Fifa-ng-db-meta.xml ⚡

Inside each table, individual columns are defined. This is the most critical section for modders.

<Field name="playerid" type="int" primaryKey="true" />
<Field name="firstname" type="varchar" length="50" />
<Field name="overallrating" type="int" />
<Field name="birthdate" type="int" />

Key Attributes:

For those who play classic patches (e.g., FIFA 14 mods on newer engines), the Meta XML often contains references to legacy ID structures, helping modders port old databases to new games. fifa-ng-db-meta.xml

Because this file is human-readable XML, it is the primary target for modders who want to understand what values the game engine is actually reading.

Extending potential max from 99 to 110 via the meta file, then editing a player in the database, resulted in: Inside each table, individual columns are defined

Thus, fifa-ng-db-meta.xml acts as a hint layer for modding tools, not a runtime override for the game executable.

Modding of EA Sports’ FIFA franchise (now EA Sports FC) relies on editing proprietary database files (e.g., fifa_ng_db.db, fifa_ng_db-meta). Tools like RDBM (Relational Database Manager) and Frosty Editor expose tables but lack explicit metadata for field constraints. Community efforts have produced unofficial metadata files, among which fifa-ng-db-meta.xml has gained traction in PC modding circles (Fifa Infinity, Soccergaming forums, 2023–2025). Key Attributes:

This paper provides the first systematic documentation of this file’s structure, semantics, and application. We ask:

Is that column a boolean (true/false), a string (text), or a foreign key linking to another table? The Meta XML defines this. For example, it tells the editor that a player’s preferredfoot uses a lookup table (0 = Right, 1 = Left).

If you’ve used tools like RDBM (Relational Database Manager), FIFA Editor Tool, or Live Editor, you’ve indirectly relied on this file.

Here is what the fifa-ng-db-meta.xml enables: