Dev shows more Project Zomboid Build 42 improvements now it’s ‘pretty much feature complete’

The Indie Stone has provided a comprehensive update on how development for Project Zomboid Build 42 is coming. The developer blog post explains that Build 42 is “pretty much feature complete” and that fans should consider this “a clear roadsign pointing towards us kicking Unstable out of the door.”

While Project Zomboid Build 42 has all the features The Indie Stone wants to include, the unstable build, which is what would be made available to players before a final stable build, isn’t in a great place. Build 42 has many bugs that need fixing and elements that the team knows aren’t fun right now. Instead of throwing the build to players in its current state, The Indie Stone needs first to give it to a closed group of playtesters so it can work out the kinks in the gameplay, streamline the build, fix as many bugs as possible, and then push the unstable build out for fans to enjoy.

Unpredictable animals, tailoring, and less vehicle lag

This most recent developer post shows off several new features and improvements in Project Zomboid Build 42. For example, a new animal tracking system has been implemented that makes the animals on the map more unpredictable and harder to farm. Previously, they would walk the same path across the map in every playthrough. However, their paths will now be randomized when you start a new game and generate a new seed. Animals will still wander a set path, but that path changes with every seed generated.

One of the most visually impressive upgrades between Build 41 and Build 42 in Project Zomboid is how The Indie Stone has dealt with vehicle lag. I love the way the game looks, and how vehicles stutter along as you drive has always felt like a part of that visual aesthetic. The latest build makes driving buttery smooth by comparison with retaining the game’s retro vibe.

We already knew that Project Zomboid Build 42 would introduce many new crafting systems to the game, and in this blog post, we learn that tailoring has been reworked slightly. The earliest levels of the skill can be earned from working with looted or farmed materials. Later levels will require a crafting station item to unlock.

The blog post ends with a look at the game’s weapons. It’s a mix of old and new items you can batter zombies with. My favorite is the plunger, which you rush zombies with as if you’re about to spear them with the suction cup.

At the time of writing, we don’t have a release date for Project Zomboid Build 42. The blog post makes the launch of the update’s unstable build seem closer than ever. If everything you see in these new videos gets you excited to play, there’s never been a better time to hop in and prepare for what’s shaping up to be a whopping update.