Krafton and inZOI Studio have announced that life sim inZOI is out now on PC as an Early Access title. The game is priced at $39.99, and during the title’s stint in Early Access, all updates and DLC will be released for free. According to the title’s Steam store page, inZOI is expected to spend at least one year in Early Access. Things, however, might change as development continues.
Alongside the main game’s Early Access release, inZOI: Creative Studio has been taken offline. While players can no longer try out some of the customisation features showcased by inZOI: Creative Studio, those that got to play around with it can carry over their Zois and designs into the main game.
Since its launch, inZOI has been received quite positively by players on Steam. At the time of writing, the game features 2,711 user reviews, with the overall aggregate sitting at Very Positive.
The studio has revealed that it opted for an Early Access release for inZOI because it wanted to engage the community while iterating on the development of its first life sim.
“With very few direct templates for this type of game in our industry, we believe launching inZOI in Early Access will allow players to experience the game early and provide valuable feedback to help us guide our development,” wrote the studio. “This collaborative process enables us not only to refine our game but also to prioritize the features that resonate most with our community.”
At launch, inZOI includes most of the foundational systems that will further help power new features that will be added down the line. This includes character customisation, two explorable cities, and the ability for players to have their Zois take on jobs and build relationships.
Through further development, the studio wants to add more elements to inZOI, including deeper gameplay and improvements to the interaction system. There are also plans for improving the game’s driving mechanics, as well as its dynamic event system. According to the press release, the studio will also be adding more content throughout the game’s time in Early Access, including new cities, as well as mod support. The studio has also confirmed that, once inZOI leaves Early Access, its price will go up.
“Prioritizing which features to develop first is critical, and we believe open communication with players is the best way to achieve this,” wrote the studio. “This approach embodies the essence of Early Access and will be vital in helping us create the best possible version of inZOI.”
Producer and director Hyungjun Kim also spoke about the journey the inZOI Studio went through during the development of the game. In a press release, Kim likens inZOI to his own child, stating that he feels both pride as well as anxiety now that it is finally in the hands of more players.
“I created and nurtured inZOI with great care as if it were my child, though it still has a lot of room for improvement,” said Kim in the press release. “As inZOI takes its first steps into the world, I feel both proud and somewhat anxious – hoping it won’t stumble or get hurt. It would be deeply appreciated if you could watch over the game with warmth and support.”
In case you’re curious about whether your system can handle inZOI, check out the hardware requirements that were revealed earlier this month. In the meantime, you can also check out our review of the current state of the game while you’re at it.
