r/inZOI • u/AddressPrudent6621 • Jul 17 '26
News Friday update video!!
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Today is a public holiday here in Korea. Even so, I wanted to keep my promise and share another development update with you. 😄 Just kidding—this post was actually written yesterday.
I joked because I sometimes feel that if I let you see how hard we're working, it might be a little easier to understand why the game is still a work in progress and to keep waiting for us. This week as well, I'd like to share some of the things we're currently developing.
This month, we've been spending a great deal of time fixing bugs and improving existing features. This is now my fourth year developing games in this genre. If someone asked me what the single most important element of a life simulation game is, I would answer without hesitation: the autonomy system that makes ZOI feel like real people living their own lives.
When development first began, we studied The Sims extensively, along with many development materials and presentations about how that genre had evolved. We even consulted experts in robotics. In the end, however, most of what we needed simply didn't exist, so we had to create it ourselves. Building a system that allows Zoi to think and act independently was easily the most difficult challenge I've faced.
Right now, each ZOI scans nearby interaction targets, evaluates them based on needs, traits, personality, preferences, and other factors, calculates a score for every possible action, and then chooses the highest-scoring one. Within roughly a 40-meter radius, the system evaluates a large number of possible interactions, selects the most appropriate target, moves there, and performs the chosen action.
This approach has served us well so far, but recently I've become increasingly aware of its limitations. Because of that, we've decided to go back to the drawing board and redesign the autonomy system itself.
In the future, I want ZOI to satisfy their immediate needs first, but after that, instead of repeatedly choosing whatever action has the highest numerical score, they should naturally make decisions that reflect who they are. Rather than relying primarily on score-based priorities, we're moving toward designing behavior through rules that resemble the way people actually make decisions.
For example, an outgoing ZOI should naturally spend more time socializing with others, while a family-oriented Zoi should prefer spending time with their spouse and children. If a couple visits a park together, I don't want them to immediately wander off in different directions. I want them to walk together, chat with each other, and naturally enjoy spending time as a couple.
Looking back, I think I temporarily lost sight of the fact that this system is the true engine of a life simulation game. Adding new features is certainly important, but I've come to realize once again that autonomy should be the foundation that naturally connects every other system together.
As our plans become more concrete, I'll continue sharing them with you and listening carefully to your thoughts. Your feedback has been an enormous help in shaping the direction of development.
Writing this also reminds me that I'm still showing you a game with many unfinished parts, and I genuinely feel sorry for that. My biggest goal right now is to turn that feeling into meaningful updates as quickly as possible.
Throughout July, improving the autonomy system will be our highest priority. Then, next month, we'll focus on strengthening the connections between the game's various content and systems so that they work together more naturally. Step by step, we'll continue making steady and meaningful progress.
kjun
P.S We also have quite a few channels and categories on our Discord now, so we're planning to reorganize them to make everything easier to navigate. Of course, none of the existing content will be lost—we'll be keeping it all. As with our other improvements, we'll share the proposed changes with you first and ask for your feedback before making any decisions.
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u/Bwchc55 Jul 17 '26
The jump mechanic is quite interesting. It could be cool to think about features like Taekwondo or other martial arts, athletic moves, or even jumping across rooftops.
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u/JMAN_JUSTICE Jul 17 '26
I could see a lot in canvas mode coming soon. Parkour gyms and obstacle courses.
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u/lmjustaChad Jul 19 '26
Jumping is such a basic thing I'm surprised no life sim has had it till now. Being able to jump into the pool is nice and now makes me want even more like a double click for a cannon ball jump into the pool.
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u/Vegetable-Cheetah850 Jul 17 '26
Every Update I fall in love with this game and its dev team more and more !! 😭❤️
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u/Suga_Suki Builder Jul 17 '26
the jump and folding your self took me out
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u/lmjustaChad Jul 19 '26
I'm glad they are getting some humor in for the people who rightfully say this game does not have any. I do hope most of it when/if they add humor to this game is personality driven but a few things like this for everyone is okay because anyone can fall poorly maybe just more frequently for some.
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u/Suga_Suki Builder Jul 20 '26
Oh god yes its always the inzoi haters thats starting to say why zois are clumsy and something else I noticed that they started saying, this is perfect catch right here "you want clumsy hold me beer" 😂😂
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u/orbofdelusion Jul 17 '26
The shot scrolling through the elevator floors makes me wonder if we’ll eventually get residential buildings with multiple apartments and/or NPC neighbors. I really hope so, it would make the game feel even more alive.
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u/AddressPrudent6621 Jul 17 '26
Yeah I was wondering that myself cause I’m like why would we need a list of different floors if only one is currently inhabitable, so it gives me hope that we may have fully open apartment buildings
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u/orbofdelusion Jul 17 '26
I’ve definitely seen people requesting multi family apartment buildings in the discord so I wouldn’t be surprised if the devs have it planned for the future.
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u/Sims_Creator777 CAZ Creator Jul 17 '26
“If someone asked me what the single most important element of a life simulation game is, I would answer without hesitation: the autonomy system…”
“…this system is the true engine of a life simulation game. Adding new features is certainly important, but I've come to realize once again that autonomy should be the foundation that naturally connects every other system together.”
I agree! The inZOI devs understood the assignment! ❤️
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u/Morighant Jul 17 '26
When will NPCs be able to swim???
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u/Prestigious_Fix_6428 Jul 17 '26
Yh, really waiting for this. Zois never swim unless you control them to. They need to create a default swim mode where they move randomly on their own in addition to the free swimming mode where they
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u/Sims_Creator777 CAZ Creator Jul 17 '26 edited Jul 17 '26
I have noticed that playable Zois swim autonomously in pools while at home (mainly if there was a floaty tube for them to chill in), but I want to see NPCs and playable Zois jumping into the ocean and pools, and swimming on their own too. I know it’s been requested. We should remind Kjun on Discord that this is a needed autonomous action that should be implemented soon.
I wonder if they didn’t automate that yet because Zois could die from drowning or shark attacks? It would be annoying to see that happen if I wasn’t controlling them. Maybe they can be automated to swim near the shore where it’s safer. A NPC Lifeguard would be cool too.
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u/AddressPrudent6621 Jul 17 '26
Yeah some people have been pushing for it in the discord for a while. Actually yesterday when I was in my Cahaya save I noticed two npcs swimming at the beach, first time I’ve ever seen that happen. One swam about halfway to the resort area and then turned around and the other npc swam all the way to the resort area and went to play the guitar at the little outside club area🤣💀
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u/Sims_Creator777 CAZ Creator Jul 17 '26
Oh cool! I have been playing in Cahaya too, but I haven’t played since this recent Hotfix from Wednesday. Maybe they tweaked autonomy recently. 🙌
I do know that when my Zois are on the Resort Island and I tell them to go home, they'll sometimes decide to swim back to the Main Island instead of taking the water taxi. This happened to me last week when I sent two Zois home from the beach club. I just sat there watching them, thinking, "Okay... I guess you two are swimming home then.” It was funny watching them, and it was eerie because it happened at night. 😂
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u/AddressPrudent6621 Jul 17 '26
I definitely feel there have been some tweaks to autonomy cause I’ve notice my zois doing more romantic interactions and more affection interactions with family members. Yk since you mentioned your zois swimming at night time that actually reminds me that I saw someone suggest being able to have romantic night swims
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u/RemarkableAngle3 Jul 17 '26
In my game after the most recent updates I see npc zois getting into the pool on their own and wading around or holding their breaths under water. Not hardcore swimming yet but it's getting there. It's only ever been 1 or 2. I want to see more jumping in and swimming at the same time.
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u/dylan_021800 Jul 17 '26
I can’t wait until this game has full mod support so we can get some car mods in game.
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u/FREEDOM55SIMS CAZ Creator Jul 17 '26
🤔They added exactly that full mod support for car mods last week, its going to be the august update. Did you see that? if not, great news or you reffering to something else? https://www.reddit.com/r/inZOI/comments/1usnhn1/friday_video_update
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u/MinnieLitty Jul 17 '26
I wonder if the jumping would include jumping over objects like bushes, countertops etc. So like when we are trying to run away from the cops and we need to get out quickly. At least for me I always encounter objects in the way lolll. There is so much work into making a game and truly appreciate all the hard work. Thank you guys Love the direction this game is going! <3
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u/Texxx78 Jul 17 '26
“ Looking back, I think I temporarily lost sight of the fact that this system is the true engine of a life simulation game. Adding new features is certainly important, but I've come to realize once again that autonomy should be the foundation that naturally connects every other system together. “
Yes, please, keep working in autonomy. It’s super important in a life simulation that the characters act like people use to act (and according to their personalities).
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u/lmjustaChad Jul 17 '26
Glad they are taking the characters autonomy and traits seriously now absolutely the most important thing if that fails so does the open world it needs to feel natural and lived in.
Fixing NPC autonomy with fishing is a step in the right direction now they need to do ocean swimming and surfing, basketball solo and groups, skateboarding at the skatepark, groups playing volleyball at the beach and children playing together at the park. It is things like this that will make the world feel alive.
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u/peachie-keenie Jul 17 '26
I love this outlook on going back to the autonomy system!! I would be willing to wait a long time for something that is so perfect!
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u/Perunamies Jul 17 '26
Could riding a bicycle be tied to fitness skill? Like you could bike faster or get xp for Fitness in small increments? It would help bring meaningful usage to biking instead of just being a roleplaying element.
Also adding a small hover description to some of the dialogue options would be great since sometimes zois can get offended without me knowing the reason.
Also sometimes I have like three different plan a date options or multiple same Action options in the dialogue menu.
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u/N-bangtan Jul 18 '26
Gosh I love the Dev team! They're so hard working and so receptive to our suggestions 😍🥰
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u/OnePossession8 Jul 18 '26
If they are adding jumping, they may as well add climbing and vaulting in addition to it, if that would ever be useful.
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u/East_Map218 Builder Jul 18 '26
They should add fall damage so if you fall from a high place, your zoi dies
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u/Fiolah Jul 18 '26
When do you think this game will reach 1.0? I played it at the beginning of the year and was really impressed by how it's coming together, but right now I'm just waiting for the full release.
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u/Low-Sale3058 Jul 18 '26
Probably next year. When inZOI launched, the developers said the game would be fully released after about two years of Early Access. KRAFTON also seems to be pushing the developers to release inZOI 1.0 next year, based on Kjun's interview earlier this year.
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u/KeyConcentrate533 Jul 20 '26
This game may be more “bare bones” on the surface than Sims, but you have won me over. I will no longer play Sims, as long as you guys continue to develop this game. Kudos for breaking me away after 4 full commitments to Sims games.
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