Gaussian Splatting File Formats Explained

Have a PLY, SOG, SPZ or LOD file that will not open? Identify the export, check the required files, and work through the likely failure before reconstructing the scene again.

Short answer

Start with the file you received and the tool that exported it. Spatial Studio's free splat viewer accepts supported Gaussian .ply, .compressed.ply, .splat, .ksplat, .sog and .spz files. It also accepts hosted lod-meta.json URLs for streaming LOD scenes.

A filename is only a clue. Renaming an extension does not convert the file, and an ordinary mesh PLY is not a Gaussian splat. If you are choosing between exports rather than fixing a file, read SOG vs PLY vs SPZ.

How to open common splat files

For the container details, use the PlayCanvas format documentation and SPZ maintainer documentation. Individual products can support a narrower set of formats or versions.

The file opens, but the scene looks wrong

Work through these checks before generating the scene again:

1. Open the original export. If the same defect is present there, compression is unlikely to be the whole cause.
2. Check orientation and scale. A rotated scene can initially look empty or difficult to navigate.
3. Move to a known part of the capture and compare with the source tool's view.
4. If you made a compact copy, repeat the conversion from the original and record the settings.
5. Try a smaller known-good splat on the same device. This helps separate a scene problem from a browser or memory problem.

For a support request, include the exporter, format, file size, browser/device and the exact error. Share a file only when you have permission to share its contents.

The local file works, but the hosted URL does not

Check that the URL returns the file rather than a login page or sharing preview. For a streaming scene, the metadata and every required chunk must be reachable. A working metadata URL alone is insufficient.

If the browser reports a cross-origin error, check the host's access configuration. If the file is behind authentication, use the publishing tool's supported sharing route. For a tour embedded on another website, also test the published link directly to isolate an embed-layout problem.

Keep a source and a delivery copy

Store the original capture and reconstruction export separately from compressed copies. For each delivery copy, note the converter, version, settings and intended viewer. This gives you a way to re-export when a client's software changes.

For example, an editor may need the original splat export while a venue manager needs a hosted walkthrough. Those are different deliverables from the same scene. Agree on both before the handoff.

Publish when the recipient needs a tour

Use the viewer to inspect files. Use the tour workspace when someone needs guided stops, labels, a hosted link or a website embed. Open the final link on the recipient's device before sending it.

Continue with Gaussian splat hosting, tour publishing or embedding a Gaussian splat viewer.