only (.3ds/.obj/.fbx/.re); extracts VO
Blender 2.49 DAE/FBX exporterExport to MaxUse md5mesh for best cross-import

Source: XeNTaX forum threads t=6625 (Unknown fsb format), t=6649 (.xbm/.w2mesh), t=6660 (The Witcher 2 Models — Blender importer), t=8789 ([Xbox360] .USM), t=10079 (w2speech file), t=12869 (W3 .w3strings entity config note), t=13838 (Unpacking XBM files? W2/W3).