.md2 File Extension
File extension details for .md2
Full Support| File type | Quake II model |
|---|---|
| MIME type | |
| Encoding | Binary model data with vertices, texture coordinates, triangles, skins, and animation frames |
| Operating systems | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Opens with | Blender, Noesis, MeshLab |
| Poly support | Yes. Poly recognizes valid MD2 models and extracts their supported scene content. |
| Indexed by Poly | Yes. Poly indexes the filename and extracted model metadata. |
| Preview in Poly | Yes. Poly provides a visual preview for valid MD2 geometry. |
| Poly agent | Yes. An optimized rendition of the 3D object or scene is provided to the agent, allowing compact yet information-rich multimodal interaction with 3D files. |
What kind of file is a .md2?
MD2 is the binary alias model format used by Quake II. It stores a header with offsets and counts, skin references, texture coordinates, triangle indices, and a sequence of independently quantized vertex frames. The format is designed for animated low-poly characters rather than general scene interchange.1
How do I open a .md2?
Blender with an MD2 importer, Noesis, and MeshLab can inspect or convert MD2 assets. Keep the associated skin image beside the model when the file references one. Check frame rate, axis orientation, and skin assignment after conversion.
Poly support for .md2
Poly recognizes .md2 as model/x-md2, indexes its name and supported model metadata, and provides a visual preview for valid geometry. The Poly agent receives an optimized rendition suitable for compact, information-rich multimodal interaction. The original binary and game-specific skin files remain available for download.
Working with .md2 files
Export to glTF or GLB when a modern scene format is needed, or OBJ when only a static mesh matters. Keep the original because animation frames, palette conventions, and skin paths may not survive every conversion.1
Footnotes
- id Software. Quake II source code. The client model loader defines the MD2 header, frame, skin, texture-coordinate, and triangle structures. ↩ ↩2