To keep it as short and simple as possible: We don't give ETAs because they lead to far more frustration and disappointment, and we want to make sure we get things right. The game will be released from Early Access once we complete our initial goals listed here[web.archive.org], minus the browser version, because it's 2023.

Full detailed explanation of why this pin exists:

Since there's recently been a growth of "Why in EA threads", we thought a pinned thread might be of benefit to link to. We're aware not everyone reads pinned threads, but it's worth another shot. The threads normally get locked, because of arguing or people insulting each other - which we'd like to make clear we do not tolerate, regardless if you are defending the game or not.

Let's start out with the release of previous Builds, prior to B41 (which was a complete overhaul):

Build Number

IWBUMS Release (Public Beta)

Final Stable Release

B42

Estimated for 2024

(No ETAs)

B41

Oct 2019

Dec 2022

B40

June 2018

Dec 2018

B39

May 2017

May 2018

B38

June 2017

Sept 2017

B37

Jan 2017

May 2017

B36

Dec 2016

Jan 2017

Also bear in mind that within these time frames, these received further updates, for example within the B41 timeframe, it received over 70 updates.

You can read about what the updates contained, and every single update given to the game from here.[pzwiki.net]

[Originally Posted by Captain Binky]
All of this comes down to the words "Early Access". Back when we first released, when Desura was still a thing and the primary place to buy Zomboid, they put the selection of such games under the banner "Alpha Funding" which is a much more accurate description of what they were.

When Valve brought a similar set of games to Steam, that title was clearly not broad enough - they clearly wanted a term which also included the sort of game which might, say, be in an open beta. So they picked "Early Access" which I think on balance is a pretty good name. The trouble is, that it does somewhat imply the more "open beta, moving to full release in maybe a couple of months but you can play it now" sort of game than "this game is in active development over a very long duration, but it is perfectly playable currently".

With the mindset of the former, it does beg the question of when on Earth the game might finally be released. But we're not that kind of game - the answer to when our game releases is that it has already been released. It's still called "Early Access" because our game remains in active development and so to come out of Early Access would give just as much the wrong impression ("we're done working on this game") as remaining in Early Access ("this game will release shortly"). So whichever option we pick, it's not really the correct message unless Valve create some sort of "Active Development" banner you can attach to "released" games.

In any event, we have our own logic for when we would make that transition - and that will be when we have implemented every feature we set out to implement back when we first talked about this game. When that's all done, we'll call the build a 1.0 build, and come out of Early Access, but it still won't be "finished".