Perennial early access game Project Zomboid hit a new concurrent player record after a huge map update added reworked towns, a spooky orphanage and '400 procedural basements'
The zombie survival sim has also gone up in price.
Project Zomboid, the enduring zombie survival simulation that has maintained its presence on Steam in early access, has achieved a significant milestone recently due to a substantial map update. The Indie Stone's game, which has not seen a major build update since 2021, introduced a plethora of changes in build 42.20 that not only elevated its visual appeal but also expanded the gameplay experience.
The update's centerpiece was the reworking of towns within Knox County. Out of the seven towns, all were meticulously revamped with fresh architectural styles and unique buildings, contributing to the overall immersive experience. Moreover, the game's map surface area doubled, resulting in a total of 35,000 tiles, effectively doubling the exploration potential.
New locations were also introduced, including a boy scout camp, an entirely new prison, and the long-loved abandoned orphanage, a favorite among players. Perhaps the most intriguing addition was the inclusion of "400 procedural basements" - a testament to the developers' commitment to creating an ever-evolving game world. While not all basements were algorithmically generated, there are still 75 unique basements awaiting discovery.
Beyond the visual and exploratory enhancements, the update also improved gameplay mechanics. New animals like cows and chickens were added, along with refinements to hunting and trapping systems, expanding the scope of farming and wilderness survival. A revamped stealth system, fishing improvements, and the ability to drag corpses further enriched the player's options for survival.
In terms of pricing, the update saw a price increase from the previous $20 (£16.75) to $25 (£22.50), reflecting the substantial improvements. Despite this, the game continued to attract a massive player base, with nearly 79,552 players joining in the early hours on Friday, marking a new all-time concurrent player record on Steam.
The Indie Stone is expected to focus on the next update, which will likely address the return of NPC survivors to Knox County, a feature players have been eagerly anticipating. Given the regularity of previous updates, a return to 2026 seems plausible.
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