Archive File

File Extension: .bsa, .ba2, .achlist

An Archive File stores other Game Files such as Interface Files, Material Files, Model Files, Script Files, Sound Files, String Files, Texture Files, and others to load during runtime. Archive files require a Data File of the same name to be activated or the archived content will be ignored.

BSA

.bsa

.bsa stores files for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and TESV: Skyrim Special Edition.

BA2

.ba2

.ba2 stores files for Fallout 4.

Example

• myTestPlugin.esp - your Data File
• myTestPlugin - Main.BA2 - holds any files other than Texture Files.
• myTestPlugin - Textures.BA2 - holds only Texture Files.

ACHLIST

.achlist

.achlist files are JSON text files that can be opened and edited with a text editor, such as Notepad++. They contain all files to be stored.

Example

[
	"Textures\\Actors\\Character\\FaceCustomization\\myTestPlugin.esp\\000008B3_d.DDS",
	"Textures\\Actors\\Character\\FaceCustomization\\myTestPlugin.esp\\000008B3_msn.DDS",
	"Textures\\Actors\\Character\\FaceCustomization\\myTestPlugin.esp\\000008B3_s.DDS"
]

• You can have the Creation Kit export an ACHLIST, but it is advised that you double-check what is exported for accuracy. Paths are sometimes created in error if the material file path slash is not in the correct direction.

Tooling

• Archive2
• Bethesda Archive Extractor
• There are community software projects that provided tooling for working with game archives.

See Also

• Data File
• Game Files Category