Version

Node.js: v24.16.0
Playwright (affected): 1.57.0
Playwright (works): 1.60.0
OS: macOS arm64 and Linux (CI)

Steps to reproduce

1. Use Node.js 24.16.0 (works on 24.15.0).
2. Install Playwright 1.57.0 (e.g. npm install [email protected]).
3. Run npx playwright install chromium.
4. Observe download progress reach 100%, then the process hangs indefinitely (no error, no completion).

Minimal repro (same pattern as nodejs/node#63487):

docker run --rm node:24.16.0-slim sh -lc '
  npm init -y >/dev/null 2>&1
  npm install [email protected] >/dev/null 2>&1
  npx playwright install chromium
'

On 24.15.0 the install completes; on 24.16.0 it stalls after the zip download during extraction.

Expected behavior

Browser install should finish after download and print success paths.

Actual behavior

• Download completes (progress bar shows 100%).
• Process remains running with no further output (observed 45s+ locally; CI jobs time out).
• Partial cache directory may appear (e.g. chromium-1200 with __dirlock only).

Additional context

This appears related to the Node 24.16.0 regression with extract-zip / yauzl during zip extraction (nodejs/node#63487). The same hang affects other tools that use the same stack (e.g. Cypress install, merge-reports unzip on 24.16).

Workaround that worked for us: upgrade to Playwright 1.60.0, where playwright install chromium completes on Node 24.16.0.

Alternative workaround: pin Node to 24.15.0 while staying on Playwright 1.57.x.

It may be worth documenting the Node 24.16.0 incompatibility for older Playwright lines, or backporting the extraction fix if feasible.

Environment

Node: 24.16.0
Playwright: 1.57.0 (broken), 1.60.0 (OK)
Install command: playwright install chromium