InZOI Prepares for 1.0 Release in 2027: PS5, Canvastown, and No "Thousands of Dollars in DLC"
The developers at Krafton have unveiled their roadmap for the second year of InZOI's early access. The focus is on preparing for the full 1.0 release scheduled for early 2027 and working on the PlayStation 5 version. In an exclusive interview with GamesRadar, game director Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim discussed development plans, commercial performance, the generative AI system Canvastown, and why he doesn't want to repeat The Sims 4's "endless expansions" model.
1.0 Release: When to Expect It?
InZOI originally entered early access on March 28, 2025. By March 2027, the game will have spent nearly two years in this phase. According to Kjun, everything is on track: the second year of development should culminate in a full 1.0 launch, which is the team's top priority.
Key goals for 2026:
- Complete the career and school systems.
- Implement the karma system, prisons, and vehicles.
- Ensure stable performance across all target platforms.
"This year, the goal is to complete careers and school so that one person's life can be enjoyed in full inside the game," Kim says.
Developers emphasize that a lot of work remains. According to Kim, the player wishlist contains around 200,000 items – even if he dedicated his entire life to it, he couldn't implement everything alone.
PS5: Development Is a Priority
Alongside the 1.0 release, Krafton plans to launch a PlayStation 5 version. Kjun confirmed that work on it is underway and is one of the team's main tasks. The PS5 release will likely coincide with the 1.0 launch. No specific plans for Xbox Series X|S have been announced yet.
First Year: 1.5 Million Copies, 100,000 Refunds, and Honest Admission
The first year in early access was a rollercoaster for InZOI. The game sold over 1.5 million copies – triple the expected 500,000. However, technical issues and the "roughness" of some systems led to "a few hundred thousand refunds."
With typical honesty, Kjun admits that the current version is "a bit unstable." He also says he sometimes regrets the scale of his ambition: "If I could go back in time and redo InZOI, I would hesitate a little." Nevertheless, despite the wave of criticism and refunds, the game is performing well financially, and Kjun is grateful to players for their support and patience.
Canvastown: When AI Speeds Up Gameplay
To simplify content creation and deliver fun to players faster, Krafton is developing Canvastown. This is an expansion of the existing Canvas social platform that will allow players to create unique scenarios using generative AI and share them with the community.
The inspiration for this system came from Kjun's nephew, who constantly complained that becoming a criminal (through stealing) took too long. Kjun realized players needed a way to get to the core experience faster without spending hours on routine. The system will also feature expanded mod support and optional multiplayer (to be introduced in phases). Kim admits he's "a bit intimidated" and "afraid of how players will receive Canvastown" but believes a robust modding system is vital for the game's long‑term health.
No "Thousands of Dollars in DLC"
Amid speculation about a possible "microtransaction nightmare," Kjun sent a clear signal to the community: InZOI will not follow The Sims 4's path. He emphasizes that Krafton already has profitable projects (like PUBG), so InZOI Studio doesn't need aggressive monetization to survive.
Aside from the already‑released Island Getaway pack, there are no plans for paid expansions in the near future. The main focus is exclusively on the 1.0 launch and the PS5 version. "InZOI is making a lot of money already, PUBG is making a lot of money," Kim says. "So, I always think 'why do I have to contribute to it?'"
InZOI is preparing for a major milestone: transitioning from early access to a full release. The team isn't afraid to admit its mistakes and speaks openly about its plans. Judging by the roadmap, the game should evolve into a complete "life from start to finish" experience with deep career and education mechanics. Canvastown, in turn, could offer players unprecedented customization possibilities.
The story of refunds and technical issues is certainly a challenge, but Krafton seems determined. With sales continuing to grow and an audience eager for improvements, InZOI has a real chance to become a serious competitor in a genre long dominated by The Sims.
