Project Zomboid hits all-time Steam peak after build 42.20 doubles the map and adds 400 procedural basements

Project Zomboid just broke its own concurrent player record on Steam, peaking at 79,552 players after The Indie Stone dropped build 42.20 — the game's first major update since 2021. The timing coincided with a price increase, but neither the wait nor the extra cost kept players away.

Build 42.20 is a substantial overhaul. Seven towns in Knox County have been completely reworked with distinct architectural styles, unique buildings, and improved landscaping. The map itself has doubled in surface area, now totalling 35,000 tiles, and brings new locations including a boy scout camp, an entirely new prison, and an abandoned orphanage. The update also adds 400 procedurally generated basements alongside 75 hand-crafted unique ones. On the mechanical side, cows and chickens are now in the game, the hunting and trapping system has been overhauled, stealth and fishing have been refined, and players can now drag corpses around — a small but long-requested quality-of-life addition.

Project Zomboid has been in Steam Early Access since 2013, making it one of the longest-running early access titles on the platform. Despite that, The Indie Stone has maintained a dedicated playerbase through consistent — if slow — updates. The price bump from $20 (£16.75) to $25 (£22.50) reflects the scope of build 42, and the record player count suggests the community largely agrees the game has earned it.

With build 42 now live, The Indie Stone's next target is the return of NPC survivors to Knox County — a feature that's been absent for years and is one of the most anticipated additions on the roadmap. Given the studio's update cadence, don't hold your breath for a quick turnaround.