B3D File Format (.b3d)
A B3D file is the binary chunk-based model format of Blitz3D, storing meshes, textures, materials, a bone hierarchy and keyframe animation for games written in that BASIC-derived language.
B3D at a glance#
| Full name | BlitzBasic 3D |
|---|---|
| File extension | .b3d |
| Category | 3D Models |
| Developer | Blitz Research |
| First released | 2001 |
| Compression | Uncompressed |
| FileFlip support | FileFlip reads this format but does not write it |
What a .b3d file can hold#
These are the things a B3D file either supports or does not, and they are what decides whether a conversion keeps everything or quietly drops something.
| Textures and materials | Yes |
|---|---|
| Skeletons and animation | Yes |
Strengths and limitations of B3D#
What B3D does well
- Compact binary chunks (TEXS, BRUS, NODE, MESH, BONE, ANIM) that are simple for a small engine to parse
- Carries a full skeleton with weighted vertices and keyframed animation, not just static geometry
- A large body of 2000s-era hobbyist and indie game content only exists in this format
Where B3D falls short
- No official public specification; third-party readers work from reverse-engineered chunk layouts
- Blitz3D itself is Windows-only and long past active development, though its source is now open under the zlib licence
- Texture and material data assume Blitz3D's own rendering model, so effects don't always translate cleanly elsewhere
Use B3D when working directly in Blitz3D or maintaining an existing Blitz3D game's asset pipeline.
Convert B3D to glTF or FBX to bring a rigged, animated model into a modern engine, since Blitz3D itself hasn't been actively developed in years.
How to open a .b3d file#
A .b3d file opens in the programs below, grouped by the platform you are on. If you would rather not install anything, FileFlip converts B3D into a format your machine already opens, and it does it in the browser tab rather than on a server.
| Platform | Programs that open it |
|---|---|
| Windows | Blitz3D |
| Web | FileFlip |
B3D questions people ask#
What is a B3D file?
A B3D file is a 3D model in Blitz3D's native binary format, storing a mesh along with its textures, materials, bone hierarchy and keyframe animation. Blitz3D was a BASIC-derived language and engine popular for small, hobbyist games in the early 2000s.
Does a B3D file support animated characters?
Yes. A B3D file can store a full bone hierarchy with vertex weights and keyframed position, scale and rotation data, which is more than many game formats from the same era managed.
What software opens B3D files?
Blitz3D itself is the primary application, since the format was built specifically for it. Blitz3D and BlitzPlus were released as open-source software in 2014, which is why later third-party tools have been able to add B3D support.
Converting B3D files#
Convert B3D to another format
FileFlip does not write .b3d files, so nothing on the site converts into this format. It works as a source only.
Every conversion runs inside your browser. The file is read from your disk, the work happens on your own machine, and nothing is uploaded. How FileFlip works names the engine behind each family and how to verify that for yourself.