.SFB

SFB File

PlayStation 3 Disc Description File
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An SFB file - in practice always named PS3_DISC.SFB - is a small binary descriptor in the root of a PlayStation 3 game disc. It tells the console what the disc is (the game's TITLE_ID and a HYBRID_FLAG), but holds no game data. To inspect it, open it with a hex editor such as HxD.

Developer: Sony Computer Entertainment Category: Game Files MIME: application/octet-stream
OPENS ON Windows
Related: .OBB · .PAK · .ROFL · .PACKAGE

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Last reviewed Jul 25, 2026

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What is the SFB file format?

.sfb is a file format associated with the Sony PlayStation 3 game console. The well-known instance is PS3_DISC.SFB, a small binary disc descriptor placed at the root of every PlayStation 3 Blu-ray game disc - not a text file, despite how it has sometimes been described. It begins with a .SFB magic signature at byte offset 0, followed by a version field and a key/value table holding just a handful of entries: HYBRID_FLAG (a short code telling the console what kind of disc it contains) and TITLE_ID (the game's product code). The file is typically well under 1 KB.

PS3_DISC.SFB can be found on PlayStation 3 game discs and on the console's hard drive when games or backups are installed. The hard drive can also be used for storing game backups. The .sfb file is an integral part of the disc layout and cannot be safely deleted or modified without affecting the game. It acts as the binary partner of the more detailed PARAM.SFO. In homebrew and backup contexts, .sfb files can be edited using PS3 modding tools such as ASToolPS3 or a hex editor.

Security & safety

RISK: LOW

A PS3_DISC.SFB is a tiny inert descriptor with no executable code, so the file itself is harmless. The real-world context is the legal/security grey area it appears in: PS3 disc backups, homebrew and modding. Editing it incorrectly can stop a backup from being recognised, and running unofficial PS3 firmware/jailbreaks carries its own risks - but the .sfb file on its own poses no malware threat.

Format details

in a nutshell
FULL NAMEPlayStation 3 Disc Description Fileaka PS3_DISC.SFB, PS3 disc data file
DEVELOPERSony Computer Entertainmentsince 2006 (PlayStation 3 launch)
CATEGORYGame Files
MIME TYPEapplication/octet-stream
TYPESmall binary disc descriptor (binary)
MAGIC BYTES · FILE SIGNATURE
OFFSET
00010203
HEX
2E534642
ASCII
.SFB
Binary file beginning with the .SFB magic and a version field, followed by key/value entries (a key table then values). The well-known file is named PS3_DISC.SFB in the disc root.

Programs that open SFB files

Windows3 apps
ASToolPS3 Free Historic PS3 homebrew tool that handles PS3 disc/SFB/SFO files; now found via the PS3 scene (psx-place) rather than the dead original host.
Notepad Open-source Opens the file and shows the readable ASCII keys/values, but the binary header appears as garbage - use mainly to glimpse the TITLE_ID.
HxD (hex editor) Free Open PS3_DISC.SFB in a hex editor to read the binary header and the embedded HYBRID_FLAG / TITLE_ID ASCII strings.

Technical details

deep spec
Format typeBinary disc descriptor
Magic bytes0x2E 53 46 42 (".SFB") at byte offset 0
Byte orderBig-endian
EncodingBinary with embedded ASCII key/value entries
Typical file sizeUnder 1 KB
Key entriesHYBRID_FLAG (disc type code) and TITLE_ID (game product code)
Standard filenamePS3_DISC.SFB, placed at the disc root
PlatformPlayStation 3 (Cell OS / GameOS)
DeveloperSony Computer Entertainment
Companion filePARAM.SFO - more detailed game metadata file on the same disc
MIME typeapplication/octet-stream
StructureHeader (.SFB magic + version field) followed by a key table and value block
Released2006 (PlayStation 3 launch)
Latest versionPS3 system software era (no public versioning of the SFB format itself)
Specificationwww.psdevwiki.com

SFB conversions

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Frequently asked questions

What is an SFB file?
It is a small binary descriptor file - almost always PS3_DISC.SFB - in the root of a PlayStation 3 game disc. It identifies the disc (TITLE_ID) and flags what it contains, but holds no game data.
How do I open a PS3_DISC.SFB file?
Use a hex editor like HxD to read its binary header and the embedded TITLE_ID / HYBRID_FLAG. A text editor will show the readable strings but the rest as garbage.
Does the SFB file contain the game?
No. It is just a disc descriptor that tells the PS3 what the disc is and which metadata (PARAM.SFO) to use. The actual game is in the other files on the disc.
What is the difference between PS3_DISC.SFB and PARAM.SFO?
Both are descriptors. SFB is the top-level disc identifier (TITLE_ID, HYBRID_FLAG) that activates the correct PARAM.SFO, which carries the fuller metadata (title, version, parental level).
Can a PS3 game run without PS3_DISC.SFB?
On a real retail disc the console expects it as the disc descriptor; in homebrew/backup setups behaviour varies by loader. It is a small but structurally important file, not optional metadata you can simply delete.

References

1PS3 Developer Wiki - PS3_DISC.SFBwww.psdevwiki.com
2PS3 Developer Wiki - PARAM.SFOwww.psdevwiki.com

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