diff --git a/common/xash3d_types.h b/common/xash3d_types.h
index a11200f4..e4d27bb6 100644
--- a/common/xash3d_types.h
+++ b/common/xash3d_types.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ typedef uint64_t longtime_t;
 	#endif
 	#define NORETURN           __attribute__(( noreturn ))
 	#define NONNULL            __attribute__(( nonnull ))
-	#define _format( x )       __attribute__(( format( printf, x, x + 1 )))
+	#define FORMAT_CHECK( x )  __attribute__(( format( printf, x, x + 1 )))
 	#define ALLOC_CHECK( x )   __attribute__(( alloc_size( x )))
 	#define NO_ASAN            __attribute__(( no_sanitize( "address" )))
 	#define WARN_UNUSED_RESULT __attribute__(( warn_unused_result ))
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ typedef uint64_t longtime_t;
 	#define GAME_EXPORT
 	#define NORETURN
 	#define NONNULL
-	#define _format( x )
+	#define FORMAT_CHECK( x )
 	#define ALLOC_CHECK( x )
 	#define RENAME_SYMBOL( x )
 	#define MALLOC
diff --git a/engine/client/client.h b/engine/client/client.h
index a5bfeccd..8fae639f 100644
--- a/engine/client/client.h
+++ b/engine/client/client.h
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ int CL_DrawCharacter( float x, float y, int number, rgba_t color, cl_font_t *fon
 int CL_DrawString( float x, float y, const char *s, rgba_t color, cl_font_t *font, int flags );
 void CL_DrawCharacterLen( cl_font_t *font, int number, int *width, int *height );
 void CL_DrawStringLen( cl_font_t *font, const char *s, int *width, int *height, int flags );
-int CL_DrawStringf( cl_font_t *font, float x, float y, rgba_t color, int flags, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 6 );
+int CL_DrawStringf( cl_font_t *font, float x, float y, rgba_t color, int flags, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 6 );
 
 
 //
diff --git a/engine/common/common.h b/engine/common/common.h
index 84a7ddac..b6d2e4da 100644
--- a/engine/common/common.h
+++ b/engine/common/common.h
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ byte *FS_LoadDirectFile( const char *path, fs_offset_t *filesizeptr )
 //
 void Cbuf_Clear( void );
 void Cbuf_AddText( const char *text );
-void Cbuf_AddTextf( const char *text, ... ) _format( 1 );
+void Cbuf_AddTextf( const char *text, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
 void Cbuf_AddFilteredText( const char *text );
 void Cbuf_InsertText( const char *text );
 void Cbuf_ExecStuffCmds( void );
@@ -531,14 +531,14 @@ typedef void( *pfnChangeGame )( const char *progname );
 qboolean Host_IsQuakeCompatible( void );
 void EXPORT Host_Shutdown( void );
 int EXPORT Host_Main( int argc, char **argv, const char *progname, int bChangeGame, pfnChangeGame func );
-void Host_EndGame( qboolean abort, const char *message, ... ) _format( 2 );
+void Host_EndGame( qboolean abort, const char *message, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 void Host_AbortCurrentFrame( void ) NORETURN;
 void Host_WriteServerConfig( const char *name );
 void Host_WriteOpenGLConfig( void );
 void Host_WriteVideoConfig( void );
 void Host_WriteConfig( void );
 void Host_ShutdownServer( void );
-void Host_Error( const char *error, ... ) _format( 1 );
+void Host_Error( const char *error, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
 void Host_ValidateEngineFeatures( uint32_t mask, uint32_t features );
 void Host_Frame( double time );
 void Host_Credits( void );
@@ -595,9 +595,9 @@ int COM_CheckParm( char *parm, char **ppnext );
 void pfnGetGameDir( char *szGetGameDir );
 int pfnGetModelType( model_t *mod );
 int pfnIsMapValid( char *filename );
-void Con_Reportf( const char *szFmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
-void Con_DPrintf( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
-void Con_Printf( const char *szFmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
+void Con_Reportf( const char *szFmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
+void Con_DPrintf( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
+void Con_Printf( const char *szFmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
 int pfnNumberOfEntities( void );
 int pfnIsInGame( void );
 float pfnTime( void );
@@ -698,12 +698,12 @@ struct cmd_s *Cmd_GetFirstFunctionHandle( void );
 struct cmd_s *Cmd_GetNextFunctionHandle( struct cmd_s *cmd );
 struct cmdalias_s *Cmd_AliasGetList( void );
 const char *Cmd_GetName( struct cmd_s *cmd );
-void Log_Printf( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
-void SV_BroadcastCommand( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
-void SV_BroadcastPrintf( struct sv_client_s *ignore, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+void Log_Printf( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
+void SV_BroadcastCommand( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
+void SV_BroadcastPrintf( struct sv_client_s *ignore, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 void CL_ClearStaticEntities( void );
 qboolean S_StreamGetCurrentState( char *currentTrack, size_t currentTrackSize, char *loopTrack, size_t loopTrackSize, int *position );
-void CL_ServerCommand( qboolean reliable, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+void CL_ServerCommand( qboolean reliable, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 void CL_UpdateInfo( const char *key, const char *value );
 void CL_HudMessage( const char *pMessage );
 const char *CL_MsgInfo( int cmd );
@@ -742,15 +742,15 @@ int SCR_GetAudioChunk( char *rawdata, int length );
 wavdata_t *SCR_GetMovieInfo( void );
 void SCR_Shutdown( void );
 void Con_Print( const char *txt );
-void Con_NPrintf( int idx, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
-void Con_NXPrintf( con_nprint_t *info, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
-void UI_NPrintf( int idx, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
-void UI_NXPrintf( con_nprint_t *info, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+void Con_NPrintf( int idx, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
+void Con_NXPrintf( con_nprint_t *info, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
+void UI_NPrintf( int idx, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
+void UI_NXPrintf( con_nprint_t *info, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 const char *Info_ValueForKey( const char *s, const char *key );
 void Info_RemovePrefixedKeys( char *start, char prefix );
 qboolean Info_RemoveKey( char *s, const char *key );
 qboolean Info_SetValueForKey( char *s, const char *key, const char *value, int maxsize );
-qboolean Info_SetValueForKeyf( char *s, const char *key, int maxsize, const char *format, ... ) _format( 4 );
+qboolean Info_SetValueForKeyf( char *s, const char *key, int maxsize, const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 4 );
 qboolean Info_SetValueForStarKey( char *s, const char *key, const char *value, int maxsize );
 qboolean Info_IsValid( const char *s );
 void Info_WriteVars( file_t *f );
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ qboolean COM_ParseVector( char **pfile, float *v, size_t size );
 int COM_FileSize( const char *filename );
 void COM_FreeFile( void *buffer );
 int COM_CompareFileTime( const char *filename1, const char *filename2, int *iCompare );
-char *va( const char *format, ... ) _format( 1 );
+char *va( const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
 qboolean CRC32_MapFile( dword *crcvalue, const char *filename, qboolean multiplayer );
 
 static inline void COM_NormalizeAngles( vec3_t angles )
diff --git a/engine/common/cvar.h b/engine/common/cvar.h
index 9cb312ba..f3920962 100644
--- a/engine/common/cvar.h
+++ b/engine/common/cvar.h
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ cvar_t *Cvar_GetList( void );
 convar_t *Cvar_FindVarExt( const char *var_name, int ignore_group );
 void Cvar_RegisterVariable( convar_t *var );
 convar_t *Cvar_Get( const char *var_name, const char *value, int flags, const char *description );
-convar_t *Cvar_Getf( const char *var_name, int flags, const char *description, const char *format, ... ) _format( 4 );
+convar_t *Cvar_Getf( const char *var_name, int flags, const char *description, const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 4 );
 void Cvar_LookupVars( int checkbit, void *buffer, void *ptr, setpair_t callback );
 void Cvar_FullSet( const char *var_name, const char *value, int flags );
 void Cvar_DirectSet( convar_t *var, const char *value );
diff --git a/engine/common/net_buffer.h b/engine/common/net_buffer.h
index 9b371d58..87a03681 100644
--- a/engine/common/net_buffer.h
+++ b/engine/common/net_buffer.h
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ void MSG_WriteFloat( sizebuf_t *sb, float val );
 void MSG_WriteVec3Coord( sizebuf_t *sb, const float *fa );
 void MSG_WriteVec3Angles( sizebuf_t *sb, const float *fa );
 qboolean MSG_WriteString( sizebuf_t *sb, const char *pStr );		// returns false if it overflows the buffer.
-qboolean MSG_WriteStringf( sizebuf_t *sb, const char *format, ... ) _format( 2 );
+qboolean MSG_WriteStringf( sizebuf_t *sb, const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 qboolean MSG_WriteBytes( sizebuf_t *sb, const void *pBuf, int nBytes );
 
 // helper functions
diff --git a/engine/common/netchan.h b/engine/common/netchan.h
index c95a8079..c06391b1 100644
--- a/engine/common/netchan.h
+++ b/engine/common/netchan.h
@@ -307,7 +307,7 @@ void Netchan_CreateFragments( netchan_t *chan, sizebuf_t *msg );
 int Netchan_CreateFileFragments( netchan_t *chan, const char *filename );
 void Netchan_TransmitBits( netchan_t *chan, int lengthInBits, const byte *data );
 void Netchan_OutOfBand( int net_socket, netadr_t adr, int length, const byte *data );
-void Netchan_OutOfBandPrint( int net_socket, netadr_t adr, const char *format, ... ) _format( 3 );
+void Netchan_OutOfBandPrint( int net_socket, netadr_t adr, const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 3 );
 qboolean Netchan_Process( netchan_t *chan, sizebuf_t *msg );
 void Netchan_UpdateProgress( netchan_t *chan );
 qboolean Netchan_IncomingReady( netchan_t *chan );
diff --git a/engine/common/system.h b/engine/common/system.h
index 8145c1d9..08e5eaa3 100644
--- a/engine/common/system.h
+++ b/engine/common/system.h
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ double Sys_DoubleTime( void );
 char *Sys_GetClipboardData( void );
 const char *Sys_GetCurrentUser( void );
 int Sys_CheckParm( const char *parm );
-void Sys_Warn( const char *format, ... ) _format( 1 );
-void Sys_Error( const char *error, ... ) _format( 1 );
+void Sys_Warn( const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
+void Sys_Error( const char *error, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
 qboolean Sys_LoadLibrary( dll_info_t *dll );
 void* Sys_GetProcAddress( dll_info_t *dll, const char* name );
 qboolean Sys_FreeLibrary( dll_info_t *dll );
diff --git a/engine/menu_int.h b/engine/menu_int.h
index 5b9fb429..ebc4bd69 100644
--- a/engine/menu_int.h
+++ b/engine/menu_int.h
@@ -89,10 +89,10 @@ typedef struct ui_enginefuncs_s
 	const char*	(*pfnCmd_Args)( void );
 
 	// debug messages (in-menu shows only notify)
-	void	(*Con_Printf)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
-	void	(*Con_DPrintf)( const char *fmt, ... )  _format( 1 );
-	void	(*Con_NPrintf)( int pos, const char *fmt, ... )  _format( 2 );
-	void	(*Con_NXPrintf)( struct con_nprint_s *info, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+	void	(*Con_Printf)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
+	void	(*Con_DPrintf)( const char *fmt, ... )  FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
+	void	(*Con_NPrintf)( int pos, const char *fmt, ... )  FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
+	void	(*Con_NXPrintf)( struct con_nprint_s *info, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 
 	// sound handlers
 	void	(*pfnPlayLocalSound)( const char *szSound );
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ typedef struct ui_enginefuncs_s
 	int	(*CL_CreateVisibleEntity)( int type, struct cl_entity_s *ent );
 
 	// misc handlers
-	void	(*pfnHostError)( const char *szFmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
+	void	(*pfnHostError)( const char *szFmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
 	int	(*pfnFileExists)( const char *filename, int gamedironly );
 	void	(*pfnGetGameDir)( char *szGetGameDir );
 
diff --git a/engine/ref_api.h b/engine/ref_api.h
index 857cfd10..c9979992 100644
--- a/engine/ref_api.h
+++ b/engine/ref_api.h
@@ -338,13 +338,13 @@ typedef struct ref_api_s
 	void (*Cbuf_Execute)( void );
 
 	// logging
-	void	(*Con_Printf)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 ); // typical console allowed messages
-	void	(*Con_DPrintf)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 ); // -dev 1
-	void	(*Con_Reportf)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 ); // -dev 2
+	void	(*Con_Printf)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 ); // typical console allowed messages
+	void	(*Con_DPrintf)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 ); // -dev 1
+	void	(*Con_Reportf)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 ); // -dev 2
 
 	// debug print
-	void	(*Con_NPrintf)( int pos, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
-	void	(*Con_NXPrintf)( struct con_nprint_s *info, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+	void	(*Con_NPrintf)( int pos, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
+	void	(*Con_NXPrintf)( struct con_nprint_s *info, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 	void	(*CL_CenterPrint)( const char *s, float y );
 	void (*Con_DrawStringLen)( const char *pText, int *length, int *height );
 	int (*Con_DrawString)( int x, int y, const char *string, rgba_t setColor );
@@ -385,7 +385,7 @@ typedef struct ref_api_s
 
 	// utils
 	void  (*CL_ExtraUpdate)( void );
-	void  (*Host_Error)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
+	void  (*Host_Error)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
 	void  (*COM_SetRandomSeed)( int lSeed );
 	float (*COM_RandomFloat)( float rmin, float rmax );
 	int   (*COM_RandomLong)( int rmin, int rmax );
diff --git a/engine/server/server.h b/engine/server/server.h
index f5d68943..978e715d 100644
--- a/engine/server/server.h
+++ b/engine/server/server.h
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ extern convar_t		sv_expose_player_list;
 // sv_main.c
 //
 void SV_FinalMessage( const char *message, qboolean reconnect );
-void SV_KickPlayer( sv_client_t *cl, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+void SV_KickPlayer( sv_client_t *cl, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 void SV_DropClient( sv_client_t *cl, qboolean crash ) RENAME_SYMBOL( "SV_DropClient_" );
 void SV_UpdateMovevars( qboolean initialize );
 int SV_ModelIndex( const char *name );
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ void SV_WaterMove( edict_t *ent );
 // sv_send.c
 //
 void SV_SendClientMessages( void );
-void SV_ClientPrintf( sv_client_t *cl, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+void SV_ClientPrintf( sv_client_t *cl, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 
 //
 // sv_client.c
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ qboolean SV_IsPlayerIndex( int idx );
 int SV_CalcPing( sv_client_t *cl );
 void SV_UpdateServerInfo( void );
 void SV_EndRedirect( host_redirect_t *rd );
-void SV_RejectConnection( netadr_t from, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+void SV_RejectConnection( netadr_t from, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 void SV_GetPlayerCount( int *clients, int *bots );
 qboolean SV_HavePassword( void );
 
diff --git a/engine/server/sv_game.c b/engine/server/sv_game.c
index e62765b1..4fc0a647 100644
--- a/engine/server/sv_game.c
+++ b/engine/server/sv_game.c
@@ -2384,7 +2384,7 @@ pfnClientCommand
 
 =========
 */
-void GAME_EXPORT pfnClientCommand( edict_t* pEdict, char* szFmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+void GAME_EXPORT pfnClientCommand( edict_t* pEdict, char* szFmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 void GAME_EXPORT pfnClientCommand( edict_t* pEdict, char* szFmt, ... )
 {
 	sv_client_t	*cl;
@@ -2877,7 +2877,7 @@ pfnAlertMessage
 
 =============
 */
-static void pfnAlertMessage( ALERT_TYPE type, char *szFmt, ... ) _format( 2 );
+static void pfnAlertMessage( ALERT_TYPE type, char *szFmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 static void GAME_EXPORT pfnAlertMessage( ALERT_TYPE type, char *szFmt, ... )
 {
 	char	buffer[2048];
diff --git a/filesystem/filesystem.h b/filesystem/filesystem.h
index ecae3b47..e6f2a631 100644
--- a/filesystem/filesystem.h
+++ b/filesystem/filesystem.h
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ typedef struct fs_api_t
 	int (*UnGetc)( file_t *file, char c );
 	int (*Getc)( file_t *file );
 	int (*VPrintf)( file_t *file, const char *format, va_list ap );
-	int (*Printf)( file_t *file, const char *format, ... ) _format( 2 );
+	int (*Printf)( file_t *file, const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 	int (*Print)( file_t *file, const char *msg );
 	fs_offset_t (*FileLength)( file_t *f );
 	qboolean (*FileCopy)( file_t *pOutput, file_t *pInput, int fileSize );
@@ -208,11 +208,11 @@ typedef struct fs_api_t
 typedef struct fs_interface_t
 {
 	// logging
-	void    (*_Con_Printf)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 ); // typical console allowed messages
-	void    (*_Con_DPrintf)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 ); // -dev 1
-	void    (*_Con_Reportf)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 ); // -dev 2
+	void    (*_Con_Printf)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 ); // typical console allowed messages
+	void    (*_Con_DPrintf)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 ); // -dev 1
+	void    (*_Con_Reportf)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 ); // -dev 2
 
-	void    (*_Sys_Error)( const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 1 );
+	void    (*_Sys_Error)( const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 1 );
 
 	// memory
 	poolhandle_t (*_Mem_AllocPool)( const char *name, const char *filename, int fileline );
diff --git a/filesystem/filesystem_internal.h b/filesystem/filesystem_internal.h
index df066ba8..4a8d5132 100644
--- a/filesystem/filesystem_internal.h
+++ b/filesystem/filesystem_internal.h
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ int FS_Gets( file_t *file, char *string, size_t bufsize );
 int FS_UnGetc( file_t *file, char c );
 int FS_Getc( file_t *file );
 int FS_VPrintf( file_t *file, const char *format, va_list ap );
-int FS_Printf( file_t *file, const char *format, ... ) _format( 2 );
+int FS_Printf( file_t *file, const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 2 );
 int FS_Print( file_t *file, const char *msg );
 fs_offset_t FS_FileLength( file_t *f );
 qboolean FS_FileCopy( file_t *pOutput, file_t *pInput, int fileSize );
diff --git a/public/crtlib.h b/public/crtlib.h
index ea292c83..ef0f717f 100644
--- a/public/crtlib.h
+++ b/public/crtlib.h
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ const byte *Q_memmem( const byte *haystack, size_t haystacklen, const byte *need
 void Q_memor( byte *XASH_RESTRICT dst, const byte *XASH_RESTRICT src, size_t len );
 const char *Q_timestamp( int format );
 int Q_vsnprintf( char *buffer, size_t buffersize, const char *format, va_list args );
-int Q_snprintf( char *buffer, size_t buffersize, const char *format, ... ) _format( 3 );
+int Q_snprintf( char *buffer, size_t buffersize, const char *format, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 3 );
 #define Q_strpbrk strpbrk
 void COM_StripColors( const char *in, char *out );
 #define Q_memprint( val ) Q_pretifymem( val, 2 )
diff --git a/ref/gl/gl_local.h b/ref/gl/gl_local.h
index 2ab174c1..6ca3a7e9 100644
--- a/ref/gl/gl_local.h
+++ b/ref/gl/gl_local.h
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ void R_TextureList_f( void );
 void R_InitImages( void );
 void R_ShutdownImages( void );
 int GL_TexMemory( void );
-qboolean R_SearchForTextureReplacement( char *out, size_t size, const char *modelname, const char *fmt, ... ) _format( 4 );
+qboolean R_SearchForTextureReplacement( char *out, size_t size, const char *modelname, const char *fmt, ... ) FORMAT_CHECK( 4 );
 void R_TextureReplacementReport( const char *modelname, int gl_texturenum, const char *foundpath );
 
 //