This guide will teach you how to localize Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain and Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes.

Getting Started

Currently, there is no straightforward way to add an entirely new language as an option in the game. This is due to the fact that language-related assets are embedded in .exe files and some UI components that have not yet been fully reversed. This guide will focus on what is achievable, such as modifying existing language packs and text files.

Needed Tools

To unpack game files

We recommend using the File Monolith Modmaker Toolset (Recommended) to unpack The Phantom Pain’s files.
Alternatively, use the latest version of GzTool to unpack and repack FPK/FPKD and .dat files for The Phantom Pain.
For Ground Zeroes, use GzTool v0.2.

For more detailed instructions, see Unpacking and Organizing Game Files.

To unpack/repack .ffnt, .subp, .lng/lng2 files

Use FoxEngine.TranslationTool to unpack .ffnt, .subp, and .lng/lng2 files in The Phantom Pain.
For Ground Zeroes, you can use the same tool except for .lng files, where only version FoxEngine.TranslationTool v0.1.3 works.

To unpack/repack .fox2 files

Use FoxTool to unpack .Fox2 (DataSetFile2).

Tip

Always refer to the README section inside each tool for specific instructions on how to use the tool and additional details on the files it can unpack.

Editing Fonts

The game uses two types of font files: x

1. .ffnt (Fox Font) - This is the default font file, found in \Assets\tpp\font\.
2. .fnt (Font) - These are additional fonts used for specific UI elements (e.g., ZZZ, STN, or LOCKED during homing missile use).

.ffnt (Fox Font)

To edit .ffnt files, use FfntTool found in FoxEngine.TranslationTool.

Another Way to Use FfntTool

First, create an empty folder with the exact same name as the .ffnt file you want to edit.

Then, drag and drop the .ffnt file into the FfntTool’s .exe. The contents of the .ffnt file will appear inside the folder.

GlyphMap

The GlyphMap stores data about individual glyphs (characters like letters, numbers, punctuation, etc.). Each glyph entry includes properties like Character, XOffset, YOffset, Width, Height, and other spacing parameters.
Example:

<Glyph Character="©" XOffset="457" YOffset="22" Width="27" Height="27" Layer="0" HorizontalSpace="29" HorizontalShift="1" VerticalShift="15" Unknown1="0" Unknown2="0" />

.fnt (Font)

This section is TBA (To Be Added).

Tip

Some display text properties are stored in .fox2 files, which can be found in \Assets\tpp\pack\ui\ui_resident_data_fpkd\Assets\tpp\ui\GraphAsset\Common\data.

For more details, check out the UiFontDataElement documentation.

Subtitles

Subtitles are stored in .subp files. These files are placed in specific paths, and their locations are set within a .fox2 (DataSetFile2) file inside the fpkd files.

When you open the .fox2 file, you’ll find a class called SubtitlesPackage with two important properties:

1. subtitlesPackage: Loads the .subp files located inside the fpk (Fox Package) file with the same name.
2. subtitlesStreamPath: Loads .subp files from \Assets\tpp\ui\Subtitles\.

To edit .subp files, use SubpTool from FoxEngine.TranslationTool.
SubpTool generates an .xml file with the text to edit.

Tip

In tape.subp, text will appear as [C=XX], where XX represents the speaker’s name. For example:

<Line Text="[C=16]Boss, there's something I want to talk about. ">
  <Timing Start="100" End="276" />
</Line>

The [C=16] represents the name of the speaker that will be displayed in the Logs from the idroid menu. So… don’t remove it ;).

UI

Unlike .subp files, .lng and .lng2 files are stored within \Assets\tpp\pack\ and scattered across directories like \Assets\tpp\pack\mission2\common\, \Assets\tpp\pack\ui\, or \Assets\tpp\pack\ui\lang. You’ll need to locate and edit these files manually.