All about BSP Files

The BSP file type is primarily associated with Quake.

BSP	File extension: BSP
	File type:	map/level

What is a BSP file?

BSP files mostly belong to Quake by Bethesda. A BSP file is a game level, a map, or a scene in Source (and GoldSrc) engine based Valve, Bethesda, and Rockstar video games. Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Manhunt and Quake are among video games that use BSP files to store maps and game levels. The BSP files in Source-based games use binary space partitioning to recursively partition open spaces. Another type of BSP file contains a GZipped board support package used by Vivado hardware design environment. Skyfield planets/stars position computation package saves an ephemeris in a BSP file.

How can I open a BSP file?

You need a suitable software like Quake to open a BSP file. Without proper software you will receive a Windows message "How do you want to open this file?" or "Windows cannot open this file" or a similar Mac/iPhone/Android alert. If you cannot open your BSP file correctly, try to right-click or long-press the file. Then click "Open with" and choose an application. You can also display a BSP file directly in the browser:. Just drag the file onto this browser window and drop it.

Online BSP Text Viewer

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Programs that open and convert BSP files:

Quake by Bethesda
See the previous paragraphs to learn more about the main application. BSP files are often referred to as Quake games because this type of file is primarily created or used by this software.
Basic Scripting pages (web page) by arahnoWare
Basic Scripting Pages is a discontinued SAX engine based web development environment. It's code editor can create and edit a BSP file containing dynamic web pages written in the VBA-compatible Basic Scripting Pages language. This file format is classified as Web (source).
BestAddress HTML Editor (website project) by Multimedia Australia Pty. Ltd.
BestAddress HTML Editor is a dual-mode (no/low code) web development environment. A web site design project used by this application is saved in a BSP file. This file format is classified as Developer.
Counter-Strike (map/level) by Valve
Counter-Strike is a first-person shooter, counter-terrorism video game available for Xbox, PlayStation, Windows, Linux, and macOS. It saves game map and level information in a BSP file. This file format is classified as Game.
Getic 3D (scene/model) by Getic 3D Developers
Getic 3D is a discontinued 3D engine, scripting tool, and a compiler. It uses a BSP file to save a 3D scene or model. This file format is classified as 3D Image.
Half-life (map/level) by Valve
Half-Life is a first-person shooter video game with firearms combat and puzzle solving challenges. A game map or level in Half-Life is saved in a BSP file. This file format is classified as Game. Related links: Source BSP File Format, BSP
Manhunt (scene/level) by Rockstar
Manhunt is a survival horror video game for PC and console users. It uses effects, scenes, and levels stored in BSP files. This file format is classified as Game.
Skyfield (ephemeris) by Skyfield Developers
Skyfield is a Python-based astronomy package for computing the position of planets, stars, and satellites. It uses a BSP file to store an ephemeris (a dataset containing the position of planets, stars, and satellites over a period of time or at regular intervals). This file format is classified as Data. Related links: BSB
Source (map/level) by Valve
Source is a game development and rendering engine used by Valve video games. Maps and game levels used by Source-based video games are saved in a BSP file. BSP stands for Binary Space Partition. This file format is classified as Game. Related links: Source BSP File Format, BSP
Star Trek Elite Force (map) by Raven
Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force is a discontinued first person shooter video game for Windows and macOS. This game's map is saved in a BSP file.. This file format is classified as Game.
Steam (map/level) by Valve
Steam is a video game management and distribution platform/software available for mobile and desktop users. Source engine game development and rendering environment can be downloaded and installed through Steam maps and game levels used by Source and Source-based games are saved in BSP files. This file format is classified as Game. Related links: Source BSP File Format, BSP
Vivado (board support package) by Xilinx
Vivado is a computer-aided hardware and integrated circuit design environment. It uses a Gzipped board support package saved in a BSP file. This file format is classified as CAD.

BSP file format details:

If you can determine the file format, the associated program can also be determined. Each file format has a unique extension and almost always a unique signature. For example, Microsoft Word documents have the extension .docx and the signature (usually the first 3 characters in this file) PK. Nonetheless, different programs can utilize the same file extension to represent distinct file formats. Double-clicking on the file often results in an error when opening. So a detailed analysis of a file is vital in order to determine the format and the associated program. Below is our analysis of the BSP files:

The BSP extension is quite commonly used. The file itself covers different formats for different programs. The two most common formats are as follows:

45% of all BSP files belong to Valve Source BSP format. These are binary files, so they do not contain words or text. The files are 3 MB to 150 MB in size, with a median of 45 MB. The file type was created 10 years ago, but is still used today. Several words can almost always be found in the files, e.g. VBSP. Such files sometimes refer to dust, background, mirage, intro, coop, fort, downtown, testchmb, erangel, trade, beta, lego and surf.
20% of all BSP files start with the bytes 1E 00 00 00, which are crucial for this file format. These files are binary files, so they do not contain text, but only cryptic characters. BSP files are between 86 KB and 3 MB in size. The file name stega7.bsp or de_dust2.bsp is typical for these files. Files like these are sometimes connected to assault, aztec, boot and camp.

All the rest of the BSP files (35%) have different formats, often e.g. Quake2 map, Star Wars Jedi Knight, Half-Life map, DOC, ZIP, GZIP and DAF. Sometimes used for rover, deathrun, woman, bios, snow, crossfire, spectral, runout or multi. You can get all the details of your BSP file by dragging it onto this page or by clicking the button "Choose your .bsp file to analyze" above.

Technical Data for BSP File Extension

File classification:

Game

Related files:

nav, ztmp, vmf, bps, zip, ain, map, bsb, bst, bsv, gma, dsp, tle, inst, ent, kap, bpc, lmp, vvd, res, lit, dm_67

Mime type:

application/octet-stream, model/vnd.valve.source.compiled-map

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and file extension information submitted by users.

ProgramID: BestAddress.Project, FileType: BestAddress HTML Editor Project, AppName: BestAddress HTML Editor 2004
EXEFile: BA2004.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\bmaer@aol.com\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\cidreck\half-life 2

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\jeancyr\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: c:\games\halflife2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: c:\half-life2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: d:\valve\hl2\steamapps\ch_adami\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: e:\gry\half life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\mithrandil_gandalf\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: e:\installerade spel\half life 2\steamapps\honken301\half-life 2 demo\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\haxwub\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: g:\halflife2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: d:\games\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\mkudla\half-life 2 demo\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\d1rtyharry\half-life 2 deathmatch\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: d:\games\steam\steamapps\dferstat\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\imalluwantbaby@hotmail.com\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\manafo\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\jboucher@pps.co.za\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: d:\games\valve\steam\steamapps\user\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: c:\games\steam\steamapps\diamondrmb\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: c:\games\valve\steam\steamapps\pink_panther007\lostcoast\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\dark_gertrude\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\user\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\mr_lie88\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\fifelifes\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\snapy06\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\cermie\half-life 2 deathmatch\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\xbulletsx\counter-strike source\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\yupa42\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\colinband\half-life 2\hl2.exe %1

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\rsnyper\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\yurivdhoeven\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\dave_182\half-life 2 demo\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\games\valve\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\barry.geal@ntlworld.com\lostcoast\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\kuma games\kuma.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\paulhalf\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\liquid_snake_eater54\half-life 2\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\speedy01\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\kancerus\half-life 2\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\jopsuk\the ship\ship.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\counter-strike source\srcds.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ubisoft\dark messiah of might and magic demo\mm.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\kamekazelord\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\ubisoft\dark messiah of might and magic\mm.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\half life 2\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\robosnail\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\incognegrob\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\valve\steam\steamapps\chadalmgty\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\spieslikeus\day of defeat source\hl2.exe

ProgramID: Valve.Source
EXEFile: %ProgramFiles%\steam\steamapps\lunatic144\counter-strike source\hl2.exe

Show all 54 listings To Top

a bsp map/level is a special file format by Bethesda and should only be edited and saved with the appropriate software.

How to solve problems with BSP files

Associate the BSP file extension with the correct application.
Update your software that should actually open map/levels. Because only the current version supports the latest BSP file format. Search, therefore, e.g. on the Bethesda manufacturer website after an available Quake update.
To make sure that your BSP file is not corrupted or virus-infected, get the file again and scan it with Google's virustotal.com.
Click here to open your .BSP file online - secure, fast, and no downloads needed.