Location, Location

Hello Survivors, we hope your shelter is keeping you dry and warm!Shortly we plan on releasing Build 42.17 Unstable, which contains some new sandbox options, balancing changes, and (as usual), tons of bug fixes and Multiplayer stability improvements. A lot of this content was based on your feedback, so please keep it coming! While 42.16 saves should convert to 42.17, there are always potential issues with converting saves between Unstable builds, so as always we recommend starting a fresh save with each update, and backing up any existing ones before updating. So turn off Life and Living and let’s jump right in:NEW SANDBOX LOCATION OPTIONSFor Sandbox players, there is now an option to choose from each of the “Exclusion Zone” towns to start in when creating a new Sandbox game. This gives players more options when setting up custom gameplay scenarios. When choosing this option, please keep in mind that Occupational Spawns are not supported outside of the four ‘canon’ starting towns, and your spawn location will be much more static when using non-canon starts.BALANCE TWEAKINGWhile less broad than the 42.16 Occupation Revamp, 42.17 does bring some important fixes and tweaks to Occupations and Traits. Chefs now properly use blades instead of blunts to do their cooking, Farmers receive a Strength boost reflecting their heavy workload, and DIY Experts now receive the Inventive trait to represent their ability to…DIY. Several Occupations have also had their point costs reduced based on observed usage impact.On the Trait side of things, Smoker and High Thirst will get a small Trait point boost, reflecting overall B42 game system changes affecting their impact on gameplay. Nutritionist will also be a bit more palatable cost wise as it primarily provides information.Additionally, one big new option for Multiplayer servers is the ability to enable Sprinters if desired! This should still be considered a prototype, and we are actively on the lookout for edge cases that may come up under heavy server loads.LOOT ADJUSTMENTSOne set of items that players will be able to find in the world is an entirely new set of VHS Tapes, providing boosts to skills that previously were only available to be increased by practicing the skills themselves. These VHS Tapes are complete with their own new storylines and characters, and will rarely be found in Video Stores and homes across Knox Country.The “Store Loot Story” prototype that we rolled out as a test in Stendo’s has been moved into a secure location in Louisville. This feature as it applies to shops needs to be ‘vaulted’ for now, until it can be implemented to work consistently with loot settings and adapted to store locations across the map. Stendo’s still has plenty of guns and ammo to loot, if you can get in and out alive.On the game mode side, “Other Loot” rates, which includes things like cigarettes and dental floss (which can now be used in Tailoring in place of thread) has been increased in all game modes except Extinction, and cars are a bit more likely to have gas in the tank in Apocalypse. Loot tables continue to be updated for a variety of locales, with some items becoming more plentiful overall, and several missing items added to Foraging tables. ONGOING CONTROLLER WIPThe WIP Controller revamp continues, with tons of your feedback reviewed and new systems integrated affecting sensitivity, movement inputs, and interaction mapping. We appreciate your continued patience and constructive feedback as we work to polish this important feature. Remember, friends: Smoking is bad for you.The Indie StoneAs always, discussions regarding this update can be found pinned to the Project Zomboid Discussions Forums here.

Apr 18, 2026 - 03:26

Hello Survivors, we hope your shelter is keeping you dry and warm!

Shortly we plan on releasing Build 42.17 Unstable, which contains some new sandbox options, balancing changes, and (as usual), tons of bug fixes and Multiplayer stability improvements. A lot of this content was based on your feedback, so please keep it coming! While 42.16 saves should convert to 42.17, there are always potential issues with converting saves between Unstable builds, so as always we recommend starting a fresh save with each update, and backing up any existing ones before updating.

So turn off Life and Living and let’s jump right in:

NEW SANDBOX LOCATION OPTIONS

For Sandbox players, there is now an option to choose from each of the “Exclusion Zone” towns to start in when creating a new Sandbox game. This gives players more options when setting up custom gameplay scenarios. When choosing this option, please keep in mind that Occupational Spawns are not supported outside of the four ‘canon’ starting towns, and your spawn location will be much more static when using non-canon starts.

BALANCE TWEAKING

While less broad than the 42.16 Occupation Revamp, 42.17 does bring some important fixes and tweaks to Occupations and Traits. Chefs now properly use blades instead of blunts to do their cooking, Farmers receive a Strength boost reflecting their heavy workload, and DIY Experts now receive the Inventive trait to represent their ability to…DIY. Several Occupations have also had their point costs reduced based on observed usage impact.

On the Trait side of things, Smoker and High Thirst will get a small Trait point boost, reflecting overall B42 game system changes affecting their impact on gameplay. Nutritionist will also be a bit more palatable cost wise as it primarily provides information.

Additionally, one big new option for Multiplayer servers is the ability to enable Sprinters if desired! This should still be considered a prototype, and we are actively on the lookout for edge cases that may come up under heavy server loads.

LOOT ADJUSTMENTS

One set of items that players will be able to find in the world is an entirely new set of VHS Tapes, providing boosts to skills that previously were only available to be increased by practicing the skills themselves. These VHS Tapes are complete with their own new storylines and characters, and will rarely be found in Video Stores and homes across Knox Country.

The “Store Loot Story” prototype that we rolled out as a test in Stendo’s has been moved into a secure location in Louisville. This feature as it applies to shops needs to be ‘vaulted’ for now, until it can be implemented to work consistently with loot settings and adapted to store locations across the map. Stendo’s still has plenty of guns and ammo to loot, if you can get in and out alive.

On the game mode side, “Other Loot” rates, which includes things like cigarettes and dental floss (which can now be used in Tailoring in place of thread) has been increased in all game modes except Extinction, and cars are a bit more likely to have gas in the tank in Apocalypse. Loot tables continue to be updated for a variety of locales, with some items becoming more plentiful overall, and several missing items added to Foraging tables.

ONGOING CONTROLLER WIP

The WIP Controller revamp continues, with tons of your feedback reviewed and new systems integrated affecting sensitivity, movement inputs, and interaction mapping. We appreciate your continued patience and constructive feedback as we work to polish this important feature.

Remember, friends: Smoking is bad for you.

The Indie Stone

As always, discussions regarding this update can be found pinned to the Project Zomboid Discussions Forums here.

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