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Project Zomboid 42.22 Arrives on New Pre-Release Branch With Ladders and Crowbars

· 2 min read · ModsDrop

Official image from Project Zomboid
Image: official, via Steam.

The Indie Stone has put Build 42.22 up for testing on a branch called Pre-Release, which takes over from the old Unstable branch. The name change is meant to clear up confusion that had built up around Unstable over Build 42’s long testing history. The default Stable branch stays on 42.21 while 42.22 goes through its final checks.

If you just play the game normally, nothing changes for you right now. The Indie Stone says most players should stick with Stable while Pre-Release gets vetted. The branch is aimed at modders, server admins and players who don’t mind things breaking in exchange for an early look.

How to get into the Pre-Release branch

Back up any save you care about first. Then right-click Project Zomboid in your Steam library, open Properties, go to “Game Versions & Betas” and pick Pre-Release. The Indie Stone is blunt about the risk: don’t put a long-term singleplayer save on this branch unless it’s backed up, since there’s no guarantee it will carry over cleanly once 42.22 reaches Stable.

Going forward, new builds will generally land on Pre-Release first and sit there for at least a week before moving to Stable, unless an urgent hotfix needs to skip straight there. If testers find bugs that need another pass, The Indie Stone plans to revise the build and post updates through its forums, Reddit and Discord.

Ladders and crowbars headline the update

The big addition is the first stage of ladder interaction. You can now climb placed ladders on the map using the E key, which The Indie Stone points to as a way to finally reach the top of the Rosewood Fire Station or stay clear of empty pools. They’re asking Pre-Release testers to check ladders across Knox Country to make sure they all work properly.

Crowbars get a real use beyond combat and stripping window frames. Right-click a locked window, door, garage door or gate and you can now force it open, though security doors and jail cells are out of reach. Burglars are faster and quieter at it, strength helps everyone, and repeated failed attempts can damage the crowbar.

Smaller fixes worth knowing about

Beyond those two features, 42.22 cleans up a long list of issues: better tree rendering while driving, the ability to push heavy loads if you drop encumbering items, sleep blocked by a Bad Smell moodle, and opening ammo boxes while walking. Animal deaths tied to unloading cells, starving rabbit kits and vanishing chickens are addressed too, along with the character duplication bug and PvP damage calculations moving server-side for more consistent results. There are also trailer physics fixes and a repair for the “All Known on Start” sandbox option.

What this means for mod users

Project Zomboid has an active modding scene, so anyone running mods should treat this the same way as any major build change. Mod authors can use the Pre-Release branch to check compatibility before 42.22 goes to Stable, and players relying on mods for servers or singleplayer runs should hold off moving those saves over until mods are confirmed to work. Keep a backup of your save regardless of which branch you’re on, and expect some mods to need updates once 42.22 is officially out on Stable.

Based on the developer's announcement on Steam, 27 October 2026.

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