.CIA

📌 The .CIA format entry refers to a CTR Importable Archive utilized for installing proper internal game content to a Nintendo 3DS handheld console and opening it afterwards. Precisely, the .CIA record is composed of gaming content, ticket (encrypted title key), and a TMD (the metadata of the title). Generally, the .CIA file instances are utilized for the installation of game card updates and typically store, maintain and open up particular content from the 3DS eShop. The .CIA object composition is nearly identical to the .WAD entity build-up exploited by the Wii console. The areas and groups which constitute a .CIA extension structure are combined into a unified certificate chain, meta file data, content file data, TMD file data, and a ticket.

How to open an .CIA file?

📌 If you are going to read, open and extract data from .CIA sources, you can refer to GodMode9 app (on Nintendo 3DS) or ctrtool console utility (on Windows shell). In the prerequisite aim to set up decrypted .CIA samples in scope of Nintendo 3DS software emulator, you are suggested to exploit Citra suite with cross-platform compatibility. This package varies with user-friendly intuitive UI and menu, which the final user can easily get acquainted with and practice. Citra software distributive is shared on the freeware principle in accordance with the actual license of the project. Besides, the suite is compliant with any desktop platforms, including Linux and macOS infrastructures.