inZOI Patches Bug That Allowed Child Characters to Be Hit

inZOI developers have resolved a bug that allowed players to run over child characters, issuing a fix in their most recent patch. Learn more about this controversial discovery and the Game Director's perspective on the title's realistic approach.

Early Access Update Resolves Disturbing inZOI Glitch

Developers Pledge to Enhance Internal Content Review

As inZOI's Early Access period continues to unfold, players uncovered a troubling glitch enabling them to strike children with vehicles. A March 28 post on the game's subreddit, titled "I don't think Krafton realizes you can run over children in inZOI," featured footage of a player hitting a child with a car, sending the character flying a significant distance. The forceful impact caused the child to ragdoll violently, ultimately resulting in death.

While developers had previously confirmed during an online showcase that Zois could die in various ways, including vehicle accidents, they had not specified that this included child characters. In a statement to Eurogamer on March 28, a Krafton representative clarified that this was an unintended bug and has been patched.

The statement explained, "These depictions are inappropriate and inconsistent with inZOI's intended design and values. We recognize the severity of this issue and are reinforcing our internal review procedures to prevent similar occurrences going forward." Removing the bug aligns with the game's T for Teen ESRB rating, as retaining such a feature could have led to a stricter age classification.

inZOI Director Notes Challenges of Blending Humor with Hyper-Realism

inZOI currently holds a "Very Positive" rating on Steam, with many reviews highlighting its impressive detail and visual quality. However, Game Director Hyungjun ‘Kjun’ Kim noted in a March 31 interview with PCGamesN that the hyper-realistic art direction presents certain limitations.

Kjun shared, "This was a frequent topic of discussion during development. With graphics this lifelike, we often debated how much realism was appropriate. There were times we wanted to include humorous or whimsical elements, but they clashed with the grounded visual style—which was occasionally disappointing."

Kjun has expressed admiration for The Sims 4, acknowledging its playful tone as a defining trait within the life simulation genre. Given inZOI's realistic aesthetic, the team found it challenging to incorporate the same kind of lightheartedness. Still, Kjun believes the visual approach offers distinct benefits. He added, "We're confident that this immersive level of graphics will resonate deeply with players. Throughout development, we've felt both pride and excitement in bringing this world to life."

There's no question that inZOI surpasses The Sims 4 in graphical fidelity, but the developers continue to refine the game's identity to establish it as a strong competitor in the life-simulation space. For more on our impressions of inZOI's Early Access launch, see our related coverage below.