It's Time We Talk About Build 42... An Honest Discussion On Project Zomboid's Next Major Update.

In this video, we'll have an honest discussion about Project Zomboid's next major update, Build 42. We talk release times, the wait so far and have a positive discussion about why it's taken as long as it has. I throw in some of my own thoughts and dispel some rumors too.

Enjoy!

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#projectzomboid #update

[Stiggandr]

It would be the funniest stuff ever if B42 is released an hour from now.

[svitloorsvetlo]

From the info given in the dev-logs, it looks like they had rewrite a bunch of the code for the lighting, rendering, all on top of revamping the crafting framework. I mean they did admit they bit off more than they could chew with the crafting rework, could have kept more features on the backburner...
But on the flip side, the performance improvements, the foundations for the crafting + NPCs with the animal AI; this update is laying *major* groundwork for future updates! I can't wait to see what modders do with the new update :)

[AzureRei]

As much as I adore using mods, I fully intend to do a vanilla playthrough when 42 comes out so I can experience what QOL updates the devs have inserted into the base game.

Most of my sadness with the delays to 42 isn't so much communication from the dev team or the drawn out hype but rather a lot more personal. The person who introduced me to PZ unfortunately passed away this year and we had previously discussed the excitement of animals coming to the game and how we can experience it together when it comes out. I still am eager for the next big update but I am sad I will never be able to experience it with my friend.

[ElusivGaming]

I'm honestly ok with waiting longer for an update if it's quality and not rushed. I think people overlook the modding part of this update, the new framework they are building for the game systems will have a MASSIVE effect on the kinds of mods that can be created from them. So the content for the update might be limited but the mods that will come from it will be all the content you could ask for.

[Coolpeeps]

Considering the success of build 41 I did expect that the updates would be released quicker because of an expanded team.

[bobit]

As someone whose put over 900 hours in the game, loved every moment, and paid like £10 for that experience, it’s really hard to get into the mindset of someone who is legit frustrated at the devs for the speed of updates.

I get the suggestion of a community manager or something similar and can see why that would be good. But the guys behind this game have more than enough goodwill from me to be patient about this kind of thing.

[johnmcconnell]

A bit annoying that they don't make a proper announcement and allow this confusion

[IlPane]

Being one of the ogs, playing the game for the last decade at least, I'm just worried that they lost track of what they are doing a little bit. I remember when B41 was about to come out, they said that it wouldn't take such a long time for the builds afterwards to come out since the graphical update was difficult task that would smooth things afterwards. Almost 3 years have passed and we dont have any concrete news about B42 coming out not even in full swing but as a beta. Could be a month, could be a year. They keep talking about new ideas and stuff they are going to add that was never referenced before and i love them for that but maybe they lost a bit of focus on what they should do. Systems first, overhauls later.

[pikamy_xo]

in all honesty im not stressing about mods, im looking forward to a vanilla playthrough at first to full experience the new things! mods will come in time ive always assumed and never been worried about

[stevemalachite]

I've got 700 hours in on a 20 dollar game, it's easily one of the greatest value purchases in my game library. I couldn't imagine complaining about a free update to game I've gotten so friggin much value out of.

[astis]

My bet is that they're stuck on something of a technical performance thing (with the lighting thing or something) and everybody else working on it is just waiting for the release as well, but continuing on development on whatever part they work on. And since the release takes so long to come out, more work gets done, new ideas get pitched, and you get scope creep. Scope creep is the road to development hell.

[patarfuifui]

I think I'm in the minority, but I've never gotten bored with this build. Between the current build and all the unique mods, I've found this game already near perfect.

If anything I'm nervous about how crafting changes will make Zomboid feel more "gamey" than I like.

Don't get me wrong I'm hyped as heck for the map updates and enemy AI, I'm just already so satisfied.

[velocitydreamer]

As someone who's worked on projects, some features tie into other features. It's like building a 2nd floor of apartments before completing the 1st floor w/ utility demark. 2nd fl w/o power and water would just suck and not "work properly." To give big features, sometimes you need to hold off on the smaller dependent ones. Before you say some don't depend on others, so release those... sometimes they are dependent in the background in ways you'd not expect.
This isn't to excuse anything, just remember that unless you're developing this game, you do not know all the details or exactly how their process works. But I do definitely agree on one thing, consistency in constant communication with the community would probably help.
EDIT: Comment was made mid-video lol.

[HURRICNEyt]

I wanna come back here once it's out. So god dang excited for b42, animals is gonna be amazing

[wahlabear]

It’s just crazy how long the gaps between the updates, I remember defending them 5 years ago and 1 update has come out

[normaniguns]

I think a lot of the community believed that b42 was going to be released by june but we all forgot that it was planned, and plans can change for any reason. Ofc it'd still be great if indie stone would have said something to clear up the confusion.

[Unoriginal-]

I always appreciate your informative videos especially as a noob myself, excited to hear about build 42 as I joined the game right around a few months after build 41 and I just haven't played the game much but yesterday I had such a fun time, running from the hordes, taking them on with my spiked bat and axe all the way to building up my base, barricading windows, leveling up carpentry to build a door that my friend let a zed take down, to the sad moments seeing that my friend was bit and knowing his first ever adventure was over, but we still stand tall!

[mort-mb]

I saw you asked about the source for the quote "no build will ever take as long as Build 41 did" in another comment

I looked it up, and it's stated in the devblog "2022 and beyond", and repeated towards the end of "The Zuckerverse" :)

Disclaimer: I'm only posting this to help out Duck with his question. When I first read the statement, I took it with a grain of salt, and I don't find it upsetting whatsoever that it took long, considering the size of the update.

[FemboyOsprey]

Tbh i just want to be able to put my Dishes on plates and stews and soups in bowls

[bluesnail]

I have quite a big friend group surrounding zomboid. However, I have seen a pretty significant decrease in playing zomboid and now we basically never play it. It's true that adding one thing at a time in tiny updates doesn't really drive anyone to get back on. But similarly, a big update years after people have lost interest has an even higher ceiling in what they need to achieve to get people to go through the faff of reinvesting. I think a healthy balance needs to be found somewhere between. A bunch of people waiting and wondering why the update is taking long, only to be drip-fed a dev update saying they've added Jpegs of newspaper headlines whenever you read newspapers does not invigorate people's excitement for the wait.