Krafton's life simulation game Inzoi has been making waves since its Steam Early Access launch, attracting over a million players with nearly 90,000 concurrent users at its peak. As the new contender in the life simulation genre dominated by The Sims, Krafton has been quick to respond to player feedback with a series of hotfixes addressing some of the most pressing gameplay concerns.
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| Reflecting on the innovative features of Inzoi, Krafton is committed to enhancing player experience |
Sleep Duration Adjustments
One of the most noticeable changes in the latest patch addresses the excessive amount of time Zois (the game's simulated characters) spent sleeping. Prior to the update, players found themselves watching their virtual characters sleep for unrealistically long periods, disrupting gameplay flow. Krafton explained that the original sleep patterns were designed to mirror real-life behavior, with tired Zois sleeping in, but this level of realism created friction with the game's time progression. The patch has now reduced sleep duration to create smoother gameplay, allowing players to spend more time engaging with active gameplay rather than watching their Zois slumber.
Automatic Meal Consumption
Another frustrating behavior that has been fixed is the peculiar habit of Zois cooking meals only to abandon them in favor of grabbing snacks from the refrigerator. Before the patch, players had to manually redirect their Zois back to their prepared dishes, adding an unnecessary layer of micromanagement. Now, Zois will automatically eat the food they cook, eliminating this strange oversight in the simulation and reducing player frustration.
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| The new automatic meal consumption feature allows Zois to nurture their relationships while engaging in daily activities |
Relationship Progression Balancing
The patch also addresses concerns about the rapid acceleration of relationships within the game. Many players felt that relationship points were accumulating too quickly, particularly within families under direct player control. Krafton has slowed down this progression to create more realistic relationship development. For players who preferred the faster pace, the developers have included options in the City Edit menu to customize how the relationship system works, providing flexibility based on individual play styles.
Karma System Refinements
The karma mechanic, which influences Zoi behavior and outcomes, has been adjusted to address issues with autonomous actions occurring too rapidly and causing unpredictable mood swings. The patch slows the pace of karma changes for more stable and predictable character behavior. Krafton has also indicated that further improvements are planned to make Zois act more naturally based on context, with karma gradually influencing more aspects of life in future updates.
Additional Quality-of-Life Improvements
Beyond these major changes, the patch includes several other quality-of-life improvements. Players now have the ability to disable aging for their Zois and other characters in the city, addressing a surprising omission from the base game. Issues related to pregnancy and childbirth have been fixed, ensuring that Zois can still give birth even after divorce and preventing glitches when the interaction queue is full. Even small details like the toilet sound effect have been refined, with Krafton noting that the previous sound was too long and felt unnatural.
Krafton's Commitment to Rapid Improvement
What's particularly impressive about these updates is the speed at which Krafton is responding to player feedback. With the game only having been out for about a week, the development team has already released multiple hotfixes addressing key concerns. This rapid response demonstrates Krafton's commitment to improving the game throughout its early access period, with the promise of more regular updates and open communication with the player base.
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| Krafton is focused on continuous improvement, ensuring a reflective development process for Inzoi based on player feedback |
Looking Ahead
As Inzoi continues its early access journey, Krafton has outlined plans for free DLC and further refinements to the game's mechanics. The development team appears focused on balancing realism with enjoyable gameplay, taking player feedback seriously as they shape the future of this life simulation contender. With the foundation of the game already attracting a substantial player base, these quick iterations could help Inzoi establish itself as a serious alternative in a genre long dominated by a single franchise.