inZOI Surpasses 1 Million Sales in First Week of Early Access, Krafton Celebrates Milestone
- Mary
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
Krafton and inZOI Studio announced on April 4, 2025, that their new life simulation game, inZOI, has sold over 1 million copies within its first week of Early Access on Steam. The impressive achievement has prompted Krafton to designate the title as a "long-term franchise IP," signaling strong confidence in the game's future potential.
A Heartfelt Thank You to the Community
The milestone announcement came via the official @PlayinZOI account on X, featuring an artistic image of Psycat—a prominent character in the game's marketing—alongside a character painting in a dreamy, pastel-colored world. In their message, the development team expressed sincere gratitude to players:
"It's a number that still feels unreal to us and a milestone we could not have reached without each and every one of you. Your excitement, your creations, your feedback, your content, and your support have brought inZOI to life in ways we never could have imagined."
The team reaffirmed their commitment to continuing development based on player feedback, emphasizing that the game will evolve alongside its community.
What Makes inZOI Stand Out
Impressive Technical Foundations
Developed using Unreal Engine 5, inZOI delivers a visually stunning life simulation experience that many have compared to The Sims, though with distinct features and capabilities. The game's development began in early 2023 under the direction of Hyungjun "Kjun" Kim, with a focus on implementing advanced AI systems to drive lifelike character behaviors and interactions.
Rich, Diverse Environments
At launch, players can explore three open-world environments:
Dowon: Inspired by Seoul, South Korea
Bliss Bay: Modeled after Los Angeles, California
Cahaya: Reflecting Indonesian holiday destinations
Innovative Gameplay Features
The game introduces several unique elements that distinguish it from other life simulators:
A narrative framework where players act as interns at the fictional AR COMPANY
Management of virtual people called "Zoi" through various life stages
A karma system that affects gameplay outcomes
"City edit" mode allows players to customize urban environments
The "Canvas" tool for sharing custom content, which saw over 470,000 creations uploaded on launch day alone
Development History and Public Reception
inZOI was first unveiled at G-STAR 2023 in Busan, South Korea, where it generated significant interest for its detailed graphics and ambitious scope. Krafton later showcased the game at Gamescom 2024 in Cologne, Germany, with a booth designed to resemble AR COMPANY, featuring a large Psycat figure and Samsung Display product integrations.
Community Reactions
Responses on social media have been predominantly positive, with numerous players praising the studio's attentiveness to community feedback:
User @ox_Lea celebrated: "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A STUDIO LISTENS TO ITS PLAYERS! Well done!!"
@LeoGoneSavage highlighted that the game's Early Access content surpasses some decade-old competitors
@Lightsims8 described inZOI as a "dream game," particularly appreciating features like manual driving
Some users have framed inZOI as healthy competition for The Sims franchise, with @ItsCass9 thanking Krafton for providing an alternative that pushes both games to improve.
Areas of Controversy and Requests
Not all feedback has been positive. Some users expressed controversial opinions regarding the game's gender options, while others called for platform expansion, particularly requesting a PS5 version to broaden the game's accessibility and potentially increase sales further.
Future Outlook
Industry analyst @DanielOlimac predicts inZOI could reach 10 million copies sold by the end of 2025, citing its strong start and potential for a "very, very long tail" in sales. Media outlets including IGN and Gematsu have reported on the milestone, emphasizing Krafton's vision for inZOI as a long-term franchise.
The development roadmap includes:
Mod support
Additional cities
Free content expansions until full release
In a letter published on inzoiresource.com, director Kjun acknowledged early issues such as crashes and content limitations but reassured players of the team's dedication: "We truly wish to communicate with you, build this game together, and remain dedicated to that promise."
With its rapidly growing community and clear development vision, inZOI appears positioned to make a significant impact on the life simulation genre, potentially redefining expectations for what such games can offer.
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