inZOI Fixes Bug Against Child-Hit Glitch

inZOI developers have resolved a bug that allowed players to run over child characters, issuing a fix in the game's latest patch. Read on to discover more about this alarming incident and the director's perspective on maintaining the game's realistic aesthetic.

inZOI Early Access Patch Resolves Disturbing Bug

inZOI Developers Pledge to Enhance Internal Review Procedures

As inZOI's Early Access period continues to unveil more gameplay details, players encountered a disturbing glitch that enabled vehicles to strike and kill child characters. On March 28, a post on the inZOI subreddit titled "I don't think Krafton realizes you can run over children in inZOI" featured footage showing a car hitting a child, sending the character flying a significant distance before collapsing and dying.

While developers had previously mentioned in the inZOI Online Showcase that "Zois" could be killed in various ways, including by vehicle, they had not specified this applied to children. In a statement to Eurogamer on March 28, a Krafton spokesperson clarified this was an unintended bug and has been patched.

The statement reads: "These depictions are highly inappropriate and do not reflect the intent and values of inZOI. We recognize the seriousness of this issue regarding age-appropriate content and are strengthening our internal review processes to prevent similar incidents moving forward." Removing this bug is a necessary step, as inZOI holds an ESRB T for Teen rating; retaining such a feature could have prompted a stricter age classification.

inZOI Director Notes Realistic Style Limits Comical Gameplay

inZOI currently holds a "Very Positive" rating on Steam, with many reviews praising its impressive detail and quality. However, Game Director Hyungjun ‘Kjun’ Kim told PCGamesN on March 31 that the hyper-realistic art style presents certain creative challenges.

Kjun stated, "This was a topic we pondered extensively. With visuals this lifelike, we continually debated the boundaries of realism. There were moments we wished to include more whimsical or humorous elements, but they often clashed with the grounded art direction, which was occasionally disappointing."

Kjun has previously expressed admiration for The Sims 4, highlighting its charming, silly tone as a defining trait. Given inZOI's realistic style, the team found it difficult to integrate similar goofy elements. Despite this, Kjun believes inZOI’s approach offers distinct benefits. He explained, "We are confident this level of immersive graphics will connect with players. Throughout development, we've felt both pride and excitement about bringing this world to life."

While inZOI undoubtedly surpasses The Sims 4 in graphical fidelity and detail, the developers are still refining the game's identity to establish it as a strong contender in the life simulation genre. For more insights on inZOI's Early Access launch, explore our related article below.