inZOI cities can transform into ghost towns if too many Zois die with poor karma. This unique feature of the game's karma system not only affects gameplay but also adds a deeper layer of strategy and responsibility for players. Read on to learn more about inZOI’s karma system and the upcoming early access release.

inZOI Cities Can Be Overrun By Ghosts

New Zois Cannot Be Born If There Are Too Many Ghosts

inZOI can turn cities into ghost towns if there are too many ghosts around, which may affect the entire status of that city. In the latest issue of PC Gamer Magazine, inZOI Director Hyungjun Kim shared insights into how impactful the game’s karma system is to the player experience.

According to Kim, "Each time a Zoi performs an action, karma points are accumulated." He added, "Upon death, a karma evaluation determines the state of the soul. If the score is too low, the Zoi becomes a ghost and must redeem their karma points before they can transition into a new life."

Furthermore, if left unchecked, Zois dying with poor karma can drastically change the status of the city. Kim explained, "If too many ghosts appear in the city, new Zois cannot be born, nor can families be created, placing the responsibility on players to manage the karma of the Zois within the city." This adds a new dimension to gameplay, as players must balance the karma system to prevent cities from turning into ghost towns.

Kim clarified, "This system is not intended to enforce only 'good' actions and restrict 'bad' ones." He continued, "Life cannot be divided simply into good and bad; every life has its own meaning and value." He also emphasized that players must explore inZOI’s karma system "to create diverse events and stories, while exploring the many meanings of life."

inZOI Director Has Great Respect for the Legacy The Sims Built

inZOI may be the biggest competition The Sims has had in a while in the life simulation genre. However, Kim does not view their game as a direct competitor to the beloved Sims franchise.

He elaborated, "We see Inzoi not as a competitor to The Sims, but rather as another option that fans of this genre can enjoy." Furthermore, Kim showed his respect to the franchise and stated, "We have great respect for the legacy The Sims has built over the years, since we know that reaching that much depth in such a short period of time is no easy task. This is due to the nature of life sim games which cover the vast and complex concept of 'life,' making it difficult to capture its every aspect."

The team’s goal for inZOI is to provide a different experience by highlighting their unique features. Kim pointed out, "Inzoi is designed to allow players to freely shape the life they desire, using various creative tools. To achieve this, we have a realistic visual style powered by Unreal Engine 5, in-depth customization features, and AI-driven creative tools. We hope that players explore these features to bring their imaginations to life, become their own protagonists, and live in those worlds."

inZOI Early Access and Online Showcase Livestream

inZOI has announced the specific release date for the game’s early access. In a post on inZOI’s official website, the developers revealed that the early access release date for inZOI on Steam will be on March 28, 2025, at 00:00 UTC. They also provided a worldwide map that indicated specific release times for different regions and countries.

Additionally, there will be a live showcase where developers will share important information regarding inZOI. The live stream will happen on March 19, 2025, at 01:00 UTC on inZOI’s official YouTube and Twitch channels. The showcase will include details about the early access pricing, DLC, and inZOI’s developmental roadmap, as well as answers to popular community queries. Alongside the announcements, inZOI also uploaded a new early access teaser on their YouTube channel.

inZOI launches its early access on Steam on March 28, 2025. The game will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. There are no official announcements for a specific release date of the full game. Check out our inZOI page to stay up to date on the latest information about the game.