Developer The Indie Stone has released new information about some of the systems and gameplay mechanics making their way to Project Zomboid in the future.
In a new dev diary released on Steam, the developer goes into some detail regarding "the build 42 tech upgrade branch", which follows on from build 41 and houses many of the studio's more experimental tech updates and changes.
Perhaps the most interesting of these is the blacksmithing system, which The Indie Stone says has "come a long way in the last month".
According to The Indie Stone, "most items that one could reasonably expect to be blacksmithed can be blacksmithed" in Project Zomboid.
The result of doing so is a "more rugged, crafted version" than the standard item. Examples include a spiked bat, a spear with a wicked-looking tip, and a sharp-looking sword.
The implementation of blacksmithing is pretty in-depth, too; you can essentially create your own crude forge, then work your way up to a proper kiln, a furnace, and even a blast furnace eventually.
As well as the above, the crafting system is also bringing with it a brand new fluid system, and The Indie Stone says it's been hard at work "converting existing systems to the new fluid mechanics".
The above trailer shows that work being applied to dyes, which can be mixed in a container organically to create different colors.
That's just an example, though, and it seems like the fluid mechanics will be applied elsewhere in the game as well, resulting in a more immersive survival sim.
Another thing about which The Indie Stone seems particularly excited are Project Zomboid's new door mechanics.
Doors in the game will now act more realistically; where before they simply flipped open, they're now animated, using the tech branch's depth buffer to increase immersion and simulate real doors.
There's a ton of other interesting information in this Project Zomboid dev diary, so if you're interested in how the game's tech branch is shaping up, it's well worth giving the whole thing a read-through.
Other new introductions include extra voice sets in character creation, various new map touches, and UI improvements for higher resolutions.
If you're not familiar with Project Zomboid, it's a hugely ambitious indie survival sim that's been in development since at least 2011.
The project remains in Early Access, with experimental features like 100-player multiplayer capacity and more being implemented as development progresses.
You can grab the game right now on PC via Steam. Stay tuned for more on this one.
