BARS (File Format)

BARS (Binary Audio ReSource) is a file format used in Nintendo Switch games such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Super Mario Maker 2. It contains audio data such as sound effects, as well as BFSTP files and other references used along with BFSTM files. BARSLIST files index which BARS files are used by the game.

File Format

Header

The file starts with a header that is 0x10 bytes long.

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	Char[4]	File magic. Always BARS in ASCII.
0x04	UInt32	File size in bytes.
0x08	UInt16	Byte-order-mark. FE FF for big endian, FF FE for little endian.
0x0A	UInt16	Version number.
0x0C	Int32	Number of audio entries (N).
0x10	End of header, start of Hash List

Hash List

This section contains N CRC-32 hashes of the audio file names.

Entry List

Followed by the hash list, there is an audio entry list with N entries. The audio entries are sorted by the name hash.

Format of an audio entry

Offset	Type	Description
0x00	UInt32	Offset to BAMTA file data.
0x04	UInt32	Offset to BFWAV file data, BWAV file data or BFSTP file data. v1.2 also supports MINF.

Note that BAMTA and MINF data is always aligned by 4, and BFWAV, BWAV and BFSTP data by 0x40.

Version List

Version	Found in
1.1	1-2-Switch Animal Crossing: New Horizons ARMS Game Builder Garage Mario Kart 8 Deluxe Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (S00018080-R00018076-A00000000 Prototype) Nintendo Labo - Toy-Con 01: Variety Kit Nintendo Labo - Toy-Con 02: Robot Kit Nintendo Labo - Toy-Con 03: Vehicle Kit Nintendo Labo - Toy-Con 04: VR Kit Ring Fit Adventure Splatoon 2 Super Mario Maker 2 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (Nintendo Switch)
1.2	Nintendo Switch Online Playtest Program Nintendo Switch Sports Splatoon 3 Super Mario Bros. Wonder The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Tools

The following tools can handle BARS files:

• (none)