What Is a FiveM Ped Model? Add-On Peds Explained
A FiveM ped model is the character itself. Learn what add-on peds are, which files a custom ped contains and what a server needs to use one.
If you search for FiveM ped models, you will find things sold under one name: full character peds, add-on peds that need a menu to select them, and scripts that spawn or manage peds. They are not interchangeable.
A ped model is a complete character with its own mesh, textures and metadata, streamed to your server as an add-on. A ped menu or clothing-store script is what lets a player choose that character at all.
We run a test server where you can check our peds in game before buying. This guide explains each term, lists the files a custom ped contains, and shows how to read a product page before you buy or ask your developer to install it.
What a ped model is
In FiveM, a ped model is a complete character you add to your server. A custom ped is built by a creator and delivered as files that you put in your server's resources folder and start from server.cfg.
Those files follow a pattern. The .ydd file holds the 3D mesh, the .ytd files hold the textures and the .ymt file holds metadata. A resource also needs a fxmanifest.lua so the server can load it.
A ped model is not the same as clothing added to an existing ped. Adding clothes means editing the ped's mesh and metadata, which takes 3D modeling, rigging and .ymt/.ydd skills. You can do that with an Open Source ped, or ask for it as a commission.
Which of these files you can open and edit depends on the version you buy. The Escrow and Open Source section below explains the difference.
What an add-on ped needs on your server
A custom ped is an add-on. It sits next to the default models, so your server has to know it exists and give players a way to pick it. That takes three things.
A ped menu or clothing shop that supports add-on peds. After you start the ped resource with ensure in server.cfg, you add the ped's model name to that menu. The installation guide shows the steps for Escrow and Open Source peds, using Illenium Appearance as the example.
A supported framework. All Pewe Studios peds support ESX, QBCore and QBOX.
A recent server build. Our support checklist asks for build 5848 or newer and recommends 6000 or newer. Type version in your server console to check.
Two scripts come up in most setups, and they do different jobs. Illenium Appearance is a free clothing script that changes what a ped wears. We recommend it because it is free. The Pewe Ped Menu is a standalone script that spawns peds and integrates with Illenium Appearance. They are not alternatives to each other.
The Ped Menu's product page lists ESX and QBcore, so check it against your framework before you buy the script. That applies to the script only. The peds themselves support ESX, QBCore and QBOX.
If a ped does not appear, two common causes are a resource that is not started and a model name that is missing from the menu. The custom ped troubleshooting guide goes through the rest.
Escrow or Open Source: what you can edit
Paid peds come in two versions, and the version decides what you can change. Both are delivered to your Cfx.re account through Portal CFX.
| Feature | Escrow | Open Source |
|---|---|---|
| 3D model (.ydd) | Locked | Unencrypted, editable |
| Textures (.ytd) | Unlocked, so you can recolor and add logos | Full access to edit |
| Servers | One server, tied to the account you transfer the license to | Multiple servers, no transfer |
| License transfer | One time and permanent | Do not transfer. Download the files directly |
| Adding clothes yourself | Not possible, ask for a commission | Possible with 3D modeling, rigging and metadata skills |
Escrow peds use the Cfx.re Asset Escrow system. The license transfer cannot be undone, so talk to your server admin before you transfer it. Open Source peds are covered by the Pewe Studios Open Source Terms of Service. The documentation explains both versions in full.
If you run one server and mostly change colors and logos, Escrow is usually enough. If you run several servers or want to edit the model, choose Open Source. The free peds and the subscription are both Escrow.
You can browse each version on the Escrow and Open Source pages.
Need clothing added to an Escrow ped, or a character that does not exist yet? You can request a custom commission. Prices start from $5, delivery takes 3 to 7 business days depending on the queue, and 3 revision rounds are included.
What to check on a product page
Each product page has four tabs: Description, Before you buy, Dependencies and Support. Check these four things before you add a ped to your cart:
- Version. Open Source versions are marked
[OP]in the product name, and the two versions are listed on separate collection pages. - Dependencies. Confirm the frameworks and that your ped menu or clothing shop supports add-on peds.
- Before you buy. Log in with the Cfx.re account that should receive the asset, and connect Discord before checkout. If you buy on a personal account for a server someone else owns, an Escrow license can be transferred once to the owner's account.
- Your developer. Check with your server owner or developer that your server can import and use the asset.
The Support tab links to our Discord and the documentation if something is unclear.
The tags on the Escrow page help narrow the catalog: Police, Gang, Medical, Male and Female, plus Height (taller than a normal ped) and Short (shorter than a normal ped). Our guide to choosing peds for police, gang and civilian roleplay shows how to use them.
See a ped in game before you buy
Product pages show preview images and details. To see a ped in game, join our test server from FiveM: search for "Pewe Studios" in the server list, or use the direct link cfx.re/join/865693.
You can also try a free ped on your own server first. Free peds are Cfx.re Escrow, support ESX, QBCore and QBOX, and may not be redistributed. Testing one confirms that your resource folder and ped menu are set up. If you are not sure where to start, the free peds are a low-risk way to see how Escrow peds behave on your server.
Next step
Browse the peds page to see the Escrow, Open Source and free collections, then check a ped on the test server before you buy. If you need help choosing, ask in our Discord.