HumanitZ Update 1.03

Hey, we’re back with another update! This one took a bit longer than we would have liked in-line with our stated bi-weekly updates due to some major performance changes we’ve made. which is why things have taken longer than expected and ever so slightly set us back with things such as the Road Map, new content, more QoL features being added. Rest assured, those things are still coming. But for now, let’s get into what we’ve been working on these past few weeks. Our first major point is that Steam Deck is now ‘stable’ and can be run on MEDIUM-HIGH settings. This is the first phase of getting the full official Steam Deck release solidified, so huge shoutout to the Steam Deck users providing that feedback and assistance!

Getting into the finer details and technical insight into one of the biggest challenges, we’ve moved the game from hard references to soft references. What does that mean? Previously, with hard references, the game was loading everything into memory as soon as you launched it and causing huge VRAM problems. With 1.0 being bigger and more demanding graphically than during Early Access, that approach just wasn’t sustainable, especially for lack of a better term “seasoned” computer systems.

By switching to soft references, the assets are now loaded and unloaded into the world asynchronously, which has resulted in significant improvement. This also helps lower spec PCs run the game more smoothly and returns Steam Deck to a playable (and better) status.Additionally, we’ve optimized the Zeeks perception targeting systems (hearing and sight) in order to reduce the number of calculations the game is doing per second, returning more performance to the players and within reason allowing higher zombie multipliers in both single player and multiplayer.We have a lot of exciting news coming in 2026 regarding the future of HumanitZ, and with that news will come the need for more people joining the team. Over the past few weeks, we have been honored with the assistance of Zuq, who has been streamlining a lot of our server admin tools and currently crafting new never-before-seen systems unique to HumanitZ which will not only increase accessibility for server admins in monitoring, maintaining, and managing their private servers, but also enhancing the security and tracking of our Official Servers. So big shoutout to Zuq and looking forward to getting these features out to our community!We should return to our bi-weekly (every other week) bug fixes and updates as planned for 1.04, but as always, if there is something that will take a little longer that is worth the delay, we will be sure to let you know ahead of time. Thank you all for the support and if things go as planned, have some exciting news for you all very soon! The next update (1.04) we’ll be looking to reduce the micro-stutters when loading map chunks and a full bug fix patch, then we can look at the roadmap and the next big content update.And finally over the next few weeks we’ll be looking to grow and expand our team to work on making HumanitZ even better. So if you are an experienced dev and looking for a new challenge feel free to reach out and share your talents with us.All the Best,
HZ TeamHumanitZ Update 1.03

New Additions- New Full Fireman outfit pieces… “collect the whole set!”Changes/ QOL- Rebuilt the whole game to become soft reference to help improve memory load
- Changes to AI perception for performance improvements
- Asset optimization and retexturing
- Added vehicle inactivity recycling (no more abandoned vehicles after 2 weeks)
- Increased backpack spawn rates for higher tier backpacks
- Increased overall backpack spawn rates on servers
- Rebalancing of stacking values for various items (ex: ammo now goes to 200)
- Can now repair vehicle parts even when vehicle is at 100% condition
- Repair kits should now repair vehicle status and vehicle parts regardless of armor modifications
- Repositioned storage container loot placement to prevent looting through walls
- Power Substation parts no longer degrade
- Removed Sharpening Stone from Trader Loot which caused unusable Sharpening Stones
- Adjusted color values of camo clothing and items
- Added more loot to The Island
- Reduced magazine drop rate on Bandit enemies
- Increased/decreased loot chances respectively for each setting for servers/owners
- Added “Official Server ban only” to our internal tracker so people are not removed from private server play
- Changed “Infection Treatment” text to read “It’s Not a Cure” title for unlocked skills in Chemist profession
- Adjusted sound attenuation on Power Substation when it is active
- Adjusted sound attenuation of footsteps on concrete
- Caesar now gives you a Pressure Valve when sending you on the quest for fuel
- Pressure valves no longer stack
- Improvements to snow covered props during snow
- Added Doc Keycard spawn chance in main labBug Fixes- Fixed multiple duplication methods
- Added blocking volumes so players can no longer build outside the actual bunker itself
- Amateur Boxer Profession now correctly does their custom takedown
- Fixed furniture respawning edge case issues
- Adding attachments no longer destroys ammunition in weapons
- Putting weapons away in storages, dropping them, or logging out no longer deletes ammunition
- Adjusted AWM and Barrett bullet pathing to target
- Campfires will now stay lit during inclement weather inside train cars
- Added missing Car Salesmen Passive to Profession Selection UI
- Fixed looting PCs not properly accounting for having been looted for Skill requirement unlock
- Fixed bunker loot spawning zero items
- Fixed bunkers instantly respawning loot in some cases
- Server loot settings adhere to the setting selected
- Server building health values now reflect appropriately
- Skeletons no longer stop your vehicle when running over them or hitting them
- Fixed airdrops not coming in during Extraction Horde Mode scenario
- Fixed waves not completing correctly during the Extraction Horde Mode scenario
- Fixed not being able to use your horse when showing offline on Steam
- Fixed horse despawning during connection loss to servers
- Fixed Improvised Shovel and standard Shovel from not digging graves
- Fixed death crates not dropping or deleting themselves (ensure your settings for ON DEATH are correct)
- Fixed quest turn-in issue for stacked items/multiple items not being recognized
- Fixed Sue’s generator quest from deleting added materials when saving and exiting in single player
- Fixed pressure valve deleting itself in single player
- Fixed fuel pumps refilling when saving exploit in single player
- Fixed fuel pumps deleting all fuel when starting a new game, saving, and loading back in
- Fixed reported challenges from not registering in single player
- Fixed LMG not unloading ammunition correctly/stacking issue
- Fixed Hacking Devices not working on player crafted doors & storage containers
- Fixed doors relocking themselves…again
- Fixed Doc not showing up at the camp during server and hosted multiplayer sessions
- Fixed various tutorial issues
- Fixed various text issues/typos
- Fixed various map and terrain issuesComing Soon
2026 Road Map
Modding Support
Console(s) release information