Build 42.17: What Multiplayer Server Admins Need to Know
Build 42.17 dropped on April 20, 2026 and it's packed with changes that directly affect how dedicated servers behave. From an experimental Sprinters toggle for multiplayer to seven new sandbox spawn locations and a critical Apocalypse mode fix, here's everything you need to act on before your next restart.
Sprinters in Multiplayer — New Server Toggle
The headline feature for server admins: you can now enable Sprinter zombies on multiplayer servers. This has been a singleplayer-only option since B41. Indie Stone explicitly calls it a prototype and is watching for edge cases under heavy load, so treat it as a beta feature.
To enable it, set the following in your servertest.ini:
ZombieSpeedFiles=SprintersOr configure it via the Sandbox Options → Zombie Lore → Speed panel when creating a new game. Existing worlds can toggle the setting but expect a population reset for newly-generated chunks.
Seven New Sandbox Spawn Locations
Sandbox mode now lets players choose specific Exclusion Zone towns as spawn points. The new options are:
| Town | Notes |
|---|---|
| Brandenburg | Small rural town, low initial loot density, good for hardcore starts |
| Echo Creek | Suburban layout with residential areas |
| Ekron | Industrial zone, strong early-game food scarcity |
| Lake Ivy | Lakeside area with fishing potential |
| Iverton | Commercial district, high zombie density |
| March Ridge | Previously accessible but not a selectable spawn |
| Valley Station | Transit-adjacent, good for early vehicle access |
These are Sandbox-only — Survival and Apocalypse modes still use the standard spawn system. For RP servers using Sandbox presets, you can now lock players to a specific starting town via the spawn config.
Apocalypse Mode: Wound Infection Now Lethal
This is the biggest balance change for servers running the default Apocalypse preset. Wound Infection Damage Factor has been changed from 0.0 to 1.0, meaning infected wounds will now actually kill you if left untreated.
In prior B42 patches, wound infections were cosmetic. Players could ignore them. With 42.17, this changes — untreated scratches from infected zombies and environment sources will escalate. Make sure your server population knows:
- Keep antibiotics and bandages in regular rotation
- The Tailoring skill now uses dental floss as a thread substitute — worth scavenging
- Bleach + water disinfecting remains reliable
Vehicles Spawn with Normal Fuel in Apocalypse
Also in Apocalypse: vehicles now spawn with normal fuel levels instead of the previous low-fuel default. This smooths the brutal early-game loop where players were walking for hours before finding a functional vehicle. For hardcore server presets, you can restore the old behavior via:
# In SandboxVars.lua or Sandbox config
VehicleEasyUse=false
FuelStationGas=ScarceOccupation & Trait Balance Changes
Several occupations have been rebalanced. If you're running an RP server with custom occupation restrictions, review these changes:
| Occupation / Trait | Change |
|---|---|
| Chef | Now correctly starts with blade proficiency instead of blunt |
| Farmer | Receives a Strength stat boost reflecting physical labor |
| DIY Expert | Now grants the Inventive trait at start |
| Smoker | Small trait point cost increase |
| High Thirst | Small trait point cost increase |
Loot Distribution Across Game Modes
'Other loot' categories — cigarettes, dental floss, miscellaneous crafting items — have had their drop rates increased across all modes. Exception: Extinction mode drop rates are unchanged to preserve its scarcity design. If your server is tuned around a specific economy, run a test session before pushing the update to players.
Multiplayer Bug Fixes Worth Noting
- Split-screen characters can now be continued in the next play session (previously broken)
- Infected player characters now correctly transform into zombies on death in multiplayer
- Toggle-sitting action now works properly in co-op sessions
Recommended Upgrade Path
If your server is already on B42 Unstable, the upgrade is straightforward:
- Take a full save backup before updating (saves can break between unstable patches)
- Update via SteamCMD:
app_update 380870 -beta unstable validate - Restart the server and verify with a test login
- If enabling Sprinters, announce it to your players — existing chunks won't change but new areas will spawn sprinter zombies
Running a large PZ community? Supercraft's Build 42 servers include automated rolling backups and one-click unstable-branch switching so you can test 42.17 without risking your stable world.