InZOI

Last updated

InZOI
InZOI Logo.png
Developer(s) inZOI Studio
Publisher(s) Krafton
Director(s) Hyungjun Kim
Engine Unreal Engine 5
Platform(s)
Release PC
28 March 2025
PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X/S
TBA
Genre(s) Life simulation
Mode(s) Single-player

InZOI (stylized "inZOI") is an upcoming life simulation game developed by inZOI Studio and published by Krafton. The game is scheduled to be released in early access for Windows on 28 March 2025, [1] [2] with a later release for current-gen consoles. [3]

Contents

Gameplay

InZOI features many of the same mechanics previously seen in other life simulators like character creation, building tools, needs, social interactions, careers, education, relationships, families, skills, ageing and death. [4]

InZOI takes place in a variety of open world environments, where players can direct their characters and vehicles by point-and-click or by direct control. Players can customize their characters and houses how they desire, as well as edit the world scenery via the "city edit" mode. [5] [6] The game is slated to have 3 open worlds, with 2 of them previously being showcased. The first shown was Dowon, a dense, Seoul inspired world, Bliss Bay, a world inspired by Los Angeles, and Cahaya, a world inspired by Indonesian holiday destinations. [7] [8]

The player is an intern at a company called AR COMPANY, whose job it is to manage a neighbourhood of virtual people named "Zoi". The purpose of this mechanic is to manage the karma system within the world. [9] [10] Players can share their creations and find new ones through the in-game "Canvas" tool. InZOI will also come with plugins to allow for easy mod creation. [5]

The game will feature "active" careers, where the player can make the Zoi fulfill certain tasks in various roles. InZOI allows for the use of generative AI to create in-game patterns and objects. It has a custom furniture maker. There are eight needs, including hunger, hygiene, bathroom, fun, social, energy, sleep, and recognition. [11]

Development

InZOI is being developed by Korean game studio Krafton. The producer and director for inZOI is Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim. [5] The game is being developed using Unreal Engine 5. [12] The development of inZOI began in early 2023. The game's development team was composed of industry veterans known for their work on high-profile simulation games. The team sought to integrate advanced AI algorithms that drive character behavior, making each Zoi's actions and interactions as lifelike as possible. [13] [14]

A significant aspect of the game's development focused on the "Canvas" tool – an integrated system designed for creators to share their custom content. [15]

Marketing

On 12 November, 2023, inZOI was unveiled through a gameplay demo by Krafton at G-STAR 2023. It provided a first look at the character creation, build mode, city edit, world environment, weather, and gameplay. It was noted that the use of Unreal Engine 5 offers "lifelike graphics" and "underscores KRAFTON's dedication to delivering a visually stunning and immersive simulation experience." [16]

On 28 May 2024, a collaborative contest between CLO Virtual Fashion and inZOI titled "CONNECT x inZOI Every Style Tells a Story" was announced. The contest was ran for participants to create 3D digital fashion for prize money and a chance of their assets being represented in-game. There were four categories including Master of Trends Award, Elegant Comfort Award, Creative Casual Award, and Refined Everyday Award for a total of 15 winners. It ran from 30 May 2024 until 12 July 2024. Winners were announced on 8 August 2024. [17]

Inzoi Gamescom 3.jpg
Fictional character "Psycat" above the booth at Gamescom 2024
Gamescom inzoi 29.jpg
InZOI Booth at Gamescom 2024

On 21 August 2024, as part of Krafton's showcase at the 2024 Gamescom held in Cologne, Germany, an inZOI booth was made for attendees to demo the game. People who took part received fake employee badges with their names and avatars created in game. The booth also marketed their collaboration with Samsung Display, with 13 of their concept products being recreated inside inZOI. The booth was set up to resemble the fictional company AR COMPANY, alongside a large recreation of "Psycat" – a prominent character in the game and promotional material – descending on the booth. [18]

A character creator titled "inZOI Character Studio" was released on August 20 2024 on Steam. It was available for a limited time, and was removed by August 25 2024. It gained 18,000 concurrent players at one point. [19]

See also

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References

  1. https://www.pcgamer.com/games/life-sim/life-sim-inzoi-is-still-set-to-release-in-early-access-this-year-krafton-confirms/
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  10. 개발PD등판! inZOI 이제 다 알아보자! LEAK_부산 지스타에서 만날 수 있는 inZOI 숨겨진 이야기 #inZOI #크래프톤 #지스타 (in Korean). Retrieved 4 May 2024 via YouTube.
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  17. "Contest - CONNECT x inZOI". CLO-SET CONNECT. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  18. "[Gamescom] inZOI: "We Recognize the Importance of Mods and Will Keep All Options Open"". InvenGlobal. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
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