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InZOI

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InZOI
Developer(s)inZOI Studio
Publisher(s)Krafton
Director(s)Hyungjun Kim
EngineUnreal Engine 5
Platform(s)Windows
Release28 March 2025 (early access)
Genre(s)Life simulation
Mode(s)Single-player

InZOI (stylized inZOI) is a life simulation game developed by inZOI Studio and published by Krafton. The game was released in early access for Windows on 28 March 2025.[1][2]

Gameplay

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InZOI features many of the same mechanics previously seen in other life simulators like character creation, building tools, needs, social interactions, careers, education, relationships, families, skills, aging, and death.[3] There are eight needs, including hunger, hygiene, bathroom, fun, social, energy, sleep, and recognition.[4] The game features careers, where the player can make the Zoi fulfill certain tasks in various roles.

In InZOI, the player is an intern at AR COMPANY, a virtual reality firm, whose job is to manage a neighborhood of virtual people called "Zoi". The purpose of this mechanic is to manage the karma system within the world.[5][6] Gameplay takes place in a variety of open world environments, where players can direct their characters and vehicles by point and click or by direct control. Players can customize their characters and houses how they desire, as well as edit the world scenery via the "city edit" mode.[7][8] The game features two open worlds available at launch: Dowon, a dense metropolis inspired by Seoul, and Bliss Bay, a coastal city inspired by Santa Monica; Kucingku (previously Cahaya), a resort town inspired by Bali, is slated for release in a free DLC.[9][10][11] Additional worlds based on locales in Asia, Europe, and Oceania are also planned.[11]

InZOI allows for the use of generative AI to create in-game patterns and objects. It has a custom furniture maker. Players can share their creations and find new ones through the in-game "Canvas" tool. InZOI will also come with plugins to allow for easy mod creation.[7][12]

InZOI supports various motion capture tools, such as real time facial tracking and full-body motion capture. InZOI uses the Metahuman “Live Link Face” app for Unreal Engine to capture facial expressions via mobile device.[13][12]

Development

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InZOI is published by South Korean game publisher Krafton. The producer and director for inZOI is Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim.[7] The game is developed using Unreal Engine 5.[14] The development of inZOI began in early 2023. The game's development team was composed of industry veterans known for their work on high-profile simulation games. The team sought to integrate advanced AI algorithms that drive character behavior, making each Zoi's actions and interactions as lifelike as possible.[15][16] A significant aspect of the game's development focused on the "Canvas" tool. an integrated system designed for creators to share their custom content.[17]

InZOI will support modding, with official mod support starting in May 2025.[18][19]

Marketing

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InZOI was first unveiled through a gameplay demo at G-STAR 2023. It provided a first look at the character creation, build mode, city edit, world environment, weather, and gameplay. One reporter noted that the use of Unreal Engine 5 offers "lifelike graphics" and "underscores KRAFTON's dedication to delivering a visually stunning and immersive simulation experience".[20]

On 28 May 2024, a collaborative contest between CLO Virtual Fashion and inZOI called CONNECT x inZOI Every Style Tells a Story was announced. The contest was ran for participants to create 3D digital fashion for prize money and a chance of their assets being represented in-game. There were four categories including Master of Trends Award, Elegant Comfort Award, Creative Casual Award, and Refined Everyday Award, for a total of 15 winners. It ran from 30 May 2024 until 12 July 2024. Winners were announced on 8 August 2024.[21]

Image of Psycat at the Gamescom 2024 InZOI booth.
Fictional character Psycat above the booth at Gamescom 2024
Image of the Gamescom 2024 InZOI booth.
InZOI booth at Gamescom 2024

On 21 August 2024, as part of Krafton's showcase at the 2024 Gamescom held in Cologne, Germany, an inZOI booth was set up for attendees to demo the game. People who took part received fake employee badges with their names and avatars created in game. The booth also marketed their collaboration with Samsung Display, with 13 of their concept products being recreated inside inZOI. The booth was made to resemble the fictional company, AR COMPANY, alongside a large recreation of Psycat – a prominent character in the game and promotional material – descending on the booth.[22]

inZOI Character Studio, a character creation program, was released on 20 August 2024 on Steam. It was available for a limited time, and was removed by 25 August 2024. It gained 18,000 concurrent players at one point.[23]

Reception

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InZOI received mixed to positive reception from critics and players during its early access launch. The game sold over 1 million copies within its first week of early access release, marking the fastest sales milestone ever achieved by a title published by Krafton. [24]

Commercial performance

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InZOI achieved significant commercial success immediately following its early access launch on March 28, 2025. The game ranked first on Steam's Global Top Wishlists one day before launch and rose to number one on Steam's Global Top Sellers List within 40 minutes of release.[25] The game peaked at 87,377 concurrent players on Steam and reached 175,000 concurrent viewers on Twitch, ranking third in the platform's Games Category.[26]

The game's Canvas user-generated content platform demonstrated strong community engagement, with over 1.2 million players interacting on launch day and more than 470,000 pieces of content uploaded.[27]

Critical reception

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Positive reception

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Critics and players widely praised InZOI's visual presentation and character creation tools. GameSpot described the game as "gorgeous, innovative, and brimming with potential," noting its "mind-blowing" visual quality and "stunning" character creator.[28] The game's use of Unreal Engine 5 was particularly highlighted, with reviewers noting the photorealistic graphics and detailed character models.[29]

The building and customization tools received significant praise. Game Rant noted that the character creation process was "nothing short of incredible" and that the building tools offered "extensive options" that would appeal to fans of life simulation games.[30] The ability to customize city elements, including weather, traffic, and environmental details, was highlighted as a unique feature that distinguished it from competitors.[31]

Initial Steam user reviews were largely positive, with the game maintaining a "Very Positive" rating of 86% at launch.[32]

Negative reception

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Despite visual praise, critics identified significant gameplay and content limitations. GameSpot's review noted that while the game was "impressive, immersive, and brimming with potential," it suffered from "sterility and lifelessness" that made it difficult to find enjoyable.[33] GamesRadar+ described the game as currently feeling "like a soulless imitation of the worst parts of The Sims," criticizing the lack of meaningful interaction between characters.[34]

Several reviewers noted that the core life simulation mechanics felt shallow. Expert Game Reviews described the experience as "beautiful but hollow," noting that while the creative tools justified the price, the gameplay lacked "the chaotic unpredictability that makes life simulators addictive."[35]

Performance issues were reported by some players, with complaints about the game not running well even on lower settings and various simulation bugs.[36] Some critics noted that many positive Steam reviews came from players with limited playtime, suggesting the initial reception may not reflect long-term gameplay satisfaction.[37]

Controversy and declining reception

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InZOI faced growing controversy regarding its use of generative AI features, which contributed to a shift in community sentiment. By May 2025, the game experienced its first period where negative Steam reviews outnumbered positive ones, with 182 negative reviews versus 148 positive reviews over a seven-day period.[38]

Metacritic scores ranged from 60 to 80 for early access reviews, with critics noting that while the game showed promise, it felt like "more style than substance" and needed significant development to distinguish itself from competitors.[39]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ published, Tyler Wilde Contributions from Lauren Morton (22 October 2024). "Life sim Inzoi is still set to release in early access this year, Krafton confirms". PC Gamer. Retrieved 30 March 2025.
  2. ^ Knight, Kyle (7 November 2024). "Sims Competitor inZOI Delays Early Access Release Date". Game Rant. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  3. ^ "InZOI: What you need to know about the next big Sims rival". www.gameshub.com. 3 September 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  4. ^ Morton, Lauren (21 August 2024). "9 things we know about Inzoi from its new gameplay reveals". PC Gamer. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  5. ^ Comrie, Sam (23 August 2024). "Sims rival InZOI has lofty ambitions, but even the sky needs a limit". PCGamesN. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  6. ^ 개발PD등판! inZOI 이제 다 알아보자! LEAK_부산 지스타에서 만날 수 있는 inZOI 숨겨진 이야기 #inZOI #크래프톤 #지스타 (in Korean). Retrieved 4 May 2024 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c "Anticipated Life Simulation Game inZOI Reveals New Features in Development Roadmap Video". Krafton Press Room. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  8. ^ Panthaa (24 August 2024). "On a joué à InZoi, le sims killer sud-coréen : bluffant mais un peu frustrant…". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  9. ^ Bukowski, Martin (7 March 2024). "inZOI Wants to Rival The Sims with Compelling SimCity Elements". Gamepressure. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  10. ^ Santoso, Pladidus (19 August 2024). "inZOI Umumkan Dunia Ketiga – "Cahaya", Terinspirasi Indonesia!" [inZOI Announces their Third World – "Cahaya", Inspired by Indonesia!]. Jagat Play. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  11. ^ a b Black, Grace (30 March 2025). "InZOI: All Cities & Their Differences". Game Rant. Retrieved 8 April 2025.
  12. ^ a b "Exciting New Details About inZOI: Features, Limitations, and Future..." inZOI Resource. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  13. ^ Cotts, Josh (16 March 2025). "Interview: inZOI Director Talks Inspiration, Design, and Unique Features". Game Rant. Retrieved 16 April 2025.
  14. ^ Williams, Hayley (16 November 2023). "New Sims-Like Game InZoi Reveals A Photorealistic Take On Life Sims". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 9 December 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2024.
  15. ^ Doyle, Jack (21 May 2024). "This Upcoming Game Is Like 'The Sims,' but Better". The Mary Sue. Archived from the original on 26 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  16. ^ "KRAFTON's AI Journey: Path Walked, Path Ahead". Krafton. 4 April 2024. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  17. ^ Morton, Lauren (30 April 2024). "Beautiful upcoming Sims competitor Inzoi reveals tons of weird features like sleepwalking, custom crime rates, and relationship hard mode". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  18. ^ InZOI - How to Install Mods - IGN. 1 April 2025. Retrieved 11 April 2025 – via www.ign.com.
  19. ^ Nasir, Hassam (27 March 2025). "inZOI will be "highly moddable" says developer, as it sets date for official mod support following Denuvo removal". PC Guide. Retrieved 11 April 2025.
  20. ^ "KRAFTON Unveils inZOI: A New Frontier in Life Simulation Gaming at G-STAR 2023. Gaming news - eSports events review, analytics, announcements, interviews, statistics - M1ehvvGhB". EGamersWorld. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  21. ^ "Contest - CONNECT x inZOI". CLO-SET CONNECT. Retrieved 8 November 2024.
  22. ^ "[Gamescom] inZOI: "We Recognize the Importance of Mods and Will Keep All Options Open"". InvenGlobal. 22 August 2024. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  23. ^ Morton, Lauren (21 August 2024). "Thousands of Sims fans are flocking to the limited time demo for Inzoi Character Studio to make effortlessly gorgeous Zois". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 24 August 2024. Retrieved 24 August 2024.
  24. ^ "KRAFTON HITS 1 MILLION SALES OF INZOI IN FIRST WEEK OF EARLY ACCESS LAUNCH". Krafton. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  25. ^ "KRAFTON HITS 1 MILLION SALES OF INZOI IN FIRST WEEK OF EARLY ACCESS LAUNCH". Krafton. 4 April 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  26. ^ "InZOI Surpasses 1 Million Sales In First Week Of Early Access On Steam". The Otaku's Study. 5 April 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  27. ^ Tom Henderson (4 April 2025). "inZOI Hits 1 Million Units Sold in Its First Week". Insider Gaming. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  28. ^ Jessica Cogswell (20 March 2025). "InZoi Early Access Review - Pretty Vacant". GameSpot. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  29. ^ "InZoi Early Access Review - A Worthy Contender For The Life Sim Throne". TheGamer. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  30. ^ "InZOI Early Access Review". Game Rant. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  31. ^ "inZOI Review: A Beautiful But Hollow Life Simulation That Shows Promise". Expert Game Reviews. 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  32. ^ "Inzoi's launch is going better than I expected with 'very positive' reviews and 87,000 concurrent players and everyone is almost being normal about it". PC Gamer. 28 March 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  33. ^ Jessica Cogswell (20 March 2025). "InZoi Early Access Review - Pretty Vacant". GameSpot. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  34. ^ "inZOI review: "Currently feels like a soulless imitation of the worst parts of The Sims"". GamesRadar+. 20 March 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  35. ^ "inZOI Review: A Beautiful But Hollow Life Simulation That Shows Promise". Expert Game Reviews. 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  36. ^ "inZOI User Reviews". Steam Community. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  37. ^ "The Reviews are misleading". Steam Community. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  38. ^ "For The First Time In It's History, InZoi Is Facing More Negative Steam Reviews Than Positive". TheGamer. May 2025. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  39. ^ "inZOI Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
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