Project Zomboid has had its fair share of ups and downs over the years, but it’s never been quite as good as it is today. Build 42, specifically, is a dizzying high-point for this long-lasting survival sim, but plenty more is already on the horizon via planned Build 43 features.
Of course, I’m simplifying things here. Even though Build 42 has only just released in its Unstable version, we do already have a rough outline of the game’s future content updates. That’s because Project Zomboid has a particularly long and storied production history, with the developer The Indie Stone revealing bits and pieces of what’s to come.
All planned features for Project Zomboid Builds 43 through 48
A huge caveat to keep in mind here is that it takes literal years for major version updates to come to Project Zomboid. Don’t believe me? Build 40 was released in October 2018, Build 41 came out in December 2021, and Build 42 has only just launched in December 2023. This means that any and all features I highlight in this article may not come out for years. That’s on top of it being entirely possible that they may get dropped as development continues.
Project Zomboid is currently planned to release as a full-featured 1.0 game in Build 48. The Indie Stone has historically been reasonably good at sticking to its plans, so there’s no reason to think this might change. At the current pace, though, 1.0 might not come out before 2030. Make of that what you will, but the good news is that Project Zomboid is more than playable and fun even today. In other words, continued development is a key feature, rather than a painful bug.
Project Zomboid Build 43
Build 43 is supposed to be the initial rollout of Project Zomboid‘s human NPC systems. Particularly experienced players may recall that the pre-3D versions of Project Zomboid actually had a rudimentary NPC system in place! This feature, however, was carved out as The Indie Stone moved to a modernized 3D engine with everything the transition entailed.
Human NPCs are, predictably, one of the most highly requested features in the community. Their (re)introduction is going to serve up one of the biggest gameplay revamps the game has ever had, as NPC survivors will now be able to do virtually everything the human players can.
Of note is that Build 43 is going to leverage code that’s been added to Build 42 for its NPC animals, so the initial stages of B43’s rollout have already technically begun. With that in mind, B43 is only going to have a simple iteration of the survivor NPC system, with more complex interaction systems slated for Build 45.
Project Zomboid Build 44
Curiously, we know precious little about Project Zomboid‘s Build 44 at this time. Almost every other major Build release has been detailed to some extent, whereas Builds 44 and 46 are simply being referred to as “Intermediate” updates.
With that in mind, a dedicated Project Zomboid fan known as Darkcenturi has assembled a massive list of features and improvements that haven’t already been attributed to particular Builds. This makes it likely that at least some of them will release as parts of B44 and B46:
- Insanity system
- Limb amputation
- Steam achievements
- A revamped zombie damage system (hinted at during the recent gunfighting revamp)
- UI improvements
- Chainsaws
- More armors and traps
- Fort Knox (likely to be added after NPCs and factions, so Build 46)
- Car modification
- Visible vehicle interiors
- Various cosmetic and usable items
- Piping and electrical installations
- Various unmentioned Knox Country expansions
This list is inexhaustive, mind: The Indie Stone usually loads up every major Build release with a huge assortment of content that doesn’t get outright mentioned ahead of time.
Project Zomboid Build 45
As per The Indie Stone’s claims, Project Zomboid Build 45 is going to upgrade human NPCs to Stage 2 functionality. This entails a frankly remarkable list of features at this time:
- NPC personalities
- Group politics
- Inter-group conflicts
Further, Build 45 is also going to be the first major foray into something The Indie Stone calls “story interactions,” which may or may not be dedicated narrative-based gameplay scenarios or something entirely different. We’ve definitely got a few more years to go before B45 drops, though, so expect more information down the line.
Metagame, too, will be meaningfully expanded upon in Build 45. This is more-or-less the offline functionality of the STALKER games’ A-Life system: an off-screen simulation of “Zomboid” and NPC interactions and events. For example, even though you can hear gunshots going off in the distance even in Project Zomboid B41, as of B45 you will be able to track down where they came from and witness the aftermath. Zomboid‘s metagame also refers to unique events featuring specialized Zomboids, item drops, and other assorted goodies, so it’s plenty exciting no matter how you flip it.
Project Zomboid Build 46
Much as in Build 44, Project Zomboid‘s Build 46 is supposed to be an Intermediate content update that we have no idea what it might focus on. For reference as to what might be featured, circle back to the B44 list of features I outlined above. Presumably, whatever doesn’t make its way into 44 will release as part of 46, but not much else is known.
Project Zomboid Build 47
Project Zomboid‘s Build 47 is supposed to be the final iteration of the NPC AI and gameplay systems. It’s going to field non-persistent NPC set-pieces and events, which will expand upon Build 45’s deeper interpersonal and inter-group relationships between AI actors.
The Indie Stone has also mentioned that Bob and Kate Smith (the old tutorial characters from pre-3D versions of Project Zomboid) will be reintroduced in B47. Since their unique tutorial scenario won’t be released until B48, however, the specifics are a tad hazy. According to the developer, “Kate and Baldspot will go on a long journey over the map (to an as yet undisclosed location) and the stories we tell will cover the people they meet and the places they’ll go on their travels – sometimes from their perspective, and sometimes through the perspective of others.” That particular update was posted back in 2011, though, so take it with a pinch of salt.
Project Zomboid Build 48
Finally, the 1.0 version of Project Zomboid is going to be known as Build 48. It’s going to feature the grand return of the Smiths’ legendary tutorial scenario, the Fort Knox location, a further improvement of the game’s user interface, and a comprehensive upgrade for the Agriculture features and skills.
Most interestingly, B48 is going to introduce Wilderness 2.0, featuring “proper trees with canopies, river banks, and hills and sloped terrain.” If Build 42’s inter-city wilderness is anything to go by, we’re looking at a truly monumental improvement to every aspect of Zomboid‘s non-urban areas, and it’s going to be a real hoot.
