Project Zomboid 42.22 Pre-Release: New Branch, Ladders and Crowbars
Project Zomboid's next update, Build 42.22, is now available for testing on a newly renamed Pre-Release branch, which replaces the previous Unstable branch. The developers made the switch after feedback that "Unstable" caused confusion among players, particularly given Build 42's long testing history.
For most players, nothing changes immediately. The recommended way to play remains the default Stable branch, currently at 42.21, while 42.22 goes through final vetting.
Who Should Opt In
The Pre-Release branch is aimed at:
- Modders
- Multiplayer server admins
- Players comfortable testing unfinished builds and reporting bugs
To switch, back up any save you want to keep, then in Steam right-click Project Zomboid, open Properties, and under "Game Versions & Betas" select "Pre-Release."
Going forward, builds will generally sit on Pre-Release for at least one week before moving to Stable, barring urgent hotfixes that may ship directly. The cycle looks like this: a new update is released, deployed to Pre-Release, tested for a minimum of one week, then deployed to Stable. If testing uncovers bugs needing another revision, that will happen before the build reaches Stable.
Importantly, players should not move long-term singleplayer saves to Pre-Release unless they have backed them up — compatibility with the eventual Stable release cannot be guaranteed.
Ladders and Crowbars
Two headline features arrive in 42.22:
Ladders — Placed ladders on the map can now be interacted with using the (E) key, letting players climb up or down for the first time. This is an early stage of implementation, and testers are encouraged to try as many ladders as possible across Knox County to catch issues with rungs or rails.
Crowbars — Previously limited to combat and salvaging window frames or flooring, crowbars can now be used via the right-click menu to force open locked windows, doors, garage doors and gates. Reinforced doors, such as security doors and jail cells, remain immune. Burglar characters are faster and quieter when forcing doors, and higher Strength improves success chances for everyone. Repeated failed attempts risk damaging the crowbar.
Gameplay Adjustments
- Tree rendering: Improved XXL tree rendering while driving for better visibility without losing foliage detail.
- Pushing: Characters can now push obstacles even with both hands full, though doing so drops the items that would otherwise block the action.
- Sleep: Characters can no longer sleep while affected by the Bad Smell moodle.
- Ammo boxes: Can now be opened while walking.
- Animal fixes: Resolved several causes of unintended animal deaths, including animals dying when a cell unloads, rabbit kits starving due to missing milk production, and chickens vanishing from full hutches.
Multiplayer Fixes
- Character duplication: Fixed the long-standing bug causing duplicate or cloned characters.
- PvP damage: Damage calculations moved server-side to fix inconsistent damage application.
- Stability: Fixed crashes tied to chickens in nest boxes when a chunk unloads, and improved server backup performance.
- Trailers: Various fixes to trailer physics and behaviour.
- Map knowledge: Fixed the "All Known on Start" sandbox option and a bug preventing saved notes on map items from persisting.
Smaller multiplayer fixes and updated anti-cheat measures round out the update; full patch notes are available on the official forums.
Should You Update Now?
Build 42.22 is intended for testers willing to encounter rough edges and report bugs, not for players wanting a polished experience. Anyone happy to help test can switch via the Pre-Release branch now; everyone else can simply wait for 42.22 to roll out on Stable once testing concludes.