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Overview
The March 2026 update is a major content and technical update for inZOI released on March 26, 2026 at 06:00 UTC. It includes an upgrade from Unreal Engine 5.4 to 5.6, a new mini-map navigation feature, the Freelance Delivery career, an expanded Florist career, the Memory System, multitasking while walking, and numerous quality-of-life improvements. This update represents the culmination of the Q1 2026 roadmap plans.
Unreal Engine 5.6 Upgrade
The largest technical change in this update is the migration from Unreal Engine 5.4 to 5.6. The development team opened a public beta branch on Steam on March 5, 2026 to test the engine upgrade before the full release. Key improvements include:
Improved rendering performance, particularly on mid-range hardware.
Better memory management with reduced RAM usage.
Faster asset streaming and improved load times.
Enhanced lighting and shadow quality.
Foundation for future features like vehicle modding and curved walls.
Targeted crash fixes and overall stability improvements.
The beta was Steam-only, had no mod support, and save files were compatible between the beta and main branches. Players could exit the beta and return to the main branch at any time.
New Careers and Activities
Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Freelance Delivery Career | A new freelance job where clients place delivery orders for the Zoi to fulfill. |
Expanded Florist Career | Enhanced gameplay including seed purchasing, planting on fertile soil plots, creating bouquets, adding fragrance to flowers, and gifting bouquets to other Zois. |
Piñata Party Activity | New party feature where Zois can break piñatas and receive candy rewards. |
Gameplay Systems
System | Details |
|---|---|
Mini-Map | An early version of an on-screen mini-map for navigation within Dowon, Bliss Bay, and Cahaya. |
Multitasking While Walking | Zois can now perform simple activities while walking freely, including eating food and reading books while moving. |
Memory System | An early development feature that records significant and traumatic memories of Zois to influence their future behavior and decisions. |
Automatic Need Interruptions | Improved gameplay flow by automatically interrupting animations when urgent needs arise. |
Recurring Holiday System | Holidays can now be set to recur on specific dates. They disappear and reappear as save files progress, allowing events like the Holiday Festival to repeat annually. |
Phone and Social Features
The smartphone received several social management upgrades:
Add and delete contact numbers from the phone's contact list.
Meet Strangers system: Zois can ask strangers for their contact numbers.
Blocking system: players can block contacts. Blocked Zois can be asked to unblock in person.
Improved contact list organization and filtering.
UI and Graphics
Feature | Details |
|---|---|
UI Layout Toggle | Switch between a new layout (fills more screen) and the old layout (fills less screen). |
UI Component Resizing | Individual UI components can be adjusted in size. |
UI Layout Presets | Save and switch between different interface arrangements. |
Photo Mode Enhancement | Cheat code hidefx [true/false] removes special effects for cleaner photography shots. |
Lower Graphics Improvements | Better item appearance on lower graphics settings, making the game more accessible to budget hardware. |
Other Additions
Kids can now take car selfies.
Bento boxes: new food items that can be prepared and packed for outings.
Car seats for children: child safety seats for vehicles so children can ride along.
Formal dresses now have expanded color customization for more casual wearing.
Male swim trunks can now be worn with other outfit combinations.
Properties under construction visual assets added.
Beta Testing
A public beta branch opened on March 5, 2026 through Steam to test the Unreal Engine 5.6 upgrade before the full release. The beta had the following conditions:
Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
Platform | Steam only |
Mod Support | Disabled during beta |
Save Compatibility | Save files compatible between beta and main branch |
Exit Option | Players could leave the beta and return to the main branch at any time |
Developer Notes
The developers noted that most key points from the "Fundamentals First" development direction have been accomplished with this update. The team has 7 to 8 total updates planned for 2026, with this March update completing the Q1 roadmap goals.
How to Update
The update was delivered automatically through Steam on March 26, 2026. Save files from previous versions are compatible. Players should ensure adequate disk space, as the game may grow to approximately 75 GB with this update.