With Build 41, developers The Indie Stone released their biggest update yet for Project Zomboid, which has been growing and thriving for many years.
You may have already heard of Project Zomboid. The hardcore survival role-playing game in the zombie apocalypse has been in Early Access since 2013 and has always inspired a lot of fans of the undead.
You may have already heard of Project Zomboid. The hardcore survival role-playing game in the zombie apocalypse has been in Early Access since 2013 and has always inspired a lot of fans of the undead. Back in September 2021, our colleague Christian Just reported on the growing success of the insider tip from The Indie Stone.
At that time, Project Zomboid already boasted around 5,000 to 8,000 concurrent players on Steam – (now around 50,000 concurrent players) at its peak – and in addition to increased awareness on Twitch, the main reason for this is the new and largest update to date.
What is Project Zomboid?
Before we go into the update, let’s briefly recap what kind of game Project Zomboid is. As already written at the beginning, Project Zomboid is a survival role-playing game in the zombie apocalypse. Similar to DayZ, you try to survive in a world overrun by zombies by gathering materials essential for survival, building fortifications in the sandbox and preferably not letting the undead eat you for breakfast.
The best thing to do is just watch the latest trailer to get your own impression of the survival secret tip:
Although the iso-perspective and pixelated graphic style might not give it away right away, Project Zomboid is committed to a realistic survival experience. This means that you will not only have to deal with hunger, thirst and injuries, but also with threats to your mental health in the form of depression and boredom.
You don’t have to face the horrors of the zombie apocalypse all alone, however, but can arm yourself against the zombie hordes together with your friends. This can be done either locally in 4-player split-screen co-op or via online multiplayer. The latter has been greatly reworked with the latest update.
What changes with Build 41?
Build 41 is, according to the developers, the biggest update for Project Zomboid so far and therefore a big and important milestone towards the release. We have listed and translated all the patch notes on page 2, but now we will summarise the most important new features for you:
Big graphics update: In addition to new animations, graphical updates for water and battles and visible damage to your clothing and character, you now have a whole host of new character customisations. A blood and dirt system has also been introduced, so that after several days in the apocalypse, you will look exactly the same.
- New in-game map: Now you can keep track of which areas you have already explored.
- New multiplayer build: The multiplayer has been thoroughly reworked and improved, so you can expect lower latencies.
New multiplayer build.
- Lots of new content: In addition to new weapons and combat, there’s a new town, a new system for body temperatures, food foraging and tailoring, as well as 3 new gameplay modes with different focus (sneaking, fighting, building).
Of course, a lot of already existing systems have been overhauled. For example, there is a new injury system, the food search now works differently and the driving and shooting experience has been improved. As mentioned above, you can find all the patch notes on the following page.
Despite all the improvements and changes, Project Zomboid is still in (Early Acess). It is not yet clear when the survival role-playing game will go into full release. However, the latest update is likely to have taken a big step in that direction.
Build 41 – All patch notes at a glance
- Extensive rework of animations and character, more realistic animations and smoother gameplay and combat, highly customisable character showing clothing and equipment in the world. Visibly torn and damaged clothing. Visible backpacks and bags.
- An in-game map system that allows the player to plan their exploration and find their way around the huge map.
- New animations and new movement systems. Sneaking, sprinting, jogging, scrambling, reloading, climbing, fence jumping, collapsing and much more.
- New multiplayer designed from the ground up to make player and zombie movement smooth and low latency.
- New battles, new weapons, new difficulty balance.
- New tutorial that teaches the basics of the new movement and combat techniques.
- New character creation – many, many different new clothing options that can be found both when spawning and in the world as loot or from zombies.
- New city to explore, the gigantic Louisville, as well as many improvements throughout the map, including new buildings, decorations and curved roads for easier driving.
- New behaviour of zombies: they eat the last corpses, push themselves along walls, fall over fences, etc.
- Blood and grime system that gradually soaks the bodies and clothes of survivors and zombies with blood
- New injury system – movement and combat are visibly hindered when injured. Lacerations are now possible, an injury condition that falls somewhere between bites and scratches
- Improved gunplay: green/red target outline when aiming, increased loot spawn from weapons.
- Random elements of environmental narrative. Death scenes: Zombies are discovered in situations where people have died. Prayer meetings, sporting events, surviving zombies with backpacks, etc., vehicle accidents and blockades.
- Situational zombie types/clothes and inventories – cop zeds in police stations, fire zeds in burned down buildings, chef zeds in restaurant kitchens, bride and groom zeds at a church wedding ceremony, etc.
- Protection through clothing: Different items of clothing offer different protection from zombie attacks.
- New Sims style cut face system.
- Improved vehicle handling, sizing and appearance enhancements.
- Updated and expanded Kentucky-themed soundtrack.
- Complete overhaul of the soundscape – All new sounds make for a captivating and impressive soundscape.
- Items now have placeable 3D models in the world, for all your decorative needs.
- New gameplay styles
*Apocalypse: Stealth focus. Short Life Span. Battles best avoided and selectively chosen
*Survivor: Strong combat. Longer life span. A challenging playstyle based on PZ’s earlier Build 40 Survivor mode.
*Builder: Focus on building, exploring and farming. A more relaxed experience.
- New challenges
*Kingsmouth – A separate challenge map, Kingsmouth transports you to a paradise island as a holiday destination.
*Studio – Try to survive as the Knox infection hits the dream factory. Some of these zombies are not like the others.
- All-new food search system.
- New inventory slots – belts and holsters now offer quick equipment slots. Weapons can be strapped to the back of the character.
- New heat/body temperature system.
- New tailoring system for garment repairs.
- New fitness/exercise system.
- New Emote System – Hold Q to access the radial menu for emotes.
- New water display – including visible flow direction.
- New puddle system for heavy rain.
- New fog system.
- New levelling system.
- New VHS and CD system.
- Broken glass and related injuries.
- 3D Store Mannequins – can be dressed as desired
