PREVIEW – inZOI and the secret weapon that The Sims – the long-time king of life sims – never had. With AI-driven innovation, this new contender is redefining modding in a way we’ve never seen before.

Fans of life simulation games have been caught off guard by just how much promise inZOI shows, even in its early access state. With its ultra-realistic systems and deep potential, the game is already being viewed as a true challenger to The Sims. Like any modern title, players are already envisioning the vast library of mods that could roll out over time—a crucial feature for those who love character creation and virtual lifestyles, especially those steeped in EA’s long-standing franchise. But what makes this all the more intriguing is that Krafton’s new release is launching with a feature that took The Sims years to develop: a fully engaged modding community ready to enhance the game from day one.

We’re not just talking about silly mods that let you play as Shrek or CJ from GTA: San Andreas. Those are basically guaranteed to arrive (if they haven’t already). What matters more are the serious additions that elevate the base experience—be it through custom cosmetics, gameplay tweaks, or entirely new systems. EA took years to foster a modding culture around its flagship sim series, largely because that kind of player-driven ecosystem simply didn’t exist when the first game launched back in 2000. inZOI, on the other hand, has it from the jump because the modding mindset is already deeply embedded in gaming culture.

But Krafton isn’t stopping there. They’re dropping a modding bombshell with features that could completely reshape how the community interacts with the game. From deep customization tools to expansive build options, lifelike routines, and AI integration, inZOI delivers a modding playground. In The Sims, these kinds of systems could only be achieved with community mods. Now, modders have a tall order: they’ll need to beat the game’s own native innovations to stay relevant.

Mods: The Beating Heart of Life Sims

So, are mods that important to a game like this? For millions of PC gamers—especially diehard Sims players—the answer is a loud and clear “yes.” In life simulation games, mods aren’t just a luxury; they’re a necessity. Take a look at the Sims 4 Mods subreddit, which boasts over 150,000 members, with daily discussions ranging from troubleshooting broken add-ons to showcasing brand-new creations.

Modders have transformed The Sims 4 with custom traits, pregnancy overhauls, deadly illnesses, and even drug dealing mechanics. Sure, people love cosmetic mods like new haircuts, makeup, and fashion—but the real game-changers are those that improve quality of life. Think auto-paying bills (so your Sim doesn’t lose power), or ensuring they actually sleep through the night instead of randomly waking up for no reason.

Then there’s the wild stuff. Hardcore mods introduce complex traits, medical emergencies, full-on hospital visits, and yes—even drug use and trafficking. These additions might sound crazy, but many fans embrace them for making the game more immersive and unpredictable. As the modding scene expanded, some players now consider modding an essential part of the Sims experience—they simply won’t play without it.

That passion can sometimes boil over. The developer behind Wicked Whims—a notorious mod that removes censors and adds explicit adult content—was harassed, threatened, and even doxxed for not updating it fast enough after a patch. While rare, incidents like this highlight just how crucial mods are to many players. For them, the base game is only the beginning.

inZOI’s Mission: Make It Fully Customizable

Given all that, it’s obvious that inZOI fans are going to mod the hell out of it. Krafton knows this too, which is why they’re proactively partnering with Overwolf, the company behind CurseForge—one of the biggest mod platforms around, hosting nearly 80,000 mods for The Sims 4 alone. Their goal? Recruit creators and lay the foundation for inZOI’s modding scene before the full version even launches.

“Over time, we plan to expand support to more areas of the game, so you can customize and enrich the experience in many different ways.” – Krafton

Better yet, modding won’t be locked behind barriers. Krafton is building an official toolset to make it easier than ever to create and install mods. One of their main objectives is to “make inZOI a highly moddable game.” According to a Steam post regarding Denuvo’s removal in early access, “The first phase of official modding support will launch in May, enabling creators to use tools like Maya and Blender to build custom content.”

With this open-door policy, modders are free to go wild. We can expect to see new hairstyles, outfits, and features that weren’t available in the early access release. But there’s a twist: AI is changing everything about how these mods will be built.

Modding in the Age of AI

By now you’ve probably seen clips of inZOI’s AI tools in action—generating shirts, pants, accessories and more. Players can type a command to add patterns to clothes or upload an image to be turned into an in-game design. Beyond that, there’s a 3D Printer feature that converts pictures into models, and facial scanning tech that mirrors your expressions on your character in real-time.

All of this covers what used to require extensive modding in The Sims. But now, it’s native to inZOI. That means modders no longer need to waste time making 50 different shirts or sunglasses—players can generate them on the fly. The bar has been raised, and now modders must focus on deeper, more impactful gameplay changes.

And let’s be clear: the wild mods aren’t going anywhere. If The Sims had drugs and death, inZOI will too. In fact, someone’s already working on WickedZoi, a spiritual successor to Wicked Whims, tailored specifically for Krafton’s platform. It’s only a matter of time before the more “mature” content shows up again.

Some players are worried that Krafton, being based in South Korea, might ban mods with nudity or explicit sex. For now, the studio has stayed quiet on that front and continues to promote its mod-friendly stance. That has the community buzzing with excitement about what’s to come. After all, this is the first serious competitor The Sims has ever had—one that’s not only matching it, but possibly surpassing it. With mods in the mix, inZOI might not just be a rival… it could be the future.

-Herpai Gergely “BadSector”-