Project Zomboid Build 42.18.0 Unstable Patch Notes

As always it is recommended that you create a new save with no mods after updates. Updates fix bugs and introduce new changes that may not be compatible with any older saves, especially ones older than the last patch.

Right-click PZ in your Steam library.

Select "Properties".

Under "Game Version & Betas" select "Unstable".

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

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback you have been providing. It has been invaluable. We would also like to encourage the multiplayer and modding communities to give us their thoughts on the latest modding and MP fixes/functionalities if you could please.

If you haven't seen it yet, check out the interview between our Design Director, Christian, and MrAtomicDuck!

As always, discussions regarding this update can be found pinned to the Project Zomboid Discussions Forums here.

Project Zomboid Build 42.18.0 Unstable Released Notes (11th May 2026)

Full Patch Notes