Project Zomboid Build 42 is now available

We’ve known for some time now that The Indie Stone intended to push Project Zomboid‘s Build 42 out before 2024 was up, but the release still came as a surprise. Out of the blue, Project Zomboid‘s B42 Unstable build was released on December 17, and it’s a real doozy.

In classic Project Zomboid fashion, there wasn’t much fanfare about the release of Build 42. Considering it’s been just under three years since Build 41 came out, it shouldn’t be hard to see why players have been excited about such a monumental update. Now that it’s out, though, I am happy to verify that it’s every bit as good as closed beta testers have suggested. As long as you accept that there’s a reason why this is the “Unstable” version of the update, that is.

Jump into Build 42 Unstable now, but be prepared for bugs and balancing problems

The Indie Stone has already put out a comprehensive PSA concerning the Unstable version of Build 42:

• The Unstable version of Build 42 is a work-in-progress.
• Its primary purpose is to “collect player feedback to find bugs and improve [Stable Build 42].
• Build 41 content, saves, and mods are not compatible with Build 42.
• Bugs and annoyances are to be expected.
• Game balance is unlikely to be perfect, with zombie distribution and combat highlighted as particularly problematic areas.
• Saves may break between Unstable build updates.

If you’re okay with all of that, and just want to get a sense of what’s up with Project Zomboid post-Build 42, I cannot recommend it enough. Obviously, long-term survival playthroughs are straight out of the picture for the time being, but just interacting with new crafting systems, animal husbandry, hunting, and other novelties is more than worth it.

To access the Unstable Build 42 of Project Zomboid, do the following:

• Right-click Project Zomboid in your Steam Library and select “Properties” from the menu.
• In the “Select the beta” box, choose the “Unstable – Unstable – Backup First” option.

With that done, Project Zomboid will pull B42 from Steam’s servers, and you’ll have to re-download the game, which is all 4ish gigabytes of it. Again, it’s important to keep in mind here that subscribing to this build of the game is basically being a beta-tester. To that end, The Indie Stone invites Unstable Build 42 players to read up on this handy little bug-hunting document and report bugs using the appropriate interface. That might sound like a hassle, but if you’re eager to play Project Zomboid‘s most promising version yet and want it to be as polished as humanly possible, it’s a small price to pay.