It seems the world is waiting for a replacement to the Sims and with the InZOI early access launch period confirmed for later this month, people seem to believe they’ve found it. We’d thought the same about the game Life by You by Paradox Interactive, but much to our disappointment, the title was abruptly canceled with no plans to restart its production.

With the InZOI online preview on March 19 and the ongoing live broadcasts which allowed us to watch the insiders play the game, it does feel like InZOI is going to be the next life simulation game to take the world by storm. The early access release date for InZOI has been set for March 28, 2025, but consider it an extended beta release rather than the polished and finished version of the title. 

The company knows it has a long way to go before perfecting the game, but it plans to make updates as it goes, including player feedback, as it works out the kinks one by one. Is InZOI a Sims killer? It’s far too soon to tell.

InZOI early access

The InZOI online preview and trailer looks so joyful, it’s hard not to be excited about the game.

InZOI Release Confirmed—What to Expect From the Upcoming Game

Developed by inZOI Studio and published by KRAFTON, Inc., InZOI is a much-awaited simulation game where you customize and control the lives of your “Zois,” building up a life for them in the fictitious world they live in. If you like building characters in other games like the Sims, the degree of customizability and the art in InZOI is significantly better. It’s a pretty game and more realistic than its competitor, and the ability to get their nails done has to be our favorite thing about building the Zois.

If you’re interested in giving the game a shot, how early you’ll be playing it entirely depends on how willing you are to pay up for an unfinished game. Yes, InZOI releases in March 2025, but you’ll only be able to make the most of InZOI’s early access design and content which will have bugs and issues that will take a while to smoothen out. 

The early access period for InZOI could be expected to last at least a year according to the team, so either you can get in early and help the team perfect the game, or wait till the developers are ready to call it a finished product.

InZOI Early Access Mode: Why Is It Unfinished?

On the Steam page for the game, the developers acknowledged that this is their first life simulation game and they wanted to create a very elaborate and authentic version for the genre. With few direct templates to work off of for a game of this scale, the creators decided to open InZOI up for early access so they could learn from player feedback and “prioritize the features that resonate most with [their] community.”

We view our development as not a sprint but more like a marathon, which requires time to build different features that will make inZOI feel increasingly lifelike.

Asking players to pay for an unfinished game is a bold move, but the team appears certain that they will be able to continue to develop it per feedback. With the attention we’ve seen around the game, it does appear likely that many will take the bait. The creators explained that players will be kept informed of the progress of the game via Discord and other platforms.

What Does InZOI’s Early Access Version Include?

With InZOI’s release right around the corner, you might be wondering what you can expect from the game. On release, InZOI will have “most of the game’s foundational systems, such as [its] base simulation and visual elements” but some aspects like the interactions, driving mechanics, and dynamic events throughout the game may be limited or flawed. 

The developers are very clear in stating that the Early Access version of InZOI may be unstable and could be changed significantly before the final release. There are plans for future DLC releases, expanded cities, and other inclusions to the in-game content later in the future. 

That said, InZOI looks like a very immersive, very detailed game where things accurately reflect real life. There may be genuine interactions with AI-powered NPCs and other events that make it more engaging. Like to drive around too rashly? You could get someone killed.

Can I Try InZOI For Free?

No, the $40 game is not currently available for free. If you want to join InZOI’s release testing, you’ll have to purchase the game just like the rest of us. However, there is one element you can try out right now. The character builder has been the most attractive part of the InZOI online preview but interestingly, you don’t have to wait for the game’s release to try it out. 

A demo version called the inZOI: Creative Studio is available for those who want to try and build their OCs and see just how fun it can be. You’ll have to claim a Steam Demo key by watching Twitch streams or going to the InZOI website, but it’s not too hard to get your hands on one. We’ve found ourselves repeatedly distracted by the Live Broadcast on the Steam page while writing this as well, so that’s another way to see what to expect in the game.

InZOI graphics

Image: Dressed to impress, the InZOI graphics really deliver.

InZOI Price and Availability

With InZOI’s release, the early access version will cost $40 for all players. Those who buy the game now will be able to help with the game’s development and will receive future updates and DLC content for free until the game reaches 1.0. The game is expected to stay in early access mode for about a year. 

Players can expect minor changes to be made consistently, but the first major upgrade to the game can be expected in May. This could include an adoption system, new furniture and build modes, weight changes, muscular adjustments, and other modifications.

The next major update will be a little more delayed but will include more quality changes and improvements to parenting systems, AI build modes, pools, and other changes.

InZOI Release Criticized For AI Use

We appreciate the InZOI developers and publishers for disclosing their use of AI, however, there are some reservations that many players have over its use. In a conversation with GameRant CEO of inZOI Studio, Hyungjun “Kjun” Kim, confirmed that “To support in-depth customization, the game includes creative tools powered by AI such as the 3D Printer, Texture, and motion capture features.”

Additionally, Unreal’s Live Link Face app can be used as a way to control the facial expressions on your Zois. Players can also use generative AI to create custom textures for their customized clothing in the game or transform photographs into AI-supported 3D objects in the game.

A huge part of the ideal life simulator has to be natural in-game interactions, and instead of trying to program in some standard cues, InZOI’s NPCs are also to be powered by AI. This will make the game feel more dynamic and responsive to the players’ choices, providing a more immersive experience for them. 

All of these features sound amazing on the surface, but when you consider that the company has relied on AI in areas to save on hiring individuals who could do it instead, you start to get a sense of why people have been anti-AI and anti-InZOI.

InZOI System Requirements Could Also Be a Roadblock

The Sims 4 game and its predecessors are not easy on your PC and require a decent setup to load up and play, but the requirements for InZOI are expected to be even higher. The recommended build setup includes 16GB RAM, 60GB storage, and graphics cards like NVIDIA RTX 3070 (8GB VRAM) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16GB VRAM). As for processors they recommend an Intel i7 12700k or AMD Ryzen 7 7800x3D. 

The minimum system requirements are a little lower, but considering how the Sims performs on a slower system than recommended, we wouldn’t take a risk with this one either.

InZOI release early access

Image: There is more than enough room in our lives (but maybe not our devices) for both InZOI and The Sims to thrive.

InZOI vs Sims: Is There A Reason It Can’t Be Both?

The question on everyone’s mind right now is, “Is InZOI a Sims killer?” It is frankly too soon to tell. The InZOI online preview and the creative studio have given us a delightful glimpse into what we can expect. The developer’s roadmap for the improvements coming to the game is equally exciting to see. So far, InZOI’s graphics look more stunning and detailed than anything Sims has to offer, so there’s a real chance that it could turn out to be a wonderful game.

Creating custom characters or recreating your favorite celebrities in-game is much easier with InZOI, and the home builds are also quite engaging. All that said, Sims is not going anywhere. The game has a cult following behind it and players have poured years of work into building their wholesome, frequently questionable communities in the game, and they aren’t going to give up on it overnight. The real Sims fans are not quitters.

The InZOI release, despite being a more unfinished early access launch, will see players give it a go, but until the game becomes largely bug-free and has all the capabilities of a Sims game, it won’t be in a position to replace it, which is completely fine. We don’t think the developers are looking at taking down their competitors right now and fans should also give the game a chance as an independent release that is looking to grow.

We’re excited about the upcoming InZOI release, and despite some reservations, we will be playing the early access version of the game to give you our thoughts on it. For other fans of the life simulation genre, we’d recommend giving it a shot too.

Are you looking forward to InZOI’s release? Let us know! For more insight into the world of gaming and other updates the world of tech has to offer, subscribe to Technowize so you never have to miss out.

tagged in InZOI early access, InZOI graphics, InZOI NPC AI, InZOI online preview, InZOI release, InZOI vs Sims, Is InZOI a Sims killer
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