inZOI Fixes Bug, Prevents Running Over Children

inZOI developers have swiftly addressed a disturbing bug that allowed players to run over children within the game. This issue, which came to light during the Early Access phase, has been rectified in the latest patch. The bug, which enabled players to cause harm to child characters using vehicles, was brought to attention through a post on inZOI’s subreddit on March 28. The video showcased a player running over a child, resulting in the child being flung a significant distance and ultimately perishing due to the impact. Despite earlier mentions by developers during the inZOI Online Showcase about various in-game death scenarios for Zois, including being run over by cars, the inclusion of children in these scenarios was never intended.

In a statement to Eurogamer on March 28, a Krafton spokesperson clarified that the feature was an unintended bug and has since been fixed. The statement emphasized, "These depictions are highly inappropriate and do not reflect the intent and values of inZOI. We understand the seriousness of this matter and the importance of age-appropriate content, and we are strengthening our internal review processes to prevent similar incidents in the future." This move is particularly crucial as inZOI holds an ESRB rating of T for Teen, and maintaining such a feature could lead to a higher, more restrictive age rating.

inZOI Developers Aim to Strengthen Internal Review Processes in the Future

As inZOI's Early Access continues to unveil new facets of the game, the developers are committed to enhancing their internal review processes to ensure such unintended bugs do not recur. This proactive approach is essential for maintaining the game's integrity and aligning it with community expectations and ratings guidelines.

inZOI Director Admits Realistic Style Makes It Hard for Goofing Around In-Game

inZOI has garnered a "Very Positive" review rating on Steam, with players applauding its detailed and high-quality graphics. However, inZOI’s Game Director Hyungjun ‘Kjun’ Kim, in an interview with PCGamesN on March 31, acknowledged that the game's hyper-realistic approach poses challenges when trying to incorporate lighter, comedic elements. Kjun stated, "This was something we thought about a lot. With such realistic graphics, we constantly questioned how far we should take that realism. At times, we wanted to incorporate comical or lighthearted elements, but they didn’t quite fit with the grounded visuals, which was a bit disappointing sometimes."

Kjun has expressed admiration for The Sims 4, highlighting its charming goofiness as a key identity trait. Yet, the realistic style of inZOI makes it challenging to integrate similar playful elements. Despite these difficulties, Kjun remains confident in their approach, noting, "We believe this level of immersive graphics will resonate with players and, throughout development, we’ve felt both proud and excited to bring this world to life."

While inZOI surpasses The Sims 4 in terms of detail and quality, the developers continue to search for the game's unique identity to firmly establish it as a formidable competitor in the life-simulation genre. For more in-depth insights into inZOI's Early Access release, please explore our detailed article below.