Developer The Indie Stone has announced that Project Zomboid Build 42 will officially launch on July 29, 2026, on PC. Described by the studio as one of the broadest updates in the isometric survival game's long early access history, the patch has been two years in development alongside smaller unstable updates.
Quick Facts
- Release Date: July 29, 2026
- Platform: PC (Steam)
- Developer: The Indie Stone
- Major Additions: Animal husbandry, expanded Kentucky map, revised crafting systems, new lighting
What is Included in Build 42
The upcoming update brings several major systems to the unfinishable survival game. Alongside the introduction of animal husbandry, Build 42 features revised and expanded crafting and building mechanics designed to span everything from short-term survival fixes to long-term self-sufficiency goals. The update also expands the Kentucky map with new and reworked areas, adds extra backstory to uncover, introduces a new lighting system, and cleans up menus and the user interface.
Design director Christian Allen acknowledged the community in a release, thanking players for testing, surviving, dying, and providing feedback throughout the update's development cycle.
Save Compatibility and Legacy Support
Players should note that existing saves from Build 41 will not be compatible with Build 42. For players who wish to continue their current playthroughs on the older version, The Indie Stone has set up a special beta channel on Steam named "legacy41" that will maintain access to the previous version.
More details regarding the specific crafting and building elements are scheduled to be released closer to the July 29 launch date.