Developing any game in Unity requires a lot of different file types and formats. Often, it can confusing to determine what the best format for an asset is. So, what file formats doest Unity support?
The short answer is that Unity supports the majority of popular image, video, model and sounds files. Please read on for more details about the file formats supported by Unity.
In This Article
Supported File Formats in Unity
To get a full idea of which file formats are supported, here’s a table to show you the different file formats that are supported natively in Unity,
| File Types | Supported File Formats |
|---|---|
| Images | BMP, EXR, GIF ,HDR, IFF, JPG, PICT, PNG, PSD, TGA and TIFF |
| 3D Models | OBJ, FBX, DEA and DXF |
| Video | MP4, MPG, MPEG, M4V, MOV, OGV, VP8 and WEBM |
| Audio | WAV, OGG, MP3, AIF/AIFF, MOD, IT, S3M and XM |
| Text | TXT, JSON, XML, HTML and CSV |
The formats in this table should work straight out of the box and don’t require you to install any extra packages or plugins. Also, please keep in mind that audio and video files have different requirements based on the target platform.
Supported Proprietary File Formats in Unity
Next to native support for several 3D Model formats, Unity supports formats from several popular 3d modeling software packages. You can find an overview of these formats in the following table:
| Software Package | Supported File Formats | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Autodesk Maya | MB, MA | Through FBX Import |
| Autodesk 3ds Max | MAX | Through FBX Import |
| Blender | BLEND | Through FBX Import |
| Cheetah3D | JAS | Through FBX Import |
| Lightwave | LW | Through FBX Import |
| Modo | IXO | Through FBX Import |
While importing the above file formats, it is necessary to have a licensed installation present of the corresponding Software package. Please be aware that each format has its own limitations during import. For more information on each limitation, please read the following information.
My File Format is Not Supported in Unity
It might happen that the file type you are working with is not natively supported in Unity. In that case, it’s best to see if there is a Unity Package or a 3rd Party Asset that can work with your format.
To import a file that is not natively supported, simply do a search on the Unity Asset Store or have a look at the Unity Package Registry. As a last resort, you can always reach out to developers on the Unity forums.
Supported File Formats in Unity using Packages
Importing SVG In Unity
Unfortunately, Unity does not natively support Vector Graphics using the SVG file format. To use SVG files in Unity, you have to download and install the Unity Vector Graphics Package. This package can be downloaded using the package manager for free. For more information, please visit the documentation.
Importing Alembic in Unity
To optimize the workflow between different 3D Software packages, some artists use Alembic which is an open computer graphics interchange framework. This way, complex animation data can be shared across different Software Packages. To use Alembic files in Unity, you have to download and install the free Unity Alembic Package. More information about this package can be found on the package website.
Supported File Formats in Unity using 3rd Party Assets
Using Microsoft Excel Files in Unity
As excel files are often used to store and read data from, it makes sense to integrate them with Unity. The easiest way to integrate the Excel file formats in Unity is through using the Easy Save Asset which adds Excel support to any Unity project.
Using PDF Files in Unity
In case you want to view or generate PDF files in Unity, we recommend you to use one of the following software packages:
| Software | Type | Features |
|---|---|---|
| QuestPDF | Open Source Framework | Generating Documents |
| PDF Renderer | Unity Asset Store Asset | Rendering and Viewing Windows, Linux, Mac OS X (x64 and M1), Android (Oculus Quest 2 supported), iOS, Univerval Windows Platform, Microsoft HoloLens 1 & 2, WebGL |
Please note that QuestPDF is a C# Library that needs to be integrated with Unity and is purely used for generating PDF documents.
Importing Point Clouds in Unity
In order to work with Point Clouds in Unity, there are a variety of options. The most popular options for using Point Clouds in Unity at the moment are:
| Option | Vendor | Supported Formats |
|---|---|---|
| Pixyz Plugin | Unity (Acquired) | e57, RCP, PTS and PTX |
| Stipple Unity Plugin | LS Group | e57, PTS, PTX and LAS |
| Point Cloud Plugin | The VisLab University of New Hampshire | LAS, LAZ |
| Point Cloud Viewer and Tools | Author mgear on Unity Asset Store | XYZ, XYZRGB, CGO, ASC, CATIA ASC, PLY (ASC), LAS, PTS |
Importing CAD In Unity
Since a few years, Unity is used increasingly more in the architecture and engineering space. As a result, there is an increasing demand for CAD (Computer Aided Design) files integration with Unity. Currently, the best way to work with CAD files in Unity is by using the Pixyz Plugin. However, this is a rather expensive plugin so be sure to first explore its feature with the 30 month free trial.
Another option to work with CAD files in Unity is through using FBX exports. Most CAD software packages are capable of exporting to FBX files that can then be imported in Unity. Some exporters even offer features to optimize the geometry for better performance inside your Unity scene.
Summary
What you learned in this article:
- We listed natively supported formats.
- Unity supports formats from several popular 3d modeling software packages.
- To import a file that is not natively supported, simply do a search on the Unity Asset Store or have a look at the Unity Package Registry.
- To use SVG files in Unity you have to download and install the Unity Vector Graphics Package.
- To use Alembic files in Unity, you have to download and install the free Unity Alembic Package.
- The easiest way to integrate the Excel file formats in Unity.
- We listed popular ways to work with Point Clouds in Unity.
- The best way to work with CAD files in Unity is by using the Pixyz Plugin
- Another option to work with CAD files in Unity is through using FBX exports.
Conclusion
To conclude, we hope you now have a better overview of the different file formats which Unity offers support for. In addition, we have shared various methods on how to use other commonly used formats that are not natively supported in Unity.
Further Reading
Other articles you may find interesting:
