The Indie Stone has released update 42.22 for Project Zomboid's pre-release branch, adding usable ladders and the ability to pry open doors with a crowbar, while also adjusting the version testing process. New builds will now undergo at least one week of testing on the pre-release branch before being promoted to the stable version, provided no critical issues are found.
This update introduces the first implementation of the ladder system, allowing players to climb up and down ladders. As there are numerous such structures in Knox County, the development team hopes users on the test branch will help identify any potential bugs.
Crowbars can now pry open locked windows, doors, and garage doors, but cannot open more heavily secured objects such as prison cells. The speed of prying is affected by the character's Strength level, and the "Burglar" trait provides additional benefits.
Other adjustments include the ability to push items even when both hands are occupied, opening ammo boxes while moving, and preventing characters from sleeping near sources of foul odors. The team has also fixed issues related to animal deaths, character duplication in multiplayer mode, and player-versus-player damage calculations.
The former "Unstable Branch" has been renamed to the "Pre-Release Branch." The development team aims to shorten the waiting period for major updates through this new testing mechanism and advises players planning to switch to the test version to back up their save files in advance.