Overview
Multitasking is a gameplay feature introduced in Update v0.5.0 (December 23, 2025) that allows Zois to perform multiple actions at the same time. Before this update, Zois could only handle one action at a time, processing tasks strictly in sequence through the action queue. With multitasking, a Zoi can now eat breakfast while chatting with a housemate, or browse a computer while having a conversation, making daily routines feel more natural.
Multitasking was one of the most requested features during inZOI's Early Access period. Players coming from other life simulation games expected the ability to combine actions, and KRAFTON prioritized its development accordingly. The v0.5.0 update was the 27th Early Access update and the fourth major patch since the game's launch.
The system received a major expansion in the March 2026 update (v0.7.0), which added walking multitasking, dual-hand object handling, interest-based automatic triggers, and a need-based interruption system. These additions transformed multitasking from a limited set of stationary combinations into a more fluid, always-active simulation layer.
How Multitasking Works
The system allows certain actions to be performed simultaneously without canceling either one. When a Zoi performs a primary action like eating, an eligible secondary action such as talking can trigger alongside it. The system ensures that primary actions take priority. If there is a conflict, the secondary action yields rather than interrupting the main task.
Multitasking actions are displayed in the action queue, so players can see which simultaneous actions are in progress. This visual feedback was specifically added in v0.5.0 to make the overlapping behavior transparent.
As of v0.7.0, multitasking can trigger in two ways. Players can manually queue compatible actions, and the system will merge them into simultaneous activities. Alternatively, Zois can start multitasking automatically if a nearby interaction catches their interest, without any player input. This interest-based triggering makes the simulation feel more organic, as Zois will naturally respond to their surroundings while occupied with another task.
Supported Action Combinations
The following table lists the confirmed multitasking combinations. The original four were introduced in v0.5.0, and additional combinations were added in the v0.7.0 anniversary update.
Combination | Version Added | Details |
|---|---|---|
Talking while eating | v0.5.0 | Zois can have conversations with nearby Zois during meals. The eating animation continues while dialogue plays. |
Talking while using computers | v0.5.0 | Zois working at or browsing a computer can engage in conversation without leaving their desk. |
Talking while reading books | v0.5.0 | A Zoi reading a book can respond to conversation prompts from nearby Zois. |
Eating while watching TV | v0.5.0 | Zois can eat a meal while watching television, combining two common leisure activities. |
Eating while walking | v0.7.0 | Zois can eat certain food items while walking around freely, no longer requiring a seat or table. |
Reading while walking | v0.7.0 | Zois can read a book while moving through the world, useful for commuting between locations. |
Conversing while holding food | v0.7.0 | Zois can engage in conversations while carrying food items in their hands. |
Holding objects during interactions | v0.7.0 | Zois can interact with other Zois while holding an object, rather than putting it down first. |
In all cases, the secondary action overlays the primary activity without canceling it. The v0.7.0 update also enhanced interaction icons so that primary and secondary activities are more visually distinct from each other in the interface.
Walking Multitasking
The March 2026 update (v0.7.0) expanded multitasking beyond stationary activities to include walking. Zois can now perform simple activities while moving around freely, a change the developers described as fundamental to making character behavior more natural and true to life.
The confirmed walking combinations are eating a plate of food while walking and reading a book while walking. These apply to both player-directed movement and autonomous pathfinding, so a Zoi walking home from work might continue reading a book they started at the library. Walking multitasking is especially useful for Zois with tight schedules, since they no longer need to stop moving entirely to eat or read.
Held food consumption also improved in v0.7.0. Zois can now eat food they are already holding without needing to sit down at a table first. If a Zoi is carrying a plate of food, they can begin eating it immediately, whether standing, walking, or waiting for another interaction to complete.
Dual-Hand Object Handling
Starting with v0.7.0, the multitasking system supports dual-hand object handling. Zois can hold different objects in each hand and swap items between hands naturally. This means a Zoi can carry a coffee cup in one hand and a phone in the other, or hold an umbrella while eating a snack.
Earlier versions had problems with held objects during multitasking. In v0.5.0, holding an item while talking could cause the held item to temporarily disappear, and the system had no concept of left-hand versus right-hand usage. The dual-hand system resolves these issues by explicitly tracking which hand holds which object and allowing smooth transitions when a Zoi needs to free a hand for a new interaction.
Umbrella handling is one practical application of the dual-hand system. Zois can hold umbrellas in their left hand, freeing their right hand to carry other items while multitasking in rain. Previously, holding an umbrella prevented most other interactions.
Autonomous Secondary Actions
Beyond the officially listed combinations, Zois can also perform autonomous secondary actions during routine tasks. In v0.5.0, autonomous multitasking was limited to actions involving talking or checking smartphones. Examples include:
Action | Description |
|---|---|
Checking smartphones | a Zoi performing a primary action may autonomously pull out their phone to check messages or notifications |
Brief social responses | when another Zoi initiates conversation nearby, the active Zoi may respond with a quick reply without stopping their current task |
The v0.7.0 update significantly expanded autonomous behavior. Zois can now start multitasking automatically if any nearby interaction catches their interest, rather than being limited to talking and phone-checking. A Zoi's traits and characteristics directly determine which autonomous interactions they initiate. For example, a Zoi with the Talkative trait will more frequently strike up conversations while eating, while a Zoi with bookish tendencies may pull out a book during idle moments.
When a Zoi chooses an autonomous action, a speech box now explains why they chose that particular behavior, giving players insight into the decision-making process behind the simulation.
Automatic Interruptions
The v0.7.0 update introduced a complementary system of automatic interruptions to create a better flow in gameplay. When any of a Zoi's needs drops below 30%, the Zoi will automatically interrupt their current activity within 30 minutes of in-game time to address the urgent need. This prevents situations where a Zoi ignores critical needs (like hunger or bladder) because they are stuck in a long animation or multitasking chain.
The interruption system works alongside multitasking rather than replacing it. A Zoi eating while walking will not be interrupted for hunger, since they are already addressing that need. But a Zoi reading a book while walking may be interrupted to eat if their hunger drops dangerously low. Player-initiated interactions also override ongoing activities: interactions initiated by the player will automatically interrupt any ongoing interactions, giving direct commands priority over autonomous behavior.
This system was specifically designed to prevent foolish deaths from ignoring basic needs, which was a common complaint in earlier versions. Before v0.7.0, a Zoi could starve while engaged in a long sequence of queued actions with no mechanism to break free.
The Action Queue
The action queue is the system that manages what a Zoi does and in what order. It appears at the bottom of the screen when a Zoi is selected. Before multitasking was added, the queue was strictly sequential. Actions were processed one after another with no overlap.
Queue Behavior with Multitasking
With multitasking enabled, the queue still exists but now displays overlapping actions. When a Zoi is eating and talking simultaneously, both actions appear in the queue. The system automatically determines which parts of queued actions can overlap.
Players can still manually queue actions by clicking on objects or selecting interactions from the menu. If compatible actions are queued in sequence, the game attempts to merge them into simultaneous activities rather than waiting for one to finish before starting the other.
Queue Improvements
In a February 2026 developer update, KRAFTON announced changes to the action queue: new choices now override older queued options, instead of requiring players to wait for interactions to fully complete. This change makes the queue feel more responsive and gives players greater control over their Zois' behavior.
The v0.7.0 update built on this further. Starting a conversation now automatically interrupts any ongoing small talk, so players do not need to wait for a casual exchange to finish before directing a meaningful social interaction. NPCs are also prevented from interrupting player-initiated conversations, which eliminates a frequent annoyance where a random passerby would derail a carefully planned social interaction.
Conversation Improvements
The v0.7.0 update reworked several aspects of the conversation system that directly affect multitasking scenarios:
Improvement | Description |
|---|---|
Outdoor conversations | Zois can now have conversations outside of properties (excluding roads), expanding where multitasking social interactions can occur. Previously, conversations were restricted to indoor or on-property locations. |
Standing-to-sitting approach | Zois who are standing up can now approach Zois who are sitting down and start conversations with them. This removes the awkward limitation where a standing Zoi could not initiate a chat with someone on a bench or at a dining table. |
NPC interruption prevention | NPCs will no longer interrupt any ongoing conversations, so a player-directed social multitasking session stays on track. |
Small talk no longer interferes | starting a conversation will now interrupt any ongoing small talk, preventing casual exchanges from blocking meaningful interactions. |
Trait-based dialogue | conversation outcomes are now influenced by the traits and characteristics of both participants, making social multitasking results more varied and personality-driven. |
These changes collectively make social multitasking more flexible. A Zoi can walk up to someone eating at a park bench, start a conversation, and the eating Zoi will respond without standing up or abandoning their meal.
Pathfinding Improvements
Update v0.5.0 also improved Zoi pathfinding to support multitasking scenarios. Zois now automatically move to positions that best suit simultaneous activities. For example, Zois in conversations now prioritize sitting at locations that allow them to face other Zois, rather than staring blankly at the wall while talking. This positional awareness makes multitasking interactions feel more natural and grounded.
Known Limitations
Although v0.7.0 greatly expanded multitasking, some limitations remain:
Limitation | Details |
|---|---|
Animation blending | some multitasking combinations still produce stiff or unrealistic character animations. Known issues include holding an item while talking occasionally causing visual glitches, and reading a book while talking producing unnatural animations where the reader repeatedly opens and closes the book. |
Walking combination scope | walking multitasking is currently limited to eating and reading. Other logical walking combinations (such as talking on the phone while walking or drinking coffee while walking) are not yet supported. |
Stationary combination gaps | many logical stationary combinations (cooking while talking, exercising while listening to music) are still not available. |
Autonomous scope | while autonomous triggers expanded beyond talking and phone-checking in v0.7.0, the range of autonomous multitasking activities is still narrower than the full set of manually available combinations. |
Fixes in v0.5.3
The v0.5.3 hotfix (January 9, 2026) addressed multitasking issues:
Fixed an issue where multitasking would intermittently fail to work in certain situations
Fixed intermittent cancellations of the "Give Lecture" cooperative action
Fixed an issue where Zois would stand in place while listening during cooperative lecture actions
These fixes improved the reliability of multitasking, though animation quirks during simultaneous actions remain an area of ongoing development.
Tips for Smoother Multitasking
While the system continues to evolve, players can make multitasking feel more natural with a few strategies:
Tip | Details |
|---|---|
Choose social traits | Traits like Talkative and Sociable increase the frequency of autonomous social multitasking during other activities. Since v0.7.0, traits directly determine which autonomous interactions a Zoi initiates, making trait selection even more impactful. |
Position furniture strategically | place dining tables near TVs, desks near couches, and bookshelves near seating areas to enable smoother multitasking transitions |
Use manual queue control | if a secondary interaction looks awkward, manually cancel it rather than letting the animation play out |
Keep groups manageable | smaller groups of Zois in a single area tend to produce smoother multitasking behavior than large gatherings |
Let Zois eat on the go | with walking multitasking available in v0.7.0, there is less need to schedule dedicated meal breaks. Zois can grab food and eat while walking to their next activity, saving valuable time during busy days. |
Watch for need warnings | the automatic interruption system triggers when needs drop below 30%. If a Zoi's need bar is approaching that threshold, manually directing them to address it avoids an abrupt mid-action interruption. |
History
At inZOI's Early Access launch in March 2025, multitasking was not available. Zois could only perform one action at a time, and players frequently compared this limitation unfavorably to other life simulation games where multitasking was a standard feature. KRAFTON acknowledged the feedback early and confirmed multitasking as a priority on their development roadmap.
In October 2025, KRAFTON provided a public update on multitasking development, confirming the feature was in active development and previewing planned combinations. The feature shipped with Update v0.5.0 on December 23, 2025, alongside the crime system, business ownership, and the Holiday Festival event.
Hotfix v0.5.3 (January 9, 2026) addressed the intermittent failure of multitasking actions in certain situations. In January and February 2026, developer updates revealed further work on two-handed object handling, independent TV watching, and action queue responsiveness improvements.
March 2026 Expansion
The March 2026 update (v0.7.0), released on March 26, 2026, marked the game's first anniversary and delivered the largest multitasking expansion to date. Walking multitasking, dual-hand object handling, interest-based automatic triggers, and the need-based interruption system all arrived in this build. Director Hyungjun Kim noted that most of the key points from the "Fundamentals First" development direction had been accomplished with this release. The development team has seven to eight total updates planned for 2026, with continued multitasking refinements expected in each.
Independent group watching also arrived with v0.7.0. Zois can now watch TV independently but together, and TV viewers react with visible annoyance when someone changes the channel or turns off the television while they are watching. This reactive behavior adds a layer of social simulation to shared leisure activities that was previously missing.
Full natural multitasking with seamless animations across all action types remains a work in progress. KRAFTON has confirmed that additional walking combinations, broader autonomous support, and improved animation blending are on the roadmap for future 2026 updates.