Bink Video

Bink Video is a proprietary file format (extensions .bik and .bk2) for video developed by RAD Game Tools.

Bink Video
Bink logo
Filename extension
.bik, .bk2
Internet media type
video/vnd.radgamettools.bink
Developed byRAD Game Tools
Initial releaseMarch 22, 1999 (1999-03-22)
Latest release
2020.11
(November 30, 2020 (2020-11-30)[1])
Type of formatVideo file
Open format?No
Websitewww.radgametools.com/bnkmain.htm

The format includes its own proprietary video and audio compression algorithms (video and audio codecs) supporting resolutions from 320×240 up to high definition video.

It is bundled as part of the RAD Video Tools along with RAD Game Tools' previous video codec, Smacker video. It is a hybrid block-transform and wavelet codec using 16 different encoding techniques. The codec places emphasis on lower decoding requirements over other video codecs with specific optimizations for the different computer game consoles it supports.

It has been primarily used for full-motion video sequences in video games, and has been used in games for Windows, Mac OS, Xbox 360, Xbox, GameCube, Wii, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 2, Dreamcast, Nintendo DS, and PSP.[2]

The format was reverse-engineered by the FFmpeg project and Bink decoding is supported by the open-source libavcodec library.[3]

It was inducted into the Front Line Awards Hall of Fame by the Game Developer magazine in 2009. The winners for the award were published in the January 2010 issue of the magazine.[4]

Bink 2, a new version of the format, was released in 2013.[5] This new format is available for Windows (standard, Windows 8 Store and Windows 8 Phone), Mac OS, Linux, Sony PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, and PS Vita, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii and Wii U, Nintendo Switch, Android and iOS.[6] Bink 2 is faster than Bink 1, and supports higher resolutions as well.[7]

Epic Games acquired the technology and business of RAD Game Tools including Bink on January 7, 2021. It was announced they planned to integrate RAD's technology directly into Unreal Engine and that licenses will continue to be available to those who do not use the Unreal Engine in their work.[8][9]

References
  1. "Bink Development History". Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  2. "Bink Customer Page". www.radgametools.com. Retrieved 2016-07-06.
  3. "FFmpeg cvs-log mailing list". Archived from the original on 2017-03-03. Retrieved 2010-05-28.
  4. "Game Developer Reveals 2009 Front Line Awards Winners, Bink To Hall Of Fame". January 8, 2010.
  5. Freeman, Will (2013-04-11). "Interview: Bink 2". Develop. NewBay Media.
  6. RAD Game Tools' Bink section
  7. "Bink Video!". RAD Game Tools. RAD Game Tools. Retrieved 25 February 2019.
  8. "Epic Games announces new acquisition of RAD Game Tools". Polygon. January 7, 2021.
  9. "Epic acquires Rad Game Tools, veteran of many gaming generations". January 7, 2021.
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