News
Posted
Fri, December 26, 2025
Fundamentals First & 2026 Roadmap (Updated)
Hello everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday. I'm posting this quite late in Korea time—I usually make sure to be in bed before midnight, but tonight I'm up much later.
The reason is that it was really difficult to describe the features we're developing in short sentences. If I explained each one in detail, the list would become too long. I tried to keep it as brief and clear as possible, but since English isn't my native language, some parts may sound a bit awkward. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
As I mentioned earlier, there won't be a video this Friday. Most of the team is on vacation, so the office is pretty quiet. I'm not taking a break because I'm writing this post for you… just kidding!
To keep the inZOI team developing with energy and joy next year, I felt it was important to share our 2026 plans with you first and get your feedback—so I'm sending this a bit urgently. And then… I'm going to take a little rest too.
Our 2026 plan has two big parts:
"2026 Roadmap" and "Fundamentals First",
a name we chose to reflect our focus on polishing and strengthening the core experience.
In 2026, especially as we move into the second half of the year, we plan to increase the share of work dedicated to Fundamentals First. That's why the scope of the 2026 Roadmap gradually becomes smaller toward the latter half of the year. I believe many of you will strongly agree with this direction.
There's one main reason I'm sharing this list: If you read it and think, "kjun, this isn't it! We need to improve something else first!"—I really want to hear that feedback. This list was compiled by reviewing posts across multiple online communities and Discord. There are still many issues we haven't solved yet, and we still have a lot to improve. Even so, I hope you can feel from this list that the team is genuinely doing everything we can to make this game better.
inZOI Fundamentals First & 2026 Roadmap
Some items may overlap between “2026 New Development” and “Fundamentals First”
The quarterly schedule for “2026 New Development” may be delayed or changed depending on progress
Fundamentals First
Adjust umbrella handling so Zois hold umbrellas in their left hand, reducing awkward situations and allowing them to carry more items while multitasking
Remove the door lock FX and outline when pressing the U hotkey
Display mission-required interactions with an icon or move them to the top of the list so they are easy to find
Make vehicles naturally decelerate on collision to reduce accidents and minimize driving disruption
Add reactions to channel changes by another Zoi, and provide options to suppress TV interference or switch to watch together
Improve group movement so Zois move side by side, look at each other, and play conversation animations while moving
Support custom key binding for selected hotkeys
Family & Relationships
Include non-blood relations in the family tree and allow manual relationship labels
Allow autonomous actions for marriage and divorce
Add affection interactions such as forehead kisses and long hugs
Add a group action for lying down together on a sofa
Vary bed mood scenes based on relationship stage
Vary grief reactions based on the depth of the relationship with the deceased
Add multiple breakup outcomes and relationship states, such as becoming enemies or remaining friends
Vary reactions to witnessing cheating based on Zoi personality, such as seeking revenge, feeling grief, or attempting reconciliation
Add divorce lawsuits, custody disputes, and additional trial types
Enhance genetics system where body type, talents, diseases, and tendencies are inherited from parents
Add baby-related interactions such as baby showers and gender reveal events
Add children’s friend-invite parties and grandparent visit social events
Add family-oriented social events, including activities with children and family dining gatherings
Add group activities for friends and couples
Implement multiple pregnancies such as twins and triplets
Multi-person family photo shoot in Photo Studio
Support family-level Canvas upload/download
Expand family narratives with more diverse positive and negative dynamics
Add the family photo shooting feature
Add romance-related dialogue options
Zoi Behavior & Autonomy
Keep Zois stationary while the player is selecting interaction options after clicking them
Cancel any ongoing interaction when a new interaction is issued via player input
Prevent food from disappearing when Zois talk while holding it
Prevent idle chitchat from interrupting interactions or NPCs from cutting into conversations
Expand the search radius when the same interaction repeats to find alternative actions that satisfy the same need
Have standing Zois approach seated Zois when starting a conversation
Set the default conversation behavior so the initiating Zoi remains in place and the other Zoi approaches
Prioritize player-issued interactions over morning routine behaviors
Add rules to prevent Zois from staying in one place too long and encourage returning home
Improve seating behavior so Zois avoid sitting with strangers and sit with acquaintances, with stronger tendencies for introverted traits
Prioritize interactions that relieve the most Hunger
Align auto-scheduled events so family members go out together
Disallow smartphone usage while sleeping
Reduce cases where crowds sit on benches in the rain to rest or eat
Use the closest object when multiple objects with the same function exist in a room, taking room boundaries into account
Stop repeated chitchat and proceed directly to the main conversation
Enable chitchat in group conversations so multiple Zois can participate naturally
Exclude distant or incompatible Zois when matching cooperative group actions
Implement areas of Interest that allow Zois to naturally combine compatible interactions and move to appropriate positions based on context
Allow toggling group members’ autonomy from the HUD
Add controls to adjust married Zoi cheating and flirting autonomy rates, tied to traits and personalities
Allow Zois to eat street food while walking
Add unique Zois with their own events, stories, and personalities
Emphasize excellence when selecting traits and add unique outcomes for specific traits, initially focusing on the Genius trait
Add quests and tasks focused on personal growth or achieving life ambitions
Improve group movement so Zois move more naturally instead of in single file
Add traits with clear cause-and-effect relationships
Add infant traits and expand interactions for infants, children, and teenagers
Expand preferences and remove conflicting preference rules
Enhance temperaments and traits and add new traits such as faithfulness and unfaithfulness
Add new ambitions and enhance existing ambitions
Enhance contextual outfit, hair, makeup, and styling presets so they can be applied based on situations
Enhance infant and child needs and shelter relocation behavior
UI·UX / HUD / Tools
Add left and right arrow buttons to the trait selection scroll area for horizontal browsing
Restrict initial selection to residential homes and display only context-appropriate map information
Display home and workplace locations in the bus travel map view
Display distinct icons for each interaction during multitasking
Allow free placement of HUD UI elements and add a basic guidance notification
Place the Go Back popup in the bottom-left corner for easier access
Add hotkeys for major UI menus such as Zoi profile, job info, and schedule
Display elapsed in-game time in the Editing Schedules to indicate the current in-game week
Add search and favorites to the Continue Game menu
Slim down the HUD UI to reduce screen coverage
Allow saving and loading HUD UI positions and game options via cloud or Canvas
Display interaction objects used by staged NPCs as dimmed, with explanatory tooltips
Display cause of death in funeral notifications and death messages
Add filters for mods and properties size in Canvas search
Allow playing music and videos from the player’s own PC
Provide a notification that informs players when furniture removed by increasing room size is stored in the inventory bag
Improve the subcategory UI structure and layout
Improve Photo Mode by allowing effects to be hidden during capture and improving UI display options
Interactions & Social Systems
Fix cases where conversation positions are set too far away and block conversations in disallowed areas
Allow direct on/off control of lights, TV, and audio via input without Zoi animations
Allow items held in hand to be used directly, such as eating food immediately
Allow inventory items to be used directly from the inventory
Allow interactions with babies such as holding, soothing, and feeding
Add more smartphone apps such as camera and games
Disable replies to social event invitation messages after midnight on the received date
Add crowd-based group activities in contexts such as sports venues, beaches, schools, and tourist areas
Allow social events to repeat on a weekly basis, such as clubs and hobby groups
Add positive and negative dialogue branches based on temperament and traits
Add interactions that can be performed while holding a baby and support stroller interactions
Add laundry interactions
Enhance trait-specific special dialogues and strengthen speech bubble presentation
Add NPC-exclusive dialogue for jobs and staged scenarios
Economy / Shopping / Jobs
Allow bundled delivery of multiple items from Pocket Market Fresh
Implement a full restaurant purchase flow from ordering and payment to preparation and pickup, with ownership handled for the buyer
Implement a realistic shopping flow including item selection, checkout, and barcode scanning
Allow excluding specific job types when selecting participants for shops or social events
Allow selecting and selling multiple inventory items at once
Improve early-game loan restrictions and loan amount selection
Prevent other cohabiting Zois from selling Pocket Market listings they do not own
Add more donut varieties to the Meow Store and remove duplicates
Add a publishing system and refine book genres
Support operating a wider variety of street food trucks
Improve and expand retail stores, including boutiques, furniture stores, and surf shops
Add band-related roles such as musicians and composers
Add transportation services and business operations, including taxis, rickshaws, and rideshare driving
Add delivery services and professions, including delivery couriers and postal workers
Add mobile food sales and business systems, including food trucks and ice cream trucks
Expand interactive buildings, including grocery stores, clothing shops with shopping carts, venues with outdoor seating, cinemas and hair salons
Allow changing and displaying mannequin outfits in clothing stores
Refine store object ownership so customers’ Zois only interact autonomously with permitted items
Transportation & Travel
Restore family parking zones and add a home garage designation
Add a minimap UI while driving
Improve taxi spawning, boarding, and presentation during rabbit-hole travel
Support additional vehicle types such as pickup trucks and convertibles
Allow multiple Zois to board a vehicle at once
Add bicycle rideables
Introduce refueling and maintenance requirements for vehicles, along with related facilities and interactions
Add airport and subway properties with actual boarding procedures
Allow Zois to mount placed rideables
Support children using school buses for school commutes, depending on the city
Add emergency response services, including ambulances and fire trucks for accidents and disasters
Animation & Presentation
Improve animations and productivity as skill proficiency increases
Add personality-based walking styles such as shy, confident, and intimidating walks
Add a wider variety of dances, such as intimate couple dances, ballet, and waltz
Improve overall animation quality and variety, addressing noticeable pops, unnatural movements, and repetitive motions
Improve animations for various actions such as cooking and eating, cleaning, climbing stairs, and building snowmen
Add step-by-step makeup motions such as applying foundation and lipstick
Make Zois wear oven mitts when removing trays from ovens
Add animation style variations for walking, sitting, lying down, and eating
Implement a first-person view mode
Improve the realism of destructible objects
Enhance character body physics simulation
World / Environment
Use a broom outdoors and a vacuum cleaner indoors when cleaning, depending on the environment
Extinguish campfires when it rains
Automatically turn off all household lights when all family members are asleep
Add support for automatically turning lights on or off based on Zoi proximity
Add scheduled lighting and allow toggling all household lights on or off at once
Pause seagulls and bathtub water ripples when game time is paused
Add a news system that delivers in-game events via messages or TV
Implement karma-based city behaviors and state changes
Add season-appropriate properties such as a Halloween-themed cafe and haunted house, and Christmas-atmosphere shops
Increase the maximum height of accumulated snow
Add winter-themed street lighting and park statues
Add spring/autumn leaf and cherry blossom fluttering effects
Add winter roof icicles and icy road visuals
CAZ
Enhance body-part-specific character customization slider adjustment feature
Expand available body shape presets
Improve body shape sliders for overweight and muscular body types
Enhance accessory position adjustment with free positioning support
Support wearing multiple piercings simultaneously
Add more hairstyle options including waist-length long hair, afro hairstyles, and retro styles
Add an AI-based automatic Zoi face generation feature
Enhance tattoo and mole position editing with precise X and Y coordinate control
Improve character customization gizmo controls
Add additional appearances for the newborn stage
Improve infant teeth visuals
Add infant/toddler hair and outfits
Add body shape adjustment options for infants and toddlers, including head size and body proportions
Add child-only hair and outfits such as raincoats and dresses
Add children’s stockings, accessories, and nail art
Add high heels and boot-type shoes
Add outfits such as underwear and party dresses
Add a bag category to outfits such as handbags and backpacks
Add wedding dress outfits including traditional Korean wedding attire
Add crime outfits (masks, gloves, boots) and bags (backpacks, large sacks, duffel bags), plus crime tools/items
Add transparency customization for outfits
Add crossbody bags
Support wearing a swimsuit set and a top at the same time
Add an option to toggle hoods on and off
Add pants fit selection options
Add seasonal outfits and accessories from diverse cultures
Enhance customization options for infants, including infant teeth and baby outfit color variations
Support partial application of appearance customization presets
Enhance randomized Zoi appearance selection with more granular control options
Support facial templates by individual face parts
Improve the Custom Clothing section in character customization
Enhance body tattoo customization
Improve saving for outfit customization
Enhance facial customization sliders
Support independent left and right accessory customization
Support heterochromia customization
Enhance stocking customization
Build
Allow grouped objects to be moved as a single bundle
Support duplicating walls by copying a selected wall and pasting it onto another wall
Add drag-based object selection and painting in build mode
Allow drag-based selection on floors with Ctrl key
Support vertical multi-placement of windows
Allow free placement of objects and Zois in Photo Studio with non-persistent placement
Allow building cheats for free scaling, height adjustment, movement, ignoring floor limits and collision bypass
Improve AI-assisted building features
Allow background construction in customization mode
Add a no-home start mode, and allow players to abandon their home or assign a home designation to eligible properties
Add toddler/child play facilities such as trampolines, toy cars, swings, toys, play mats, baby swing, and safety gates
Add infant/toddler swimming tools such as pool floats and arm tubes
Add red ropes for club VIP areas
Add wall telephone
Systems & Progression
Allow players to designate a personal room
Implement saving and loading of game configurations and link them with Canvas
Add per-Zoi object ownership and permission settings within a family, excluding babies
Add batch actions for farming such as fertilizing, planting, and harvesting
Add extended draw distance options for high-end PC users
Add healthcare systems centered on hospitals and pharmacies where Zois can receive treatment and recovery
Add sports activities including skateboarding, surfboarding, and ice skating
A feature to change a Zoi’s name
Add infant/toddler childcare items such as beds, car seats, walkers, bouncers, and diaper changing tables
Add a gravestone editing feature (direct input of name/birthday/death date/personal message)
Add cosmetic items such as makeup brush sets and perfumes
Add gravestone design and inscription editing features
Crime / Trial
Calculate bail amounts based on crime type and sentence length
Add a detailed arrest and incarceration process, including on-site arrest and police station procedures
Add home and vehicle security systems such as alarms and safes
Add richer court-related interactions such as prison visitation during trial waiting periods
Introduce violent behaviors among crowd Zois, such as fights and robberies
Add an interaction to sue another Zoi
Add security items such as surveillance cameras, alarm devices, and handcuffs
Children / School / Education
Add infant and toddler rideables and objects such as strollers, car seats, and bouncers
Add discipline actions such as curfews and bans on outings or device usage
Add school events such as entrance and graduation ceremonies
Have students automatically equip their backpack when leaving home during school commute time
2026 Roadmap
Q1
Enhance the job system to support multiple jobs, interviews, remote work, and performance evaluation
Beauty-related careers and gameplay content that use appearance customization
A police career system including patrol cars and real-time criminal searches
Add a competitive system where interactions determine a winner and a loser
Rivals who compete with each other toward the same goals
Introduce a reputation system based on local communities
Introduce high school campus properties
Add flower farming and flower arranging features
Add a memory system including trauma and life milestones
Add a Fate Engine
Add a calendar system with birthdays
Support age adjustment options
Add an emotional state overview UI
Add a contact exchange system and contact blocking functionality
Add a wall message
Add childcare-specific Urges
Add European-style architecture, furniture and outfits
Add Hanok-style architecture, furniture and Hanbok-style outfits
Enhance existing content
Enhance multitasking behavior
Add group actions
Adjust overall game balance
Upgrade the game engine
Improve graphics quality and optimization for minimum system requirements
Q2
Expand the job system
Freelance careers such as writing, game development, photography, and blogging
A taxi driver career
Careers tailored for elderly Zois
Add prison properties
Prison facilities such as a yard, library, workshop for laundry and sewing, lounge, cafeteria, shower area, and visitation room
Expand the reward system with ranks, tiers, and goals
Add voice customization options
Add K-pop and stage performance content
Various concept spaces such as stages and themed environments
Themed environments including prisons, neon slums, and diverse fantasy themes
K-pop idol styling, including stage outfits and hairstyles
K-pop dance and performance motions
Superstar performance events
Enhance existing content
Enhance desired life aspirations
New urges and missions
Adjust overall game balance
Q3
Expand the job system
Part-time jobs including roles available for teenagers, and expand available careers
Add an Event Memory and Diary system
Introduce curved wall support for elements such as windows, walls, and pools
Enhance existing content
Value system
Adjust overall game balance
Q4
Expand building and terrain editing feature
Basement construction
Begin development of terrain editing features
Begin development of interior and exterior wall module decoration features
Enhance existing content
Adjust overall game balance
While we are continuing to grow the team, it may not be possible to implement every item on this list in 2026—and some may even be technically impossible. That said, the good news is that some of the graphics content you've asked for (to make gameplay richer) should be possible to develop in parallel.
We're also considering better ways to gather your feedback—posting this list on other communities, or creating an in-game survey, for example. Because there are so many items, we'll need to set priorities. We're still discussing whether it's better to collect priorities by category, or to gather responses and read the overall trend.
What matters most, though, is this: in order to fix the most painful gaps as quickly as possible—so I don't feel ashamed when talking to you—we've already started development on items #1–#7 on the list.
Thank you so much for loving this project over the past year, even with all its imperfections. We'll keep pushing ourselves, and we'll build an even better inZOI with an ambitious and hopeful plan for 2026.
Now, there are only a few days left in 2025. Thanks to you, so many wonderful things happened to me this year. I'd like to share that story separately in a post on Wednesday—my "last post of 2025."
When the end of the year gets close, each day somehow feels more precious. Starting today, every remaining day is a "last day of 2025." I hope you enjoy the rest of this year, and when the new year comes, I hope you'll continue to cherish each day like this—because in the end, we only ever live in "today."
On the last Friday of 2025,
Sincerely,
kjun
P.S. Some items may overlap between "2026 New Development" and "Fundamentals First." The quarterly schedule for "2026 New Development" may be delayed or changed depending on progress.
Kjun’s Reply to Your Comments
Hello everyone,
It’s hard to believe that today is the last day of 2025.
Thank you so much for leaving so many posts about the roadmap and for sharing such thoughtful advice. Among all the feedback we received during the same period, some of you shared an especially large number of detailed comments, and we are truly grateful for that level of interest and care.
Because of this, it doesn’t seem possible for me to reply to every comment one by one today. However, since every opinion is valuable, we plan to carefully organize all of your feedback and create a “task list” starting next year. We will also share with you what we have worked on and completed from that list.
Additionally, while nothing is fully confirmed yet, we are reviewing the possibility of updating Fundamentals First on a monthly basis. Improving this as quickly as possible is one of my most important goals for 2026, and I see it as a way of giving back to all of you.
Fortunately, the overall response to the 2026 roadmap has been positive. Many of you expressed high expectations and requested stronger core systems along with a wide variety of new content. In particular, you shared many ideas and references related to family and social interactions, deeper career systems, modding support, graphics and UI improvements, and more realistic daily-life simulations.
Before we wrap up the final day of 2025, I’d like to respond to a few of the topics you mentioned. ^^;
Even this week, you requested improvements to core features such as controlling Zoi’s automatic outfit changes, adding intimate interactions (forehead kisses, long hugs, holding hands, etc.), interaction canceling, using nearby objects, and interactions while holding babies. We are currently adding more intimate interactions, and we are also developing features that allow outfits and makeup to be changed all at once or automatically adjusted based on the situation.
Careers and Economy Systems
Many of you requested the addition and deepening of various career paths, including police, crime-related jobs, medical professions, firefighters, taxi drivers, delivery jobs, and more. You also asked for realistic workplace animations and interactions, promotion systems, education-linked careers, and improved evaluation systems.
As mentioned in the roadmap, we plan to develop systems where suitability is judged through interviews, criminal history and reputation are reflected, and special promotions are possible based on stats. We are also considering a system where careers are available from adolescence to old age, with pensions after retirement. By strengthening workplace relationships, we aim to create realistic hierarchies and dynamics among bosses, colleagues, and subordinates, including competition, cooperation, and responsibility. We are also planning vacation and attendance systems, including paid leave, and consequences such as promotions or dismissals based on lateness, absences, or false sick leave.
Developing the entire career system will take several months, but this is an area we know needs more depth, so we intend to approach it with extra care and focus.
Graphics and UI Improvements
You requested high-resolution graphic options, improved shadows and lighting, multiple camera perspectives (first-person and third-person), UI optimization, expanded minimaps (for walking and driving), and a wider variety of sleeping and resting poses.
I personally strongly agree with the requests for more sleep and rest poses, so we will start development immediately and aim to update this quickly. As for graphic options, I’d like to let you know that development is already in progress. Personally, I really want to see a first-person view become a reality.
Environment and Building Improvements
There were requests for terrain features such as hills and bridges, expanded architectural styles (rounded roofs, stained-glass windows, arched doors, etc.), interior and exterior painting, stairs and foundation work, and overall improvements to the convenience and variety of Build Mode. Issues related to Canvas Town and large plot usage were also mentioned.
This was one of the most challenging parts of the roadmap. Initially, we planned to start with terrain editing, but after extensive review, we realized that developing curved walls first and then terrain would be more effective. As a result, terrain development has been pushed to the second half of the year. That said, development for Canvas Town is already underway, and we are conducting R&D to allow both large plots and small cities to be fully editable and shareable among multiple users. Features like stained-glass windows and arched doors can begin development right away. Thank you for these great suggestions.
Family and Social Interactions
You emphasized features such as hand-holding and hugging among family members, childcare (breastfeeding, pushing strollers), school and after-school activities, dating and music apps, and social networks with influence systems.
Starting in January, we are focusing heavily on content for children and babies within families. Compared to adults, babies and children have been lacking, and we discussed this again today. Thanks to the many ideas you’ve shared, we almost don’t need to conduct separate research.
Modding and Community Support
The modding community expressed concerns about increased workload due to changes in the material management system and requested early support for script modding. The importance of mod stability was also emphasized.
In particular, I think I caused additional confusion by failing to clearly communicate this part, and I apologize for that. This week, we will share Part 2, which will cover modding and some of the more challenging development topics we haven’t yet discussed, along with updates on the roadmap and progress.
As I write this, there is now just one hour left in 2025 here in Korea.
There’s a saying in Korea: “Time moves at 20 km/h in your 20s, and at 50 km/h in your 50s.”
It’s a way of saying that time feels faster as you get older—and I really feel that now. In less than an hour, I’ll be a year older.
Let me offer a traditional Korean New Year’s greeting:
새해 복 많이 받으세요.
We’ll have to meet again next year.
Thank you so much for this year. We’ve made it this far thanks to your support.
Thank you sincerely.
Kjun ♥
