Planet Zoo - Update 1.6 and Africa Pack Out Now!

Hayo Zookeepers!

Ready for your next adventure? We're so excited to announce that the Africa Pack and free Update 1.6 have just arrived for Planet Zoo! Update your game now to start playing with this exciting new content!

Update 1.6 is free for everyone, and comes with amazing new features that will really enhance your gameplay experience. In this update, you can expect Bear Updates - including an exciting update to make Polar Bears easier to include in your Zoos (you can read more about that here) - as well as Deep Swimming for multiple bears, so you can create even better habitats for these incredible creatures.
We've also included the exciting addition of Custom Audio Speakers, allowing you to adjust what multiple speakers within your Zoo play, and create the perfect audio-scape for your Guests! We've provided some Frontier tracks to get you started, but you'll also be able to add custom tracks to really up the ambience in your Zoo.

If you're a Planet Coaster fan, you might recognise this one: we're bringing Vista Points to Planet Zoo! Vista Points allow you to guide your Guests to suggested viewing locations in your Zoo, and you can read more about how they can be used here.

You'll also get your hands on a challenging new Timed Scenario set in Central America! In this scenario you'll be taking charge of an animal sanctuary, and will receive new animals in need of your care on a regular basis! This scenario really focuses on the animals you'll be saving and their welfare, and you'll notice this is reflected in the requirements you'll need to complete it. Once you do, though, you'll be able to claim a Chimpanzee statue as your prize!
We'll also be adding a few new building pieces in the free update, including something we think you might have been asking for...we're not mesh-ing around!

As well as the above, you're also getting expanded storage, expanded sandbox settings, and lots more in Update 1.6 - check it all out here, and in the patch notes below!

The Planet Zoo: Africa Pack is adding 5 new creatures, including four habitat animals and one exciting exhibit insect to the Planet Zoo line-up! Get ready to meet the sociable Meerkat, endearing Fennec Fox, amazing African Penguin, striking Southern White Rhinoceros, and the Sacred Scarab Beetle! These new animals will all have their own unique requirements, so you'll need to visit the Zoopedia to find out how best to care for them and keep them happy, and the Meerkat brings with it an entirely new behaviour - digging!

There are also 180+ new African themed scenery pieces to get stuck into for all you builders! These include whole buildings made in the iconic African 'Moorish' architectural style, paths, and decorative items, all of which are designed to help you create stunning new Habitats for your creatures as well as a fully immersive atmosphere for your guests - plus, keep them shaded with new types of foliage, including majestic doum palms, Dragon Blood, and Quiver trees!
We've also included a brand new Timed Scenario, set in a stunning Oasis, where you'll be asked to create a paradise for Guests and Animals from limited resources and power - it'll be tough, but we know you're up to the challenge!

The Planet Zoo: Africa Pack is available for £7.99 ($9.99, 9.99€) on Steam right now.

You must have the Planet Zoo base game to download and play this new content. Update 1.6 is free, and is available for all players now.

We'd like to give a big thank you to our amazing PlanZo Fam for all of the support and feedback you've provided us! We hope you enjoy Update 1.6 and the Planet Zoo: Africa Pack! As always, keep an eye on our forums and social media for all news and announcements, and make sure to tune in to our Planet Zoo: Africa Pack showcase stream at time goes here today!

Now go play and enjoy!

Planet Zoo - 1.6.0 Update Notes
This update contains many more bug fixes, updates and some new content.
New Content - Planet Zoo: Africa Pack 

• NEW - Animals  
  • New animals in the Planet Zoo: Africa Pack 
    • Meerkat
    • Fennec Fox
    • African Penguin
    • Southern White Rhinoceros
    • Sacred Scarab Beetle

  • The following new toy enrichment items are included with the Planet Zoo: Africa Pack:
    • Curio Ball, available for:
      • African Penguin
      • Fennec Fox
      • Western Chimpanzee

    • Tunnel, available for:
      • Fennec Fox
      • Meerkat
      • NOTE: The Tunnel is designed as a classic enrichment item, therefore animals cannot use it to traverse the habitat to reach a certain target point that the animal cannot access by its available modes of locomotion. If animals leave the tunnel in a normally non-traversable area, they could either become stuck and generate welfare issues or escape and be boxed up and returned to their habitat by a zookeeper. Please use the traversable heatmap to check your animals can properly enjoy the tunnel enrichment item!

    • Tennis Ball, available for:
      • Fennec Fox
      • Meerkat

    • A small variation of the Bubble Machine, available for:
      • Fennec Fox

  • New digging behaviour added to the Meerkat
    • Digging will occur on any terrain except rock
    • Meerkats will only dig to places in their habitat that they can reach using standard navigation. 
      • Note: Meerkats will not be able to escape their habitat using this behaviour!

• NEW - Timed Scenario
  • A fresh challenge for you to master: the new timed scenario taking place in an idyllic oasis bazaar. Well, ‘idyllic’ if you’re not counting the failing zoo you’ve just been put in charge of! Your aim is to reboot the power, add sustainable energy options such as solar and wind, and transform the place from a hidden desert gem to a must-see tourist attraction. Are you up to the task?

• NEW - Foliage
  • Doum Palm (3x variants)
  • Quiver Tree (3x variants)
  • Sausage Tree (3x variants)
  • Dragon's Blood Tree (3x variants)

• NEW - Scenery Pieces 
  • Reward statues for the timed scenario:
    • Fennec Fox (4x variants: gold, silver, bronze and stone)

  • North African Plaster Block Square 1m
  • North African Plaster Block Square 2m
  • North African Plaster Block Square 4m
  • North African Plaster Block Rectangle 2m x 1m
  • North African Plaster Block Rectangle 4m x 2m
  • North African Plaster Tower Round 01
  • North African Plaster Tower Round 02
  • North African Plaster Tower Round 03
  • North African Plaster Tower Dome
  • North African Plaster Tower Thin Round 01
  • North African Plaster Tower Thin Round 02
  • North African Plaster Tower Thin Round 03
  • North African Plaster Tower Thick Round 01
  • North African Plaster Tower Thick Round 02
  • North African Plaster Tower Thick Round 03
  • North African Plaster Segment 2m
  • North African Plaster Segment 4m
  • North African Plaster Brick 01
  • North African Plaster Brick 02
  • North African Plaster Brick 03
  • North African Plaster Brick 04
  • North African Plaster Trim
  • North African Plaster Wall Trim Small
  • North African Plaster Wall Trim Large
  • North African Plaster Wall Arch
  • North African Plaster Wall Arch Ornamented
  • North African Plaster Column Top
  • North African Plaster Column Midpiece
  • North African Plaster Column Plain
  • North African Plaster Column Pattern
  • North African Plaster Column Pattern Tapered
  • North African Plaster Column Topper Plain
  • North African Plaster Column Topper Pattern
  • North African Plaster Column Topper Flare
  • North African Plaster Column Top Large
  • North African Plaster Column Midpiece Large
  • North African Plaster Column Plain Large
  • North African Plaster Column Pattern Large
  • North African Plaster Column Pattern Tapered Large
  • North African Plaster Column Topper Plain Large
  • North African Plaster Column Topper Pattern Large
  • North African Plaster Column Topper Flare Large
  • North African Plaster Sculpture Leaves
  • North African Plaster Cone Large
  • North African Plaster Cone Medium
  • North African Plaster Cone Small
  • North African Painted Wood Beam 1m Thick
  • North African Painted Wood Beam 1m Thin
  • North African Painted Wood Beam 2m Thick
  • North African Painted Wood Beam 2m Thin
  • North African Painted Wood Beam 4m Thick
  • North African Painted Wood Beam 4m Thin
  • Wooden Arbor Crossbar Large
  • Wooden Arbor Crossbar Small
  • Wooden Arbor Crossed 1m x 1m
  • Wooden Arbor Crossed 1m x 3m
  • Wooden Arbor Crossed 2m x 2m
  • Wooden Arbor Crossed 2m x 4m
  • Wooden Arbor Crossed 4m x 4m
  • Wooden Arbor Crossed Arch
  • Wooden Arbor Panel 1m x 1m
  • Wooden Arbor Panel 2m x 0.5m
  • Wooden Arbor Panel 2m x 1m
  • Wooden Arbor Panel 2m x 2m
  • Wooden Arbor Panel 4m x 0.5m
  • Wooden Arbor Panel 4m x 1m
  • Wooden Arbor Panel 4m x 2m
  • Wooden Arbor Beam Decorated 1m
  • Wooden Arbor Beam 1m
  • Wooden Arbor Beam 2m
  • Wooden Arbor Beam 4m
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 0.5m x 0.5m 01
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 0.5m x 0.5m 02
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 0.5m x 0.5m 03
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 1m x 1m 01
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 1m x 1m 02
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 2m x 1m 02
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 2m x 1m 01
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 2m x 2m 01
  • North African Ceramic Tiles 2m x 2m 02
  • North African Ceramic Tile Strip 0.5m
  • North African Ceramic Tile Strip 1m
  • North African Ceramic Tile Strip 2m
  • North African Ceramic Tile Strip Square
  • North African Plaster Wall Window 01
  • North African Plaster Wall Window 02
  • North African Plaster Wall Vent 01
  • North African Plaster Wall Vent 02
  • North African Plaster Wall Vent 03
  • North African Plaster Wall Vent 04
  • North African Plaster Wall Vent 05
  • North African Plaster Wall Vent 06
  • North African Plaster Wall Vent Top
  • North African Fountain Basin Wall
  • North African Fountain Basin
  • North African Plaster Decal Arrow
  • North African Plaster Decal Triangle 01
  • North African Plaster Decal Square
  • North African Plaster Decal Triangle 02
  • North African Plaster Decal Circle
  • North African Plaster Decal Flower
  • North African Plaster Decal Strip
  • North African Plaster Decal Semicircle 01
  • North African Plaster Decal Semicircle 02
  • North African Plaster Decal Drop
  • North African Plaster Decal Swirl
  • North African Wall Top 0.5m
  • North African Wall Top 0.5m Mirrored
  • North African Wall Top 1m
  • North African Wall Top 1m Mirrored
  • North African Wall Top Corner 1m
  • North African Wall Top Corner 0.5m
  • North African Decorative Plate 01
  • North African Decorative Plate 02
  • North African Decorative Plate 03
  • North African Decorative Plate 04
  • North African Stained Glass Panel Curved
  • North African Stained Glass Panel Flat
  • North African Rope Knot
  • North African Rope Tassel
  • North African Rope 1m
  • North African Rope 2m
  • North African Rope 4m
  • North African Decorative Brass Dromedary 01
  • North African Decorative Brass Dromedary 02
  • North African Decorative Plaster Dromedary 01
  • North African Decorative Plaster Dromedary 02
  • North African Window Frame 01
  • North African Window Frame 02
  • Emissive Window Panel 1m x 1m
  • Emissive Window Panel 2m x 1m
  • North African Lattice Panel 2m x 1m
  • North African Animal Sign Scarab
  • North African Animal Sign Fennec
  • North African Animal Sign Meerkat
  • North African Animal Sign Meerkat Brass
  • North African Animal Sign Meerkat Plaster
  • North African Animal Sign Rhino
  • North African Animal Sign African Penguin
  • North African Sculpture Rhino
  • North African Sculpture Rhino Mirrored
  • North African Sculpture Meerkat
  • North African Sculpture Fennec
  • North African Sculpture African Penguin Bronze
  • North African Sculpture African Penguin Clay
  • North African Door
  • North African Decorative Plaster Arch
  • North African Decorative Archway 01
  • North African Decorative Archway 02
  • North African Door Handle
  • North African Metal Bracket
  • North African Mosaic Planter
  • North African Shop Fascia
  • North African Educational Zoopedia Frame 01
  • North African Bench
  • North African Picnic Bench
  • North African Picnic Canopy
  • North African Bin
  • North African Wall Light
  • North African Shop Canopy
  • North African Lamp Post
  • North African Fence 01 Post
  • North African Fence 01
  • North African Fence 01 Curved
  • North African Fence 01 Curved Short

New Content - Free Update 1.6

• NEW - Bear Deep Swimming Behaviours
  • Deep Swimming behaviours have been added to the following Bears. All of the Bears are also able to use the Underwater Box Feeder. This change is available for all users who own the animal's respective game content:
  • As idle behaviour:
    • Grizzly bear (Base Game - free for everyone)
    • Polar Bear (Requires Arctic Pack)
    • Sun bear (Requires Southeast Asia Animal Pack)

  • As navigational behaviour only:
    • Formosan black bear (Base Game - free for everyone)

• NEW - Custom audio added to speakers
  • It is now possible to add your own custom sounds and music to all in game speakers
    • File formats supported are .ogg, .oga, .flac
    • Additionally if Media Foundation is available, .mp3, .wav, .aac, and .m4a are also supported
    • Education speakers must be set to a species before custom music or sounds can be applied
    • Files should be added to Documents\Frontier Developments\Planet Zoo\UserMusic

• NEW - Camera Effects
  • We have added the ability to enable camera overlays such as filters, vignettes and Night Vision for all camera modes
    • Camera effects work for Guest Cams, Security Cams, and the new Habitat Web Cams
    • These effects are maintained when entering Nvidia Ansel
    • We have also added a torch toggle in the Camera Effects Panel

• NEW - Habitat Web Cameras
  • We have added a new asset for your zoos: Habitat Web Cameras. These can be found in Facilities>Media Devices and Education>Visual Media
    • Habitat Webcams allow you to set up view-able cameras in and around your habitats, offering you a great view of your animals
    • All camera effects can be accessed from within the habitat webcam view
    • Habitat Webcams also offer you a small boost to your zoos marketing, encouraging more guests to visit
    • Marketing is capped at 1.5 stars and is only counted once per habitat

• NEW - Vista Points
  
  • Vista Points were a much requested feature from Planet Coaster that we have now brought over to Planet Zoo with new expanded features!
    • Vista Points will act as a way of directing guests to your creations, be it scenery, habitats or terrain sculptures 
    • They have three modes of operation depending on what you select as its Focus
      • Facing Direction: Place the Vista Point without setting a Focus and guests will stand and look in the direction the Vista Point is facing
      • Scenery Mode: Setting the focus to a scenery object will see guests moving to get the best view of the selected item
      • Habitat Mode: Setting the focus to a habitat will offer a viewing boost to any of the habitats view points in range
        • This will encourage guests to view the habitat from this location
        • A warning will be present if no view points are being improved
        • Guests will still use other locations in some situations, the vista points acts as a suggestion, not a command

• NEW - Free Timed Scenario
  • Esperanza Santuario de Animales: a forever home for rescued animals who truly deserve it. Or at least it will be once you have set it up! Rescued animals from all over the world are being brought to you as we speak, and its up to you to provide their ideal homes. Don't wait around or you will end up with more animals than you know what to do with in this new free timed scenario.

• NEW - Expanded Sandbox Settings
  • We have revisited the sandbox options for 1.6.0!
    • A new button has been added to the main HUD, under the setting icon in the top left hand corner of the screen. This allows players to gain quick access to the sandbox options.
    • A new sandbox tab has been added to the settings UI. The new tab provides new options that will give you even more control over your sandbox zoo's as well as let you organise which zoo has which options enabled. Sandbox will now be receiving new preset selections for you to either emulate another mode, or save your favourite custom settings. These will be available in Default preset, Creative preset, Challenge preset and Saved Custom preset. The settings you use for each sandbox zoo will be saved to that specific zoo, meaning you can have a different set up for every zoo if you would like to! If you've found your dream sandbox settings however, you can use the Saved Custom preset option to save those and apply them to any other zoo you build as well. 
    • New sandbox setting options for 1.6.0 provided below:
      • Social Welfare
        • Enable Social Groups
        • Enable Overcrowding
        • Enable Animal Stress
        • Enable Animal Fights
        • Enable Animal Predation and Fear

      • Habitat Welfare
        • Enable Water Cleanliness
        • Enable Animal Defecation
        • Enable Animals Temperature Needs
        • Enable Animal Terrain Needs
        • Enable Animals Plant Needs
        • Enable Hard Shelter
        • Enable Food Spoiling

      • General Welfare
        • Enable Escapes

      • Guest Settings
        • Enable Guests Fleeing
        • Enable negative effect of facilities on guest happiness
        • Enable Pickpockets

      • New sandbox fanfare pop up added

• NEW - Foliage
  • African Oil Palm (3x Variants)   
  • Fever Tree (3x Variants)  
  • Drinn Grass (3x Variants)  
  • Nitraria Retusa Bush (3x Variants)  

• NEW - Scenery 
  • Reward statues for the free scenario:
    • Western Chimpanzee (4x variants: gold, silver, bronze and stone)

  • Wall panels to work with existing Mud Wallset
    • Mud Wall Panel 1m x 1m  
    • Mud Wall Panel 1m x 4m  
    • Mud Wall Panel 2m x 1m  
    • Mud Wall Panel 2m x 2m  
    • Mud Wall Panel 2m x 4m  
    • Mud Wall Panel 4m x 4m   

  • A variety of sizes of off-grid Mesh panels to work alongside existing Barriers
    • Mesh Fence 01 1m
    • Mesh Fence 02 1m
    • Mesh Fence 01 2m
    • Mesh Fence 02 2m
    • Mesh Fence 01 4m
    • Mesh Fence 02 4m
    • Mesh Fence Panel 0.5m x 0.5m 01
    • Mesh Fence Panel 0.5m x 0.5m 02
    • Mesh Fence Panel 1m x 1m 01
    • Mesh Fence Panel 1m x 1m 02
    • Mesh Fence Panel 2m x 2m 01
    • Mesh Fence Panel 2m x 2m 02
    • Mesh Fence Panel 4m x 4m 01
    • Mesh Fence Panel 4m x 4m 02
    • Mesh Fence Panel 2m x 1m 01
    • Mesh Fence Panel 2m x 1m 02
    • Mesh Fence Panel 4m x 2m 01
    • Mesh Fence Panel 4m x 2m 02

  • A variety of sizes of off-grid one wall glass panel assets to work alongside existing barrier.
    • One Way Glass Panel 0.5m x 1m
    • One Way Glass Panel 1m x 1m
    • One Way Glass Panel 2m x 2m
    • One Way Glass Panel 1m x 2m
    • One Way Glass Panel 4m x 4m
    • One Way Glass Panel 2m x 4m

  • African Off-Road Vehicle Wheel

  • Vista Point

  • Habitat Web Camera
    
  • Added new Billboard provided images
    • Wide - African Penguin
    • Wide - Fennec Fox
    • Wide - Meerkat
    • Wide - Sacred Scarab Beetle
    • Wide - Southern White Rhino

• NEW - Paths
  • Decorative Tile Path
  • Monochrome Tile Path
  • Decorative Brick Path

• • Animals
    • Added per species deep swimming duration's to vary the amount of time different species will stay underwater
    • Added more names for African animals
    • Adjusted Polar Bear habitat requirements to address player feedback - more information provided below :
      • Space requirement down to 3250m² from 6000m²; down to to 650m² from 1000m² for additional animals
      • Water requirement down to 720m² from 2000m²; up to 360m² from 250m² for additional animals
      • Added new deep water requirement for diving, 180m² base and 25m² for additional animals
      • Increased enrichment requirement slightly
      • Added biome and continent suitability for Taiga and Asia

    • Adjusted deep water area requirements for the Gharial
    • Fixed a pop in the animation when penguins use the platform float
    • Tweaked the selection radius of animals to be larger than the animal itself, meaning you'll only need to click close to an animal to bring up its info panel.
  •  Scenery 
    • Fixed Blue Lotus Plant 03 from being a navigable object
    • Removed blank tags from some building scenery

  • Game Modes
    • Scenario
      • Careers
        • Once Gold has been achieved in Career Scenarios, the trade centre will now start to populate with all species of animals

  • UI
    • Main Browser
      • New buttons added for:
        • Sandbox button
        • Camera effects

    • Management
      • Animal
        • Added species search Function to the following management screens:
          • Animal Management
          • Animal Market
          • Animal Storage
          • Exhibit Market
          • Exhibit Storage

        • Increased animal trade and exhibit trade centre capacity from 50 to 200
          
        • Animal Trading UI now allows filtering by multiple genetic ratings at the same time
          
        • Animal Trading UI now remembers the last used settings for sorting and filtering. It will also remember these settings across zoos in each game mode
          
        • Animals that have been put up for online trade will now display the time remaining to be sold in the animal storage list
          
        • Selecting "Clear All Filters" button in Animal Trading will now close any filter popups currently open
        • Enabled sending both habitat and exhibit animals to the trade centre at the same time via animal management
        • Animal storage location sort will prioritise animals being auctioned separately than the named list
          
        • Removed confirm button from filter popups in animal management headers
          
        • Hovering over the portrait of an animal portrait in the animal manager now shows the animal's genetics and coat/Fur colouration
          
        • Added new option to select all animals in the Animal management UI
        • Fixed genetic stats having incorrect colours in the Animal Market and Compare Mates UI
        • Removed animating bar in the header since it could be mistaken for a progress bar
        • The trade centre UI for exhibit animals no longer shows a button to trade with players online, as exhibit animals can never be traded online
      • Staff
        • Added new buttons to select all staff, or select all staff of a certain type
        • Clarified some wording around assigning vendors to single shops, in their info panel and the staff management tabs
        • Staff management tab will remember which staff are collapsed and uncollapsed during a save, but will reset to all open when switching saves
        • Restored collapsible staff headers

    • Info panels
      • Habitat
        • Animals tab in the Habitat info panel now shows an empty state if there are no animals in the habitat

    • Help Topics
      • New help topics for the following
        • Habitat Web Cameras
        • Camera Effects
        • Vista Points

    • Misc
      
      • Added new Polar Bear ident which will randomly play for owners of the Arctic pack
      • Added more loading screen animals!
      • Add the ability to set precise prices in a number of areas within the info panel UI
      • Fixed Corrupted characters found in Adventure Tour Info Panel
      • Fixed bug in the Timeline UI which would cause it to scroll back to the top when a new event is added
      • Fixed bug that caused the difficulty drop down to disappear when re-selecting a scenario
      • Removed unused breeder column in the World Records UI
      • Updated habitat call buttons to show when a staff member is called but not urgently. Click to upgrade task to urgent

  
  
  • Stability
    • Fixed bug which would cause a custom tag to be visible after being deleted, causing a crash when selected

  • Performance
    • General performance tweaks and optimisations

  • Localisation
    • Fixed wrong term for Caretaker being used on some info panels

• Cheats
  • Tegidcam has been tweaked to give a better feel
    • Standard camera movement slowed down to match walking speed
    • Hold shift to incrase movements speed
    • Once cheat is active in a park, easilty jump back into Tegidcam py pressing C
    • Press T to toggle camera mode and enable free look

• Known Issues
  • When duplicating a scenery selection within group edit mode, if using the advanced rotation widget, each subsequent duplication will further apply the previous rotation onto the new piece. This does not occur using surface move rotation. This will be addressed in a further update
  • Meerkats will have the Slow Feeder listed in their 'toy enrichment' list in the Zoopedia even though it is not a toy and not useable by the Meerkats
  • Meerkats hands are offset from the termite mound enrichment item
  • African Wall Light Bracket and African Window 04 show as unpowered in the power heatmap despite not requiring power