inZOIthe social simulator developed by Krafton under the leadership of Hyungjun “Kjun” Kim, has released its most ambitious update to date with version 4.0. This new expansion introduces the long-awaited life after death, a ghost system, Halloween-themed activities and substantial improvements to the emotional and social simulation of the Zois, the game’s virtual characters.
The patch is now available on PC and promises to transform players’ experience when interacting and perceiving their simulated worlds.
The release of version 4.0 has been synchronized with Halloween and has significantly changed the routine in inZOI. From now on, when a Zoi dies, it can continue to exist as a ghost for three in-game days. During this time, ghosts gain unique abilities and can develop new aspirations based on how they died. These ethereal beings have the ability to resolve unfinished business and, innovatively, can even attend their own funeral before leaving for good. Krafton has clarified that, at the moment, reincarnation is not available, but it is planned to incorporate this option in future updates.
Halloween themed activities are not limited to the spiritual plane. Players can now grow and carve pumpkins, decorate with special motifs, and prepare exclusive recipes like soup and pumpkin pie. Every night, the virtual city fills with visitors during the Trick or Treat event, in which virtual children trick-or-treat and those who open the doors receive limited themed items. New ghost fish, creatures that only appear at night, have also been included, providing an added challenge for fishing fans.
Aesthetic customization has been expanded with over 100 new items, including Halloween-inspired costumes, accessories and makeup. In the construction mode, the new double doors, fire effects, lightning and the experimental AI Build tool stand out, which allows the automatic creation of buildings based on the description provided by the user.
The overhaul of the Zois personality system is one of the core elements of update 4.0. Aspirations, traits and characteristics are now integrated into a more robust system that brings coherence and naturalness to each character. Among the new personality types, Rebel, Loner and Code Breaker stand out, along with more than one hundred variable impulses and reactions depending on the age, relationships and emotional state of each Zoi.
These changes create more realistic situations in the game: Zois can decide to share a home or separate, provide comfort to each other in difficult situations, and converse with characters from multiple professions. From yoga trainers to financial advisors, the greater variety of interactions helps expand the richness of the virtual social environment.
In addition, random events such as blind dates, late-night robberies, and meetings at sports clubs have been introduced. The pace of play has also been adjusted, establishing that each virtual day passes in 48 minutes with the aim of allowing a more fluid progression in routines, meals, rest and social activities. This modification is aimed at improving the experience for regular players and attracting those who prefer shorter but intense gaming sessions, adapting the game to the needs of a global audience.
The arrival of version 4.0 has revitalized the community of inZOIwhich was showing signs of fatigue after the initial enthusiasm of its release. The previous expansion, inspired by stardew valleyhad already received positive reviews and recovered part of the user base, but the new focus on supernatural content has multiplied activity on official forums and social networks, especially among those looking for less traditional proposals within the life simulation genre.
The figures reflect a clear recovery: valuations in Steam have improved and the number of active players has grown steadily after the launch of the Isle Getaway DLC and now with version 4.0. Many users praise Hyungjun Kim and his team’s transparency in responding to community suggestions, although some point to similarities with The Sims 4 as a controversial element, divided between innovation and the use of foreign concepts. Despite these debates, the new, more realistic emotional system and depth of random events have been received with enthusiasm.
