The Indie Stone studio rolled out update 42.22 for the pre‑release branch of Project Zomboid on Steam. The headline feature is fully functional stairs, allowing players to ascend and descend freely.

The crowbar has been overhauled: it now breaks locked doors, windows and garage gates. Success hinges on the character’s strength and the "Locksmith" skill, while heavily fortified objects like prison cells stay uncrackable.

Developers also revamped the patch deployment pipeline – unstable branches are retired, and public testing now runs for at least a week before merging into the main line. Balance changes include opening ammo boxes on the move, carrying items in both hands, and banning sleep near sources of strong foul odors.