Contrary to assumptions, fifa_ng_db.db is standard SQLite. It uses a custom record-based format:

One Tuesday, the "Winter Update" dropped. EA Sports had missed a crucial transfer—a 17-year-old Brazilian phenom who had just signed for a mid-table Italian side. The community was in an uproar. Lukas opened the fifa_ng_db.db file. The screen filled with raw data: firstnameid acceleration

: Certain core gameplay files remain difficult to decrypt, limiting the extent to which some underlying mechanics can be modified without causing the game to crash.

Years later, as newer FIFA titles came and went with their shiny graphics and microtransactions, Lukas still kept a folder on his desktop labeled

on how to open the database file, or are you trying to fix a compatibility issue with a modern Windows version? Fifa 16 Db Editor [hot]

: Essential for keeping a decade-old game relevant; it enables the community to update squads to modern seasons, such as the Infinity Patch 25/26 User Experience & Community Consensus High Versatility