Like a viral zombie infection, Project Zomboid continues to evolve as Build 42 grows. However, its evolution is all about improving the game and a player's fun rather than malevolent brain-munching. The latest evolution for Project Zomboid, Build 42.18.0, has reached its own Unstable release! With it, players can expect a host of new fixes and changes, along with a few brand-new additions. Here we cover its release date window

What's New in Project Zomboid Build 42.18.0?

If you're ready to dive into the latest improvement for Build 42 in Project Zomboid, you're in luck! The Build 42.18.0 update is available now on the Unstable branch of the game, iterating on the massive content influx from the still Unstable Build 42. As is usually the case, the best way to enjoy the unstable build of Project Zomboid is with a new save and no mods. It's called unstable for a reason, and things can go wrong. You'll also want to save very frequently to try and combat issues, and always ensure you have a backup save available! As for new content, this update isn't as large as some past updates have been. Brand-new animations have been added for some weapon reloading sequences, new assets for propane tanks, and new garbage bins at in-game restaurants Spiffos and PizzaWhirled are just a few of the latest additions. One particularly exciting addition, however, is the new accessibility option for map reading. With this, you can have the game pause whenever you open a map. You'll have to head to your in-game settings to turn it on, but it's a welcome addition for players who want the ability to get their bearings while exploring. Aside from the new, Project Zomboid build 42.18.0 also brings a heaping helping of balance tweaks, bug fixes, modding adjustments, and some changes for the fresh multiplayer update added in December. If you want to know the specifics, you can check out the full list of build 42.18.0 patch notes below!

Project Zomboid Build 42.18.0 Patch Notes (Unstable Version)

NEW

• Added new Weapon Reload animations for lever action rifles and shotguns
• Added Option to Accessibility section to automatically pause the game when reading maps. If enabled the game will unpause when a map is closed.
  • Important: this setting is known to freeze the map screen on controllers. A fix will be included in an upcoming patch, but it's recommended that controller users disable this feature for the time being.
• Added keybind for "Sit on Ground" action
• Updated assets for propane tanks to reflect US standards
• Added some new garbage bins to Spiffos and PizzaWhirled

BALANCE

• Park Ranger occupation now has +1 Carving, and no longer has +1 Tracking
• Rancher occupation now has +1 Fitness, and no longer has +1 Agriculture
• Improvised Gas Mask has been rebalanced
  • Clean rags can be used as Rag Filters in Improvised Gas Masks
  • Not as powerful as commercial gas masks / respirators, but more powerful than wearing a bandana
  • Rag Filters with <= 30% used Delta are returned as dirty rags
• Adjusted encumbrance values for metal drums and several barrel moveable inventory items
• Adjusted a number of fluid container capacities
  • base.JerryCan - 10L -> 20L
  • base.Canteen, base.CanteenMilitary - 500ml -> 900mL
  • base.CanteenCowboy - 1L -> 1.8L
  • base.HydrationBackpack - 1L -> 2L
  • base.HydrationBackpack_Camo - 1L -> 3L
  • base.BeerEmpty - 1L -> 300mL

MODDING

• Non-base Module Recipes now work in MP
• Fixed "Game Crash with Missing Recipe Items"
• Improved Craft History (added cleanup)
• Added "getModTags()", "setTags()" for CraftRecipe. Added "getItems()" for InputScript
• Fixed File writers bug. Now it return null, when initialized incorrectly.
• Returned Tag "FITS_CLOTHING_RACK" for items for clothing rack.
• Added Event "SyncFactionServer(factionName, isRemove)).
  • It triggers on any change in faction.
• Added Texture field for Trait Script.
  • Now you can set path to texture for Trait.
• Fixed Mod Foraging Icon bug.
  • Now it possible to collect mod items by Foraging.
• Added public methods for zombie: "doCrawlerSpeed(zombieSpeed)", "doSprinter()", "doFastShambler()", "doFakeShambler()", "doShambler()", "getSpeedType()"

MP

• Fixed RakNet DoS vulnerability. Big thank you to Cat for all of the hard work identifying the issue.
• Player can refuse Medical Check now
  • AFK players won't die anymore if somebody tries to remove their bandages
• Fixed a crash to the main menu when a remote vehicle with an attached trailer collides with other vehicles
• Added hearing "distant vehicle" sounds in multiplayer.
  • Player can hear approaching vehicles from afar again
• Restored IP logging to a specific text file with exclusion from logs.zip
• Added optimisations for VisitedMap saves
• Map visited area resets after relog.
• Fixed non-PVP player and vehicle interactions
  • Non-PVP players no longer receive damage when struck by a vehicle.
  • PVP players receive damage if the Player Damage From Vehicle Impact is not set to None.
  • PVP players can be knocked down by a vehicle if KnockedDownAllowed is set to true
  • Non-PVP players are no longer staggered or knocked down when struck by a vehicle
  • Non-PVP players no longer damage vehicles.
  • Vehicle damage no longer applies for persistent pedestrian contacts.
  • Pushing pedestrians no longer applies max damage.
• Redundant Fire and Smoke anti-cheats are removed
• Fixed Server option “Show First And Last Name”
• Renamed DisableSafehouseWhenPlayerConnected to DisableSafehouseWhenOwnerConnected
• Removed AutoCreateUserInWhiteList setting. This fixes an issue where in some instances another user could log in to a character by only knowing the username.
• "Wars" setting is now disabled by default
• Redundant XP and XPPlayer anti-cheats and unused AddXP packet are removed
• Fixed Mannequin clothing disappearing visually after relog
• Fixed Debug feature Add water to a feeding through
• Fixed renaming a faction name creates a new faction
• Fixed incorrect tooltip text in Faction renaming window
• Fixed an exploit that allowed backpacks and their contents to be duplicated
• Fixed an exploit that allowed item duplication via forging
• Fixed an issue that allowed unathorised item spawning by clients
• Fixed bombs only doing damage to players with PVP enabled status
• Fixed server hangs on world save creation
• Fixed a false positive triggering of the anti-cheat
• Fixed barricades not syncing properly for some players
• Fixed fire burning time desync
• Fixed vehicles sometimes clipping through one another
• Fixed towed trailer having choppy movement for remote players
• Fixed vehicles taking too much damage on collision
• Fixed the character's body and clothes not becoming dirty
• Fixed burned drying racks causing server-side exceptions spam
• Fixed transferring a large stack of items being interrupted on its own
• Fixed a player state desync issue where the walk animation plays before turning 180 degrees
• Fixed weapon bloody condition not syncing
• Fixed error on server side CellLoader.DoTileObjectCreation
• Fixed the amount of water in a rain collector barrel not changing if the water is consumed through a plumbed sink
• Fixed Client side exception: IsoGameCharacter.getCurrentState()" is null at StatePacket.apply
• Fixed dyed clothing only changing colour when dropped on the ground/into a container
• Fixed items dropped from a trailer not syncing properly
• Fixed calorie burn rate applying incorrectly when sitting in a vehicle
• Fixed custom spawns breaking the ability to claim safehouses
• Fixed players being able to ghost through vehicles
• Fixed GodMode players not being able to deal damage to non-GodMode players
• Fixed an issue where characters would be crushed by vehicles instead of pushed away
• Fixed the server connection screen info not displaying properly
• Fixed fishing rods continuing to be shown in a remote player's hands after breaking
• Fixed carved handles showing the wrong condition
• Fixed fishing rods being duplicated after the line breaks
• Fixed a server side exception when giving animals water
• Fixed being unable to loot from zombies who are killed when a timer or sensor bomb explodes
• Fixed removing food from a trough not updating the sprite
• Fixed multiple zombies dying on the same tile at roughly the same time causes their loot to become bugged
• Fixed puddle visibility not being synced properly
• Fixed not being able to see other players while the vehicle moves in reverse.
• Fixed an error from transferring items from one container by two players simultaneously.
• Fixed Liquid containers placed on the ground become bugged after server restart.
• Fixed another case of The character’s body and clothes not becoming dirty in MP
• Fixed Crucible showing the wrong remaining value after smelting metal
• Fixed being unable to inspect some animal tracks
• Fixed animal tracks not generating on the world map (debug feature)
• Fixed disappearance of Low memory zombies right behind the player (zombie culling mechanic)
• Fixed new ticket popup notification is not appearing if a user has the capability "Answer Tickets" only
• Fixed welding torch that always shows the max propane amount after refiling
• Fixed campfire temperature
  • Drying racks are drying faster again
• Fixed Body Damage & Muscle Strain from overencumbrance accumulating more than 4x faster on MP.
• Fixed grass remaining on the furrowed tile
• Fixed items remaining dirty/bloody after washing in the washing machine
• Fixed towels not getting wet in the rain
• Fixed "players" command through RCON protocol causing "java.nio.BufferOverflowException"
• Fixed more server and client sided errors:
  • SyncVisualsPacket.parse error
  • this.deadCharacterPacket.square is null at NetworkCharacterAI.onDied

FIXES

• Removed invisible wall between wide staircases
• Fixed being unable to manually target the ground on controller
• Updated existing firearm models and firearm attachment placement
• Fixed some sprinters being silent
• Fixed being unable to aim with RMB if Aim keybind set to "None"
• Fixed sandbox spawn points for March Ridge, Brandenburg, and Irvington being in undesired circumstances
• Fixed point-blank calculations for ranged weapons
• Fixed character body heat generation being too high after exercising
• Fixed "Smash Window" not appearing in vehicle radial menu at certain angles
• Fixed an issue where characters could become trapped in some circumstances when placing or building multi-tile objects
• Fixed Vehicle name text overflowing its container in the Vehicle Mechanics panel
• Fixed "Success" or "Failure" text not flashing in the mechanics UI when installing or uninstalling a part
• Fixed item outline on eyeglasses icon
• Fixed ParameterFenceTypeHigh defining METAL_BARS instead of METAL_GATE.
• Fixed being unable to place heavy items that are in the character's hand
• Fixed not being able to cut Base.Gloves_LeatherGloves into fingerless gloves
• Fixed zombies on fire not providing illumination
• Fixed wooden trough not being completely destroyed when a single tile is burned
• Fixed chicken hutch not being completely destroyed when a single tile is burned
• Fixed zombies with the ability to open doors not being able to open doors
• Fixed opening frozen packs returning defrosted food
• Fixed IsoZombie.spottedNew() exception when otherPlayer=null.
• Fixed some cooked food items increasing in encumberance and hunger reduction when used as lure
• Fixed animals being visible through walls and solid barriers
• Fixed foraging Darkness Malus contunuously disappearing and reappearing when foraging at night with a flashlight
• Fixed being unable to enter driver's seat of vehicle in specific positions
• Fixed an error when changing Display Mode / Resolution
• Fixed disabling the "Enable Zoom" option in UI Options causing all screen effects to be removed
• Fixed the player not learning recipes from VHS even though they are announced as being learned
• Fixed a number of transparency/clipping outfit issues
• Fixed smoke from cigarette packs not showing the cigarette texture
• Fixed an issue where the player would get burned when lighting pre-placed campfires
• Fixed characters being unable to pet animals that were past a certain size threshold
• Fixed "Broken Glass" appearing in the right-click context menu as "Escape Rope"
• Fixed being unable to place fishing nets if they are in a backpack
• Fixed SCBA and SCBA (No Tank) icons being swapped
• Fixed SCBA and Improvised Gas Mask inventory icons not updating when tank/filters are added or removed
• Fixed RecipeCodeOnCreate::pickAramidThread checking if clothing items had ItemTag.Bucket instead of ItemTag.Buckle
• Fixed "Make_Improvised_Gas_Mask" returning the deprecated "No Filter" version.
• Fixed non-standard fridges failing to apply refrigeration modifier to chilled food
• Fixed RBTSElectronics never spawning CD Players
• Fixed challenge modes not randomizing world seeds
• Fixed vehicle radial menus not closing when exiting / entering vehicles.
• Fixed Gardening Interactions from displaying incorrect growth phase for crops
• Fixed aerosol and smoke bombs detonating faster at higher framerate settings
• Fixed game not responding when aiming from a car’s back seat
• Fixed an error when picking up and then placing down coffee machines or toasters on controller
• Fixed holding RMB during Walk-To makes player stand still, instead of strafing
• Removed Wooden Crucible Molds
• Removed the ability to use Leather Strips when crafting Improvised Briefs
• Fixed the ability to add cheese to Omelettes

SFX

• Added new sounds for Garbage Bins
• Added new sounds for Wooden Doors
• Added new sounds for Crates
• Increased the distance zombies play a thump sound from 20 to 70
• Fixed toilet seats playing incorrect sfx when sat on
• Fixed Smoke Bomb sfx playing endlessly
• Fixed Ambient Sound stopping on player death
• Fixed player characters not having a bodyfall sound on death
• Fixed zombies thumping on military chainlink fences playing incorrect sfx
• Fixed disassembling metal/chainlink fences playing incorrect sfx
• Fixed zombies thumping on wooden tall fence playing incorrect sfx
• Fixed vehicles playing the engine ignition attempt sfx without a key if the engine is at 0%
• Fixed bullet impact sfx playing in MP when shots didn't hit anything
• Fixed bullet impact sfx from other players playing twice, and with incorrect surface parameter

TECHNICAL/DEBUG

• Wind Sprite Effects option is now turned off by default
• Added new functions to the Lua debugger's source window
• Increased the Lua debugger's framerate from 30 to 60
• Restore SP debug cheats to save locally instead of player profile