In order to modify the game's colors, textures, or sound effects, we need to have an unpacked version of the game files. So we need to extract out the data from the image once. Note that you do not need to do this if you only want to update the background music.

ARC containers are used in Capcom's MT framework to store data. Luckily for our interests, this is a well understood storage format that we can work with. Thanks to the Resident Evil and MvC3 communities that figured this all out.

There are three very solid options for how to work with these files. We will cover each here. Please choose one option and stick to that one. If you mix and match methods, please keep track of what you're doing where. And as always, remember to back up both the original files and any particular finished changes you're excited about.

Method	Pros / Cons
Paxtez's Mod Manager	Easy to work with. Doesn't work with the Capcom Fighting Collection ... yet! Also supports importing MP3s for your stage music. Fully extracts the ARC, including de-AFS'ing the extracted files.
CollectionTool	Clunkier, but works with both Collections. Can double-click a single file to unpack/repack. Keeps things as ARCs.
ArcTool	Works with everything. Very slightly more technical. If you're on SteamDeck/Linux, use this. Or copy the ARCs to a Windows PC and edit them there using either of the above two options.

---

Using Paxtez's Mod Manager

Download	Paxtez has been working on the MvC Mod Manager: updates are being posted to the Marvel vs Capcom 2 Discord. So use the latest package from there if you're already a member. If you're not, you can download MvCC Mod Manager 0.8 here now. (Paxtez is still working on this: new updates will be made available as they're finished.) If you want the Manager to work with the stage music files, you will also need to download and install FFMPEG
Extract the ZIP	Extract that ZIP to any folder. That will be your working folder.
Unpack the game	Double-click "mvccModManager.exe". Select "Create Backup Files" if you haven't already. That will backup all the ARCs and songs to the "backup" folder. Select "Extract Steam ARC File". Select the game you want to unpack and do that now.

Sweet. Now we have the game file we want. It will be in a folder under the "extract" folder. Any further references to game data will be to that location. Go on to the next page of this guide now.

---

Using CollectionTool

Start	You have the game data at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection (or similar path).
Download	We want to use FluffyQuack's ARCTool. Instead of getting it from Fluffy, we'll use Hikari's version (updated 10/16/2024, make sure you are current) that contains a key bonus file for us.
Extract	Go to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection\nativeDX11x64\arc\pc Make a directory named "ArcTool" there. Extract that ARCTool_04.zip to that folder. In that folder will now be ARCTool.exe and CollectionTool.bat .
Unpack	Double-click "CollectionTool.bat". Select the collection you want to work with, the game, the language, and finally the "Unpack" option. (There's also dedicated files for unpacking/repacking MvC2 if you want to use those instead.)

You should now have the game file extracted. It will be at: ...\MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection\nativeDX11x64\arc\pc\ArcTool\MVC\game_50\bin\mvsc2.21D3D8A7 (or appropriate path for the game you chose to extract). You can now move on to the next page of the guide.

---

Using ARCTool

Start	You have the game data at C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection (or similar path).
Download	We (still) want to use FluffyQuack's ARCTool. Instead of getting it from Fluffy, we'll use Hikari's version (updated 9/21/2024, make sure you are current).
Extract	Go to: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\MARVEL vs. CAPCOM Fighting Collection\nativeDX11x64\arc\pc Make a directory named "ArcTool" there. Extract that ARCTool_04.zip to that folder. In that folder will now be ARCTool.exe .
Unpack	Figure out which ARC file you want to extract. Run: arctool -x -pc -txt -v 7 ..\YourArcNameHere.arc

Congrats! You have now extracted the game's data file and are ready to continue. You don't ever need to extract the files again (unless there is a ARC file update / version change or you're trying to work with a restored copy). Move on to the next page (presumably customize Character Colors) now.

---