Infection Free Zone News

[h2]Greetings, Survivors![/h2]

Major Update #4 - Part 2 is almost here! If you're eager to test all the newest changes in action, you can switch to the Open Beta branch on Steam. Otherwise, especially if you value stability, we recommend playing the Default version of the game for now. The new build should be released on Default soon.

[h2]Major Update #4 - Part 2[/h2]

CHANGELOG:

• Skill Training during Squad Creation has been added.
  
• A new "Education" research category that unlocks Skill Training has been added.
  
• The Building Split feature has been added. You can split big buildings into smaller ones now.
  
• A Shooting Range building has been added.
  
• A Fisherman building has been added.
  
• A Scrapyard building has been added. Scrapyard allows you to recycle previously used metal.
  
• Traffic Jams have been added. There should be at least one Traffic Jam full of wrecked vehicles spawned on the map, providing an additional source of metal.
  
• A new Rio de Janeiro recommended map has been added.
  
• The number of uninfected animals on the map has been reworked and will now depend on the volume of undeveloped land. The lesser the building volume on the map, the more uninfected animals can spawn.,
  
• The chance to obtain ammo from buildings with no specific POI has been reduced by 30%. Other sources of ammo work exactly the same.
  
• Information about the number of starving citizens has been added to the starving mood modifier description.
  
• The global biome data has been updated. Tropical locations will now include tropical trees.
  
• Validation for old/unsupported saves has been added. It should result in fewer issues when loading older saves.
  
• The time for the objective to disappear after its completion has been extended.
  
• An issue with clicking on different squads causing a change in the vehicle's refuel state has been fixed.
  
• An issue with the Squad's view range during the night being barely visible with the Volumetric Fog turned on has been fixed.
  
• An issue with the bumpy roads on the recommended Washington map has been fixed.
  
• An issue with some saves not working after progressing through the first event with the infected has been fixed.
  
• An issue that allowed planting trees inside tall buildings has been fixed.
  
• An issue with sounds not working in the research panel has been fixed.
  
• An issue with immigrants dropping resources in front of HQ has been fixed.
  
• An issue with incorrect values of hp and fuel in car selection has been fixed.
  
• An issue with Merchant events sometimes stopping to occur has been fixed.
  
• An issue with animal icons blinking when appearing in the view range has been fixed.
  
• An issue with multiple mood modifiers not displaying evenly on the list has been fixed.
  
• An issue with resetting settings to default also changing the game's language has been fixed.
  
• An issue with vehicle exchange causing item duplication has been fixed.
  
• An issue with saving while having mend works or forester works active causing errors has been fixed.
  
• An issue with the Sharpshooter skill not providing the buffs as intended has been fixed.
  
• An issue with some POIs changing after the save/load has been fixed.
  
• An issue with cistern modification causing errors has been fixed.
  
• An issue that allowed planting trees between other trees has been fixed.
  
• An issue with the UI becoming unresponsive after opening some menus during autosave has been fixed.
  
• A number of other changes have been introduced in order to improve the game's stability and performance.
  

[h2]Joining Open Beta[/h2]

Below are the instructions regarding how to join the open_beta branch on Steam. Mind you, it's recommended to make a backup of your saves first in case some unexpected issues arise during your gameplay.

1. Right-click on Infection Free Zone in your library,
   
2. Click on "Properties..." on the list,
   
3. Choose the "Betas" tab,
   
4. Select the "open_beta" from the list,
   
5. The newest build should start downloading. Enjoy!
   

[h2]Weekend Deal, new Bundles[/h2]

Infection Free Zone is now available with a -20% discount during the Weekend Deal! We have also recently launched some new bundles with our friends. You can buy Infection Free Zone together with Survival Machine, getting an additional -10% discount.

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/53617/Infection_Free_Zone_and_Survival_Machine/
[h2]New Upcoming Game[/h2]

If you're interested in discovering more post-apocalyptic games, our Publisher - Games Operators - will release a new management strategy game set in a Max Max-like setting on July 16, 2025. Check Dust Raiders on Steam!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2397450/Dust_Raiders/

Thank you for playing Infection Free Zone! We truly appreciate every bug report you send in - they help us a lot. We go through them on a daily basis and do our best to fix all the issues. Your feedback is also incredibly valuable to us. Knowing what you enjoy (and what you don't) helps guide our development. We hope this latest update brings you a lot of fun!

Best regards,
Jutsu Games Team

[h2]Greetings, Survivors! [/h2]

Defending your Zone from hordes of infected is no easy task. Even the most seasoned players have seen their walls fall and their buildings destroyed one by one. If you want to take a quick break from the serious setting and play a fun survival game with zombies in co-op, we recommend the newest title from our friends at Grapes Pickers - Survival Machine.

[h2]Survival Machine[/h2]

Survival Machine is a 4-player co-op, 3rd-person, survival-adventure game set in vibrant, diverse landscapes. You navigate the ever-changing world aboard the colossal Machine that doubles as your fortress, homestead, and transport. Whether braving the game solo or with friends, you can explore biomes full of random challenges to gather resources, craft new upgrades, and build structures that will help you survive.

[h2]Available Now![/h2]

Survival Machine is out now with a time-limited 20% launch discount! If you also own Infection Free Zone on Steam, you can get an extra 10% off with the bundle. Whether solo or co-op, Survival Machine has got you covered. Get aboard and have fun!

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1601330/Survival_Machine/

https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/53617/Infection_Free_Zone_and_Survival_Machine/

Best regards,
Jutsu Games Team

[h2]Greetings, Survivors![/h2]

More fixes and rebalances incoming!

[h2]Changelog[/h2]

[h3]Graphics & Performance[/h3]

• Added a Volumetric Fog checkbox in Settings. It improves visuals but may affect performance.
  
• Updated resolution settings to hide duplicate refresh rates and redundant values for multi-display setups.
  
• Improved gunfire VFX to reduce performance impact.
  

[h3]Bug Fixes[/h3]

• Fixed an issue where resource tooltips would disappear.
  
• Fixed the Final Lab mission not triggering correctly.
  
• Fixed the event marker not spawning properly near the emblem.
  
• Fixed multiple issues with repairmen: Not repairing certain damaged buildings and structures; Not repairing fortified buildings; Ruined gates not turning green after repair.
  
• Fixed temporary saves causing issues when stored on a different disk than the main game.
  
• Fixed trees and debris being marked red after saving and loading.
  
• Fixed a trade panel not responding to the X button.
  
• Fixed an exploit allowing trees to be planted in the same spot.
  
• Fixed movement speed penalty not applying to vehicles with no fuel after save/load.
  
• Fixed the research icon not showing progress after save/load.
  
• Fixed saves failing when a horde destroys a structure during paused deconstruction.
  
• Fixed errors caused by repairing a damaged vehicle.
  
• Fixed squads not gaining EXP after enemy kills in some cases.
  
• Fixed squads moving through towers when entering a gate.
  
• Fixed bridges being impassable when terrain elevation is turned off.
  
• Fixed farmland outlines not displaying correctly with terrain elevation enabled.
  
• Fixed loading tips sometimes appearing in the wrong language.
  
• Fixed fuel bar displaying the wrong color after scavenging on an expedition.
  

[h2]Known Issues[/h2]

• Some equipment might disappear while replenishing squads. Avoid this feature.
  
• Walls cannot be built on bridges.
  

Stay tuned for the next major update in May

Best regards,
Jutsu Games Team

[h2]Greetings, Survivors![/h2]

A new batch of updates has been released! Reducing the number of crashes and freezes, especially during autosaves and while generating a new map, was our highest priority. We have also introduced a change that should help the players who were unable to play the game on GeForce Now. Several other improvements have also been introduced, and we hope that they will positively impact your gameplay.

[h2]Changelog[/h2]

• The construction materials required for Custom Buildings have been rebalanced. Some materials now only require 1 type of resource, instead of various kinds of resources with their volume as the only difference. This should make the custom buildings more accessible for the players.
  
• A new solution has been introduced for markers spawning outside antenna range. It might not work on the existing saves.
  
• A new "ILLNESS EVENTS" checkbox has been added in the Game Customization panel. You can now disable all the illness events and ensure that vaccines won't have to be researched in your Zone. This checkbox is only available with the "STORY EVENTS" checkbox turned off.
  
• Some console commands have been updated. We have disabled the usage of some parameters that could have caused errors.
  
• Some console commands have been "unlocked" and are now available without the usage of the "Enable Cheats" command first.
  
• Metal will now spawn as a scavengable resource in some industrial buildings.
  
• Discarding cans will now provide the player with a small amount of metal.
  
• A new warning is displayed when the game detects that the player is using modding software.
  
• The save system has been updated and will first save in the Temp folder to prevent the possibility of losing the save.
  
• An issue with Squads leaving resources in buildings during scavenging and not coming back for them has been fixed.
  
• An issue with Squads parking Vehicles outside Medieval Walls when coming back with resources has been fixed.
  
• An issue with Polearms not being treated as weapons during the ransom event has been fixed.
  
• An issue with workers sometimes having square shadows on a certain zoom-out has been fixed.
  
• An issue that could have resulted in the game crashing during the autosave has been fixed.
  
• An issue that could have resulted in the game not working on the GeForce NOW has been fixed.
  
• An issue with the captured Squad participating in the fight during the ransom event has been fixed.
  
• An issue that resulted in the camera zooming in when using the TAB and H buttons has been fixed.
  
• Several changes aimed at optimizing the game and reducing the number of crashes have been introduced.
  

[h2]Console Commands - Manual[/h2]

We have recently noticed that some players are having issues with the game due to the usage of modding software. Such software is never recommended on our side. The risk of crashing or corrupting your gameplay is high, and the safety of those applications is not guaranteed. Instead, we encourage the usage of the console commands. A new manual has been published to make them easier to understand.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3460388899

Best regards,
Jutsu Games Team

[h2]Greetings, Survivors![/h2]

It has been a full year since Infection Free Zone launched in Early Access! The game was released on April 11, 2024, and its popularity has vastly exceeded our expectations. Since then, we have been doing our best to improve Infection Free Zone to the best of our ability. We remain extremely thankful for your support, passion, and engagement with the game. Let's take a quick look at the upcoming Major Update #4 - Part 2 and check some general statistics of our game!

[h2]Major Update #4 - Part 2 Preview[/h2]

Major Update #4 - Part 2 will be smaller than Major Update #4. It will mainly consist of the things that we wanted to add for Major Update #4, but haven't managed to do so in time. While Lairs of the Infected have been moved to Major Update #5, below is the list of the highlights that we plan to bring you sometime in the second part of May 2025:

• Building Split Functionality
  
• Create Squad with Skills
  
• Scrapyard Building
  
• Shooting Range Building
  
• Fisherman Building
  

Other than that, we are still working on improving the performance, reducing the number of crashes, and solving the issues with autosave.

[h3]Building Split Functionality[/h3]



A lot of players have made requests for an option that would allow them to split buildings. It's fully understandable. Some areas consist of huge buildings that can feel underused, especially if we decide to adapt only a small part of them. The building split will allow buildings to be split into two parts. Mind you, it won't be possible to split buildings vertically.

[h3] Create Squad with Skills[/h3]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

The squad's skills are another area that we want to make more accessible for the players. We have received reports from the community that some players tend to save/load the game until their Squads have a perfect combination of perks that they like the most. With this new feature, players will be able to choose their desired perks right at the beginning at the cost of longer training time.

[h3]Shooting Range Building[/h3]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Three new buildings will be added in Major Update #4 - Part 2. Shooting Range will allow the existing squads to train their shooting skills. It's going to take some time and use up ammunition, but the squads will end up with useful combat-oriented skills after a few training sessions.

[h3]Scrapyard Building[/h3]

Scrapyard Building will help with the management of the metal resource in the Zone. Using cans, ammo, and metal in general will result in this resource stacking in the Scrapyard building. After unlocking the corresponding research, players will have a chance to recycle the metal to get it back.

[h3]Fisherman Building[/h3]

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Fisherman Building will provide another alternative way of gathering food. After the recent addition of the huntable animals, this building will provide yet another source of meat. The limitation? The building has to be built next to a water reservoir of a specific size.

[h2]1-Year Anniversary[/h2]

Let's take a look at some statistics after a full year since the launch!

• Infection Free Zone has been played by over 600,000 players on Steam!
  
• Over 10,000,000 new games have been started!
  
• Players have played on 400,000 different maps!
  
• Over 2,000,000,000 infected have been killed!
  
• Over 10,000 bug reports have been sent by the community!
  
• In 2025, the most popular maps so far were San Francisco, Edinburgh, Beijing, Washington, and Peschiera del Garda!
  
• The following countries have the biggest number of players: China, United States, Germany!
  

Thank you for playing Infection Free Zone!

[h2]New builds on the Open Beta branch[/h2]

If you are interested in testing the newest additions to the game, we encourage you to check the builds that are published on the open_beta branch on a regular basis. All the updates to the open_beta branch are archived in this discussion, so we encourage you to follow the thread.

How to join the open_beta branch:

➡️ Right-click on Infection Free Zone in your library,
➡️ Click on "Properties..." on the list,
➡️ Choose the "Betas" tab,
➡️ Select the "open_beta" branch from the list.
➡️ The newest build should start downloading. Enjoy!

Thank you once again for playing Infection Free Zone! We are grateful for every single person in our community. It's really amazing to see our player base grow, and we haven't even fully released the game yet! This makes us truly optimistic about the Infection Free Zone's future. If you haven't joined our Discord yet, we also recommend doing so, as all the smallest updates, also about the open_beta builds, are being published there first. Stay safe, Survivors!

Best regards,
Jutsu Games Team