Few zombie survival video games offer the same level of complexity or narrative potential as Project Zomboid. It’s an open-ended sandbox loaded with zombies that asks one question – how will you die? And die, you will! No matter their experience level or commitment, every player will eventually perish to illness, injury, or the zombie virus itself. But with such a massively popular game still firmly in the indie scene, it begs the question: When did Project Zomboid come out? Where is it going with future Project Zomboid updates?
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What is the Project Zomboid Release Date?
Project Zomboid is a long-running zombie survival sim, first released on Steam Early Access on November 8th, 2013. Yes, you read that correctly. The game is going on one decade of regular updates and development since its release on Valve’s digital storefront.
Back then, the game looked and played very differently. It was quite barebones compared to today, of course, though it still retained its charm and complexity. Players would perish regularly while looting houses, building defenses, and wandering the streets of Muldraugh.
The Project Zomboid Map
The map in Project Zomboid is steadily growing, with new additions made over the years to expand outward from Muldraugh and West Point. We now have small towns, farms, rivers, a prison, a shopping mall, trailer parks, wilderness, and so much more to explore and utilize in our survival adventures.
Of course, that’s not to mention the extensive community-made map mods, too. The players themselves have added new locations, map chunks, and more.
But to navigate the entire expanse, players must track down paper maps in-game or use the third-party Project Zomboid map project. It’s a fully interactive map that details points of interest and landmarks.
Project Zomboid Features
With nearly one decade of updates under its belt, it’s no surprise to anyone how and why Project Zomboid boasts such a massive feature list. We’re talking about:
- Online multiplayer
- Swarm mechanics with hundreds of zombies on-screen at once
- Full line of sight and real-time lighting, sound, and visibility mechanics
- Vast and growing map of Kentucky
- Craft weapons and barricades, cook meals, chop trees, and scavenge supplies
- Day and night cycle
- Deal with depression, boredom, hunger, thirst, and illness
- Farming, fishing, carpentry, cooking, trapping, character customization, skills, perks, and experience points to level up
- And so much more!
Seriously, the list keeps on going and growing!
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What’s Next for Project Zomboid Updates?
What’s next for Project Zomboid? The team is currently working on Project Zomboid Update 42, the next major release for the game, and it’s a big one.
Update 42 expands upon the crafting and balance of the game, includes the first stages of functional NPCs, especially animals for hunting, trapping, and animal husbandry, a richer late game, overhauled combat and mechanics, a fishing minigame, new animations and sounds, and so much more.
The future of Project Zomboid (Steam) appears bright!