Add-On Ped vs Replacement Ped vs EUP in FiveM
An add-on ped is a new FiveM ped model with its own spawn name, registered through a peds.meta. A replacement ped overwrites the files of an existing model and needs no meta file. Freemode clothing, often called EUP, is not a model: it is outfits for the standard multiplayer characters. For a new character, use an add-on ped.
- Add-on ped: a separate model with its own name, listed in
peds.metaand spawned withSetPlayerModel. - Replacement ped: your files take the name of a game model and overwrite it for everyone, with no
peds.meta. - Freemode clothing (EUP): clothing and props for the male and female freemode characters, which you dress and shape in a character creator.
- New character: add-on ped. Outfits for players: freemode clothing. Changing a default NPC everywhere: replacement.
What each one is
A freemode ped is one of the two multiplayer character models (male and female) that FiveM character creators and clothing packs customise; an add-on ped is a separate model that does not use those face and clothing options.
An add-on ped is a ped model that adds a new entry to the game. It has its own spawn name, its model files sit in a resource’s stream folder, and the resource registers it with data_file 'PED_METADATA_FILE' 'peds.meta' in its fxmanifest.lua.
A replacement ped is a ped whose files carry the name of a model that already exists in the game. FiveM serves your file instead of the original, so every player and every NPC that uses that model changes. It needs no peds.meta because the game already knows the name.
Freemode clothing (EUP is one well known pack format) is a set of clothing and prop items made for the freemode male and female characters. It changes what a player wears. It does not add a new character.
Add-on ped vs replacement ped vs freemode clothing
| Add-on ped | Replacement ped | Freemode clothing (EUP) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A new model with its own name | Files that overwrite an existing model | Outfits for the two freemode characters |
| Needs a peds.meta | Yes | No | No |
| Spawn name | Your own, for example my_ped | The name of the model you replace | Not applicable, players stay freemode |
| What customises it | The model itself and its component files | The model itself | Character creator, clothing menu, face and head blend options |
| Who sees the change | Only where the ped is spawned | Everyone, everywhere that model appears | Players who wear the items |
| Typical problem | Invisible or crashing when a name or file does not match | Unwanted changes to other NPCs, and a conflict with other replacements of the same model | Items clip, or a pack does not fit your server’s creator |
Which one should I use?
- A new playable or story character (a pictured character, a mascot, a unique role): add-on ped.
- One fixed NPC that should look different on your server: an add-on ped that you spawn yourself, or a replacement if you really want every instance of that model to change.
- Uniforms and outfits for your players: freemode clothing, because players keep their face, body and creator options.
- Faces that players can edit: stay on freemode. Face features belong to the freemode characters.
When in doubt, pick the add-on ped. A replacement is harder to undo and can break other scripts that rely on the original model.
Why freemode faces and clothing do not apply to an add-on ped
Freemode face options (parents, face features, overlays) and the standard clothing components are built around the freemode male and female models. An add-on ped is a different model with its own mesh and component files, so those options have nothing to act on. A character creator that edits freemode players will not edit it.
An add-on ped can still have its own component variations if its resource ships them, for example a second texture. Those are set by whoever builds the ped, not by the player.
Where the AI Ped Creator fits
The FiveMRides AI Ped Creator makes add-on peds only. It builds a character from one to four pictures or a text description, fits it to the GTA freemode skeleton and exports a resource with fxmanifest.lua, peds.meta and a stream folder. It does not make replacement peds and it does not make clothing for the freemode characters.
To make one, follow How to make a custom FiveM ped from a picture, then install it and spawn it.
What to keep in mind
- Every kind of ped needs testing on a staging server before players see it.
- Replacement peds affect every player and NPC that uses the model, so check which scripts depend on it first.
- Frameworks and character creators decide how peds and clothing are offered to players. Check the documentation of yours, because we have not tested every one.
- Our tool was tested in game on FiveM Legacy only. It has no facial animation or lip sync, and the AI guesses the parts a picture does not show.
- Use only pictures you have the right to use, and only a real person’s likeness with their consent.
Questions about add-on, replacement and freemode peds
What is the difference between an add-on ped and a replacement ped in FiveM?
An add-on ped is a new model with its own spawn name, registered with a peds.meta. A replacement ped overwrites the files of an existing model and needs no meta file, so it changes that model for everyone.
Who sees a replacement ped?
Every player on the server, everywhere that model appears, because the server streams your files in place of the original. An add-on ped appears only where a script or a menu spawns it.
Are custom face peds possible in FiveM?
Face options such as parents, face features and overlays work on the freemode characters. An add-on ped has its own face in its model, so those options do not apply to it.
Is EUP a ped?
No. EUP is a well known pack of uniforms for the male and female freemode characters. It adds clothing and props, not a new model.
Which one should I use for a new character?
Use an add-on ped. It sits next to the standard peds, does not change other NPCs and is easy to remove by stopping the resource.
Does the AI Ped Creator make replacement peds or clothing?
No. It makes add-on peds only. For outfits on the standard characters you need a freemode clothing pack.