For 25 years, EA’s The Sims has predominantly dominated the life simulation genre since its debut. However, Krafton’s forthcoming release, InZoi, seems poised to emerge as a noteworthy rival, boasting more realistic characters compared to The Sims’ animated figures. Despite this, InZoi’s director, Hyungjun Kim, expresses a substantial admiration for The Sims, clarifying that he doesn’t regard the two titles as direct competitors.
“We perceive InZoi not as a rival to The Sims, but rather as an alternative option that enthusiasts of this genre can appreciate,” Kim stated during a conversation with PC Gamer. “We hold significant respect for the legacy that The Sims has established over time, as we acknowledge that achieving such depth in a limited timeframe is a formidable challenge. The intricate and expansive nature of life simulation games encompasses the complex concept of ‘life,’ which makes it challenging to capture every nuance.”
Kim further elaborated on a few of the features of InZoi that distinguish it from The Sims. In addition to the realistic appearance of characters and their surroundings, he mentioned that InZoi offers “detailed customization options and AI-enhanced creative tools.” Krafton has noted in the past that the AI elements enable avatars to develop distinct personalities and even allow players to utilize images of furniture to convert an object into a 3D model suitable for use within the game.
Initially, InZoi was expected to enter early access in late 2024, before it was postponed until March 28 for PC, with a console launch to follow.