Project Zomboid Build 42.21 Unstable Released

The Indie Stone released update 42.21 for Project Zomboid on the Steam Unstable branch. This update introduces bug fixes, balance adjustments, and quality-of-life improvements following Build 42.

1. Right-click Project Zomboid in your Steam Library.
2. Select Properties.
3. Under Game Versions and Betas, select Unstable.

Existing savegames on version 42.20.4 should remain compatible, but the developers recommend manually backing up saves before playing on the Unstable branch. Players can report issues on the Indie Stone forums.

Zombies Disappearing: A bug where zombies vanished after players left and re-entered a chunk has been fixed for both single-player and multiplayer modes.

Zombie Duplication: Multiplayer zombie duplication issues have been addressed.

Tree Visibility: The XXL trees introduced in Build 42 now cut away more effectively for players in vehicles. They no longer obscure houses and furniture they overhang, and their transparency has been adjusted.

Modding Commands: The loadstring and loadstream commands have been re-enabled after being disabled in the 42.20.4 hotfix for security reasons.

• Characters automatically re-equip items after finishing exercise.
• The in-game player map has been updated to remove exploration inaccuracies.
• The localization system now supports more translatable strings.
• Spawn Point Selection preview videos now match the Map Glowup.
• A notification warns players attempting to connect to multiplayer servers running different game versions.
• Player pathfinding now avoids trampling farming plants when possible.

• Characters with the Welder occupation start with Welding recipes instead of Blacksmithing recipes.
• Eighty-six additional fluid containers can now be used to purify water in appropriate ovens.
• Washing machines clean dirty rags, strips, and bandages.
• Fridges and freezers warm up gradually on the day power shuts off.
• Refrigeration applies correctly to food items inside bags stored within fridges or freezers.
• Antibiotics can be packaged using the pack-in-box crafting recipe.
• Subbiomes on the map no longer generate trees on dirt.
• Brightness has been increased on several lamps and illuminated tiles.
• Floorboard stash containers found via annotated maps have more accurate names.
• Explosives function correctly in basements.

Read book statuses and XP boosts are no longer shared incorrectly between split-screen players. Fishing functions as expected, and a crash that occurred when sharing a moving vehicle has been resolved.

The anti-cheat system now guards against additional cheats and safehouse exploits. The server browser now displays the last wipe date instead of the last restart time, and the Connect button is disabled when no server is selected. An exploit that allowed players to bypass Steam authentication on dedicated servers has been fixed. Additionally, driving at high ping (150+) causes fewer issues with unrendered maps, passenger teleportation, and juddering, while a Z-level desync issue now better synchronizes player coordinates.

Players can share feedback on the update through the Indie Stone forums. Bug reports should be submitted in the bug reports forum after reading the bug reporting guide.

Players can consult the PZ Wiki or connect with the community on Bluesky, Discord, Reddit, and the forums. Discussions about this update are pinned on the Project Zomboid Discussions Forums.

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