inZOI Fix Stops Children From Being Run Over

Developers of inZOI have resolved a bug that previously allowed players to run over child characters in the game. The issue was addressed in their most recent update. Continue reading to discover more about this unexpected feature and the inZOI Director's perspective on the game's realistic approach.

inZOI Early Access Addresses Disturbing Bug

inZOI Developers to Enhance Internal Review Procedures Moving Forward

As the Early Access phase of inZOI progresses, players have uncovered an alarming feature that permitted them to hit children with vehicles. On March 28, a post on the inZOI subreddit titled "I don't think Krafton realizes you can run over children in inZOI" featured a video showing a player striking a child with a car, causing the child to be thrown a considerable distance. The force of the collision resulted in a ragdoll effect and ultimately led to the child's death.

While the developers had previously mentioned during the inZOI Online Showcase that there were various methods to eliminate Zois, such as being hit by a car, they never specified that this would include child characters. In a statement to Eurogamer on March 28, a Krafton spokesperson confirmed that this was an unintended bug and has been fixed with the latest patch.

The statement explained, "These depictions are completely inappropriate and do not align with the intended vision and values of inZOI. We recognize the gravity of this issue and our commitment to age-appropriate content. We are now reinforcing our internal review procedures to prevent such occurrences in the future." Removing this bug was a necessary step, especially since inZOI holds an ESRB rating of T for Teen. Retaining such a feature could have led to a more restrictive age rating.

inZOI Director Notes Realistic Style Limits Whimsical Gameplay Elements

inZOI currently holds a "Very Positive" review rating on Steam, with many players praising its intricate details and high production quality. However, Game Director Hyungjun 'Kjun' Kim shared with PCGamesN on March 31 that the hyper-realistic art direction presents certain challenges.

Kjun remarked, "This was a topic we frequently discussed. With graphics this lifelike, we continually debated the extent of realism we should pursue. There were moments when we considered adding humorous or playful elements, but they often clashed with the realistic visual style, which was occasionally disappointing."

Kjun has previously expressed admiration for The Sims 4, highlighting its distinctive, lighthearted charm as a key identity factor within the genre. Given inZOI's realistic aesthetic, the development team found it challenging to integrate the same type of whimsical elements featured in The Sims 4. Despite this, Kjun remains confident in the benefits of their chosen style. He elaborated, "We are convinced that this degree of immersive graphics will deeply engage players. Throughout the development journey, we've felt a sense of pride and excitement about bringing this world to life."

There is no question that inZOI surpasses The Sims 4 in visual detail and quality, yet the developers continue to refine the game's identity to establish it as a strong competitor in the life simulation genre. For further insights on our take regarding inZOI's Early Access launch, be sure to read our related article below!