inZoi har lappet opp evnen til å kjøre over barn etter at spillingen har blitt viral

Krafton has removed the ability to run over children in inZoi after a viral video showed the unintended feature. The company called it an "unintended bug" and assured stronger internal reviews.

inZoi, one of Steam’s most wishlisted games, has become the center of controversy after a viral video revealed a surprising bug: the ability to run over children in the game. After the footage went viral, Krafton, the developer and publisher behind the game, took immediate action and patched out this feature, calling it an "unintended bug."

What Happened?

It all started when a video showing a player running over child NPCs in inZoi surfaced online. The video quickly spread across Reddit and social media, sparking widespread criticism. Players immediately speculated that it was likely not an intended feature of the game. The game’s world is highly realistic and grounded, and the fact that children were present as NPCs made this bug even more troubling. This gameplay interaction was never meant to exist in the first place, and it definitely didn't align with the game's values.

In response, Krafton issued a statement to IGN, stating:

“These depictions are highly inappropriate and do not reflect the intent and values of inZoi.”

They went on to emphasize the seriousness of the matter, particularly concerning age-appropriate content. Krafton also reassured fans that they were strengthening their internal review processes to ensure similar incidents wouldn’t occur in the future.

As of now, the bug has been patched, and it is no longer possible to engage in such actions within the game. The company’s swift response was an effort to distance itself from this controversial issue and to uphold its commitment to delivering responsible content.

A History of "Off-Limits" Child NPCs in Games

While it's not uncommon for games to feature children as playable characters or even as part of the story (like Ellie in The Last of Us: Left Behind), games generally avoid allowing players to harm child NPCs. This rule exists for both ethical reasons and to prevent potentially offensive content.

For example, Grand Theft Auto has never included children as NPCs in its open-world environment, likely due to the violent nature of the game. Even Cyberpunk 2077, which did feature child NPCs, took precautions by ensuring that it was impossible to physically harm them. Attempting to run over or attack child characters in Cyberpunk 2077 would result in the action being blocked, reinforcing the idea that games should steer clear of involving children in harmful ways.

Krafton’s decision to patch out the bug is in line with these industry standards. While it's true that modders can still potentially modify the game to bring back controversial features, this patch ensures that at the base level, inZoi will no longer allow such inappropriate content.

Krafton’s Response

We recently also highlighted how inZOI is confidently overshadowing The Sims as the top life simulation game.

The patch was issued quickly after the viral reaction, and Krafton has made it clear that the feature wasn’t intentional. They’ve promised to continue enhancing their internal review processes, likely to prevent similar issues from slipping through the cracks in the future.

In their statement, Krafton assured fans that the depiction of children being harmed would never be part of the game’s design, and this move demonstrates their commitment to ensuring their titles are responsible and respectful. The game’s tone is meant to be immersive and realistic, but this type of content goes beyond what is acceptable for a game of inZoi's nature.

A Step Forward for Gaming Ethics?

It’s also worth noting that inZOI is currently going viral, with an average of 75,000 concurrent players and high ratings on Steam, despite criticism from journalists.

This incident brings up broader questions about the portrayal of children in games and the boundaries developers must navigate to avoid crossing ethical lines. While inZoi may not have intentionally allowed harm to children, the rapid patch demonstrates how quickly the gaming community can hold developers accountable. It’s a reminder of the importance of clear content guidelines and responsible game design.

This patch may be the end of the discussion about the bug in inZoi, but the larger conversation around content moderation in games is ongoing. It's clear that players and developers alike are paying attention to these sensitive issues, and Krafton’s proactive response shows that they are committed to upholding a respectful and responsible gaming experience.

In the end, while the incident was unfortunate, it also serves as an example of how game developers can learn from mistakes and improve their products. Krafton has set a precedent for other companies, showing that when bugs or controversial content arise, the best course of action is swift, transparent, and responsible patching.