inZOI Patches Bug, Prevents Players from Running Over Children

The inZOI developers have swiftly addressed a disturbing bug that allowed players to run over children in the game, which has now been rectified with their latest patch. This issue came to light during the Early Access phase, where a player shared footage on the inZOI subreddit on March 28, demonstrating the unintended mechanic. The video showcased a child being struck by a vehicle, resulting in a dramatic and fatal ragdoll effect. Krafton, the game's developer, had previously outlined various ways for characters (Zois) to meet their demise, but running over children was never part of the intended gameplay. A spokesperson for Krafton confirmed to Eurogamer on the same day that this was a bug and has since been fixed.

The statement from Krafton emphasized their commitment to age-appropriate content, acknowledging the seriousness of the issue. They stated, "These depictions are highly inappropriate and do not reflect the intent and values of inZOI. We understand the seriousness of this matter and age-appropriate content and we are strengthening our internal review processes to prevent similar incidents in the future." This action aligns with inZOI's ESRB rating of T for Teen, ensuring the game remains suitable for its intended audience.

inZOI Developers Aims To Strengthen Internal Review Processes In The Future

As inZOI continues its Early Access, the game has garnered a "Very Positive" review rating on Steam, largely due to its detailed and high-quality design. However, the game's director, Hyungjun 'Kjun' Kim, shared with PCGamesN on March 31 that the game's hyper-realistic style poses challenges in incorporating lighter, more humorous elements. Kjun explained, "This was something we thought about a lot. With such realistic graphics, we constantly questioned how far we should take that realism. At times, we wanted to incorporate comical or lighthearted elements, but they didn’t quite fit with the grounded visuals, which was a bit disappointing sometimes."

inZOI Director Admits Realistic Style Makes It Hard For Goofing Around In-Game

Kjun has expressed admiration for The Sims 4, particularly its charming and goofy identity within the life-simulation genre. However, the realistic style of inZOI makes it challenging to integrate similar whimsical elements. Despite this, Kjun remains confident in the game's direction, stating, "We believe this level of immersive graphics will resonate with players and, throughout development, we’ve felt both proud and excited to bring this world to life."

While inZOI surpasses The Sims 4 in terms of visual detail and quality, the developers are still exploring the game's identity to establish it as a strong contender in the life-simulation market. For more insights into inZOI's Early Access release, be sure to read our detailed article below!