Hello everyone,
This week, I’d like to finally begin the long-awaited discussion about inZOI’s console development.
It’s been a long journey getting here, but we’re now ready to share more details about our direction, what we hope to achieve, and most importantly, a much clearer timeline for when you can expect inZOI on PlayStation 5. I’ll start with that first before explaining why we adjusted our previous schedule.
We are currently planning to release inZOI for PlayStation 5 in the first half of 2027.
For the PC version, we released the game in Early Access before it was considered complete. We chose this approach intentionally so we could receive direct feedback from players throughout development, improve the game based on that feedback, and continue repeating that cycle together with the community. That process has been incredibly valuable in helping us build the foundation of inZOI.
Originally, we hoped to follow a similar approach for the console version. However, as we studied the console player base and platform environment more closely, we realized expectations for console games are often quite different. Console players are generally accustomed to receiving a more complete and polished experience from the very beginning, without major setbacks during the process.
After understanding that perspective, we felt we needed to approach the PlayStation version differently, even if it meant changing the way we’ve developed inZOI so far. Because of this, we have been focusing on improving every aspect we can imagine of the unreleased PS5 version as much as possible.
This includes bringing our large, immersive cities full of autonomous Zois to console hardware while carefully optimizing performance for fixed system specifications. We are also redesigning the experience around the DualSense controller rather than keyboard and mouse controls, while considering gameplay on larger TV screens viewed from a greater distance than typical monitors or laptops.
We do not simply want to recreate the PC version one-to-one on console.
We want the experience to feel natural and fully suited for console players. Beyond smooth gameplay, we are also carefully considering screen transitions, UI structures, controls, and many other details that should feel comfortable when playing inZOI on PlayStation 5.
Most importantly, we want players to feel that even with just the base game of inZOI, they already have a complete and satisfying experience.
These are ambitious goals for the PlayStation version of inZOI, and we hope we can meet those expectations when the game releases in the first half of 2027. Because of this development structure, we expect it to be difficult for us to hold large-scale public beta tests for console players, which I know may disappoint some of you. However, because our philosophy of developing alongside player feedback has proven so valuable for inZOI, we still want to involve the community—especially players who primarily play on consoles—in the continued development of the PlayStation version.
We are planning to compile some gameplay videos where we demonstrate how different aspects of inZOI are being adapted for controller gameplay and larger screens. After watching, we hope you’ll share your thoughts on what feels right, what could be improved, and what you believe would create the best possible console experience. Whether through Discord or another suitable platform, we want to gather your feedback this way in the near future.
In the meantime, let me know what you’re most looking forward to when imagining inZOI on PlayStation 5.
- Are you hoping for experiences that are unique to console gaming?
- Or do you simply want the same experience as PC, playable on PS5?
- What matters most to you when playing games on console?
Write down your thoughts in the comments. We’ll be reading your feedback and apply it where we can throughout development. Then, we’ll continue this discussion when we share that development video with all of you.
We thank you sincerely for your patience while waiting for the console release of inZOI. We will continue working hard to create an experience that feels meaningful, polished, and truly enjoyable from the perspective of a console player.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you again in my replies next week.
—Kjun
Kjun’s Reply to Your Comments
Hello, this is kjun.
A few days ago, we shared through Discord that the release schedule for the PS5 version of inZOI has been postponed to the first half of 2027. We sincerely wanted to bring the PS5 version to you within this year. However, as we reflected on the development experience of the PC version, which is currently in Early Access, we came to think more deeply about the level of quality inZOI must achieve in a console environment. Through that process, we have taken seriously the fact that there are still many areas we need to improve in order to meet the expectations of our players.
Once again, we sincerely apologize for adjusting the release schedule in order to thoroughly address these areas and properly raise the overall quality of the game. For our console players in particular, we believe the best way to repay your expectations is to ensure that, with a single purchase of the main game, you can fully enjoy a rich and deep gameplay experience. For that reason, we would like to take more time and prepare the PS5 version with greater care and depth.
Despite the disappointing news of the delay, many players have told us that it is better to take a careful approach and improve the quality, rather than rushing out an unfinished version. Many of you have also shown support and encouragement for our transparent communication. Each and every one of your warm messages has been a tremendous source of strength for me and the development team. Thank you sincerely.
Many of you also shared the opinion that, considering the differences in expectations and gameplay experience between console and PC players, it would be better in the long term to release the PS5 version after the PC version has reached a sufficient level of stability and feature completeness. Our development team fully agrees with this view.
In particular, the PS5 version must pass Sony’s strict guidelines and certification process, which means we need to secure a high level of stability and optimization. The team in charge recognizes the importance of this process very seriously and is treating it as a top priority. At the same time, we aim to minimize the update gap between the PC and PS5 versions at the time of the PS5 release, so that console players do not feel left behind.
Ultimately, I believe that the best way to repay the love and interest you have shown us is to reflect the many opinions and improvement requests we discuss here, and to continue developing both the PC and PlayStation versions together.
We are also carefully monitoring each of the feature improvement and addition requests you have shared through Discord. Today, I would like to share some of the actual preparations the development team is currently focusing on for the console version.
Console-optimized controls and UI/UX improvements
To create a gamepad control experience that feels right for inZOI, we are studying strong examples from various global console titles. While the current UI layout is based primarily on keyboard and mouse controls, we are focusing on optimizing the control flow so that menus and UI elements on screen can also be selected and controlled comfortably with a gamepad.
We are also preparing gamepad button customization, including key mapping, to improve user convenience. In addition, for players who prefer keyboard and mouse controls even in a console environment, we plan to support those input options as well.
Console-exclusive content and feature expansion
As shown recently with fishing gameplay that uses DualSense features, we are working to add more content and features that make use of the unique appeal of the console environment. We are also doing our best to optimize the in-game canvas feature, which many players have asked about, so that it can be experienced in a form suitable for the PS5 environment.
In addition, the valuable ideas you have shared regarding family systems, daily routines, graphics, animations, and other areas are being carefully reviewed within the development team. Rather than being bound only by a fixed update plan, we will continue to think more deeply about what kind of fun our players truly want.
The valuable experience and know-how we are gaining through the Early Access period of the PC version are becoming an important asset for us. By building on that experience, we promise to bring you the PS5 version in a more stable, polished, and complete form.
Thank you sincerely to all of our players for continuing to trust and support our communication, and for generously sharing your feedback for the success of inZOI. We will continue building inZOI together with you.
Thank you.
kjun 
We don’t just report bugs; many players offer very interesting proposals for game mechanics.
