2026 Roadmap

Overview

The 2026 Roadmap was officially revealed by inZOI Studio in two parts. Part 1, shared in late December 2025, covers the quarterly content updates that form the core of the game's Early Access development. Part 2, revealed in early January 2026, focuses on three experimental initiatives: modding tool expansion, the new Canvastown world, and online multiplayer. A separate team handles Part 2 content so it does not pull resources from core game development.

Director Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim has emphasized that all timelines are subject to change based on development progress, testing results, and community feedback. The studio follows a "Fundamentals First" approach, meaning core gameplay polish takes priority over ambitious new features.

Part 1: Quarterly Content Updates

Q1 2026 (January to March)

The first quarter focuses on career expansion, social systems, and creative features. The major technical change is the migration from Unreal Engine 5.4 to 5.6, which went through a public beta on Steam starting March 5 before rolling out on March 26.

Feature	Category	Details
Multi-Job System	Careers	Zois can hold multiple jobs simultaneously with interviews, remote work, and performance evaluations
Beauty and Salon Careers	Careers	New active career path with salon gameplay and appearance customization
Police Career	Careers	Law enforcement career with patrol cars and real-time criminal searches
Florist Career	Careers	Flower shop career with seed purchasing, planting on fertile soil, and bouquet creation
Freelance Delivery Career	Careers	Freelance job where clients place delivery orders for the Zoi to fulfill
Competitive System	Social	Interactions determine winners and losers, with rivalry mechanics for shared goals
Reputation System	Social	Zois build public reputation based on local community perception
Flower Farming	Activities	Full flower farming with arrangement crafting, bouquet making, and fragrance
Memory System	Features	Zois form and recall memories of significant events, including trauma
Minimap	Navigation	Early-version minimap for navigating Dowon, Bliss Bay, and Cahaya
Calendar System	Features	Birthday tracking with recurring holiday support
European Architecture	Building	New European-style architecture, furniture, and outfits
Hanok Architecture	Building	Traditional Korean hanok building style and Hanbok outfits
Engine Upgrade	Technical	Migration from Unreal Engine 5.4 to 5.6 for performance and stability (delayed from March to April 2026)

Q2 2026 (April to June)

The second quarter adds more career variety, performance content, and prison facilities. Canvastown's first release is also targeted for June.

Feature	Category	Details
Freelance Careers	Careers	Writing, game development, photography, and blogging as formal freelance careers
Taxi Driver	Careers	New transportation career option
Elderly Careers	Careers	Career paths designed for elderly Zois
Prison Properties	Locations	Full prison facilities including yard, library, workshop, cafeteria, shower, and visitation room
K-Pop Content	Activities	Idol styling, stage outfits, and superstar performance events
Voice Customization	Features	Expanded voice options for character creation
Themed Environments	Building	Neon slums, fantasy themes, and diverse lot designs
Reward System	Gameplay	Ranks, tiers, and goal-based progression rewards

Q3 2026 (July to September)

The third quarter introduces part-time jobs for teenagers, the Event Memory system, and architectural improvements.

Feature	Category	Details
Part-Time Jobs	Careers	Expanded part-time job availability, including roles for teenagers
Event Memory and Diary	Features	Detailed event tracking with diary entries tied to memories
Curved Walls	Building	Experimental support for curved walls in windows, walls, and pools
Value System	Gameplay	Enhanced value system with deeper personality integration

Q4 2026 (October to December)

The fourth quarter rounds out the year with building system expansions.

Feature	Category	Details
Basements	Building	Full basement construction support
Terrain Editing	Building	Terrain editing feature launch for custom landscapes
Wall Decoration Modules	Building	Interior and exterior wall decoration expansion

Part 2: Beyond the Fundamentals

Part 2 of the roadmap was revealed on January 2, 2026 through the "Beyond the Fundamentals" developer post. It covers three major initiatives handled by a dedicated internal team, separate from core game development. All three are in active R&D, meaning timelines and scope may shift based on testing and community feedback.

Modding Roadmap

The modding roadmap outlines a progression from improved asset tools toward full scripting support by year's end. The goal is to make modding accessible to creators of all skill levels while eventually supporting Lua-based gameplay modifications.

Month	Milestone	Details
January	ModKit Improvements	JSON-based asset handling replaces older formats; in-game mod management system added to the base game
March	CAZ Wizard Expansion	Expanded CAZ Wizard supports accessories, motions, and facial modifications; improved project management with search and asset merging; Sound Wizard upgrades for partial audio replacements; runtime installation of graphics asset mods during gameplay
June	Vehicle Modding	Vehicle modding support launches; migration to Unreal Engine 5.6 begins; content template modding tested (farming as first example); CLO platform integration under testing; PS5 and Mac mod support in research
October	AI and Multiplayer Mods	Multiplayer-linked modding tested; AI-assisted data modding wizard in development
December	Lua Scripting	Lua script modding support launches, enabling full gameplay modifications

Canvastown Roadmap

The Canvastown roadmap outlines a phased rollout for the new compact world, designed for lower-spec hardware and built on the Fate Engine. Canvastown also serves as the anchor world for inZOI Online.

Month	Milestone	Details
March	Fate Engine Integration	Fate Engine and Canvastown systems connected; core scenario generation tested
May	Fate Engine Expansion	Fate Engine functionality expanded to Dowon, Bliss Bay, and Cahaya; Canvas update and download features added for Canvastown
June	Canvastown #1 Release	Boutique village with approximately 40 customizable lots
October	Canvastown #2 Expansion	Pastoral rural expansion with roughly 50 lots and a serene countryside aesthetic

Online Multiplayer Roadmap

The online roadmap describes a phased approach to multiplayer, starting with account systems and building toward large-scale dedicated servers. The team has called this "a new direction for the genre" and treats all dates as aspirational.

Month	Milestone	Details
January	Account Foundation	Account-linked personal Zoi creation; save-and-resume for hosted sessions
February	Web Lobby	Web-based main menu, plaza, and lobby; new online chat channels and chat rooms; updated My Zoi feature for online use
March	Personal Housing	Personal house customization saved to account; other users can enter homes and play together
June	Host Tools and Mods	Hosts can adjust game rules and manage participants; official inZOI mods usable in multiplayer sessions
October	Large-Scale Servers	Dedicated servers supporting hundreds to thousands of concurrent players; exploration of major cities, meeting other players, and social interaction at scale

Development Philosophy

KRAFTON has structured the 2026 roadmap around a principle they call "Fundamentals First." Rather than chasing flashy new features, the team prioritizes family story progression, birthday systems, autonomy controls, and NPC behavioral improvements as the foundation. New content like Canvastown and multiplayer run on separate tracks so they do not slow down these core improvements.

The studio aims for 7 to 8 major updates throughout 2026. Each update goes through internal testing, a community beta period (when applicable), and gradual rollout. Weekly developer diaries published through the official forums and social media keep players informed of what is planned, in progress, and in testing.