Draft:Content

Just like most software, Breath of the Wild requires non-executable content files to work correctly. They are stored in the title content directory on Wii U and in the romfs on Switch.

To minimise loading times, files that are frequently loaded together or at the same time are packed into SARC archives. Because of this optimisation, a significant amount of game files are located within archives. Some files may also be present in more than a single archive with the same resource path.

Content

Actor

Actor contains files defining actors.

Event

The Event directory contains files defining in-game events.

Layout

The Layout directory contains sblarc layout archive files for the game's GUI and HUD. These are used to store UI files (layouts, animations and images).

Local

The Local directory appears to be a development remnant. It is unused in release versions and is not present at all on Switch.

Map

Map contains files defining the game's map areas and the objects that populate them.

Model

Model contains sbfres graphic resource files, which contain models, textures and animations. Sometimes a texture or animation file will be in the unpacked content files, but its corresponding model will be inside an archive.

Movie

Movie contains pre-rendered cutscene videos.

NavMesh

NavMesh contains shknm2 navigation mesh files, used to determine where enemies and NPCs can walk in order to control their AI.

Pack

Pack contains SARC archives which contain other files, in order to minimise loading times.

Physics

Physics contains Havok physics files.

Sound

Sound contains audio files.

Terrain

The Terrain directory contains files defining the game world's terrain.

UI

UI contains files used by the game's HUD and GUI.

Voice

The Voice directory contains voice acting audio files.

Packed content

These content directories only exist inside SARC archives, and are not in the unpacked content files.