Once Human’s Isles of Abyss Will Launch on October 21 With Shipbuilding and Deep-Sea Survival
The all-platform PvE scenario has a roughly 21-day core cycle built around custom ships, hazardous waters, and a late-phase Sunken Lord fight.
Once Human’s next survival scenario will trade the mainland for open water when Isles of Abyss launches after maintenance on October 21, 2026 (PT). The PvE scenario brings custom ships, island survival, and deep-sea expeditions to PC, console, and mobile.
Starry Studio’s official Steam launch guide describes a core cycle of about 21 days. Phase I lasts roughly 5 to 10 days, with its length decreasing as server purification advances. Phase II runs for 11 days, followed by a rest period. The Sunken Lord encounter unlocks during Phase II when purification reaches 100%.
Each server will have 12 worlds. Players can sign up from the scenario selection screen after character creation and the new-player experience, while those already in another scenario can register through the usual scenario sign-up screen. The permanent server is expected to open on November 12, 2026 (PT), before the first batch of scenario servers closes. Isles of Abyss will launch without a Vision Tag. Its Vision World is planned to open alongside the S5 Vision release later. The schedule follows a September plan for a 22-day pioneer test beginning September 16, detailed in an earlier Isles of Abyss test preview.
Ships become vehicles and mobile territory
Players can build vessels from hulls, decks, railings, and other components, then use ships as both transportation and movable water territory. Propulsion develops from manual and sail power to fuel and electric systems. Route markers let Auto Cruise follow a planned course, while underwater teleportation, returns to a ship across worlds, and onboard respawns support trips away from the vessel.
Ship weapons serve different jobs. Harpoon Cannons are suited to marine creatures, Long Cannons hit decks and other structures hard, and Rapid-fire Cannons make it easier to target Calamity Tower weakspots. Enemy Voyagers bring their own weapons and defenses. Players can break key facilities, board their vessels, and search their holds for treasure. Giant Squid can also latch onto ships, forcing crews to focus fire on their tentacles to escape.
Each island brings a different survival hazard
The archipelago spans tropical shores, tundra, marshes, and volcanic islands, with Haywire Zones adding environmental threats. Mist of Deceit lowers temperature and visibility, and low health narrows a player’s field of view. Black Tide brings Stardust contamination, while gathering its clots consumes Sanity. Time Rain drains Energy and Hydration and wears down backpack gear, but it also speeds up crop and animal growth. Skyfire sends damaging meteors into the area and raises the surrounding temperature.
Diving adds another layer of preparation, with ocean contamination, oxygen reserves, and hostile creatures to manage around shipwrecks and underwater ruins. Bubble Fish provide oxygen-replenishing bubbles, while Anglerfish offer a safer pocket in contaminated water. On the surface, sharks pursue targets and jellyfish can shock swimmers. Players can also capture and breed Bay Crocodiles, then ride them across the water. Their mount skill gives both rider and animal a damage backlash effect.
Tech progression leads to the Sunken Lord
Characters enter the scenario at maximum level, but Tech progression controls access to higher-rarity gear, ocean facilities, and survival tools. Exploration, resource gathering, and challenges advance Tech. Existing Blueprints and Mods can come along, though craftable gear rarity and active Mod attributes remain tied to Tech progress.
The story follows a shipwreck survivor aided by Malla, a captain who senses memories of the drowned, and Ran, who investigates clues and environmental threats. Their search leads toward the Sunken Lord, the late-phase challenge at the center of the scenario’s endgame.
The main Isles of Abyss scenario is PvE, but its launch also brings a separate RaidZone mode called Naval Core Contest. That mode puts players in the same waters without separate worlds, with scarcer resources and more frequent encounters. Launch events will include Legendary Blueprints and Gear Blueprints as sign-in gifts, a free commemorative weapon skin, a double rebate on the first purchase, and Halloween events with limited cosmetics, Shiny Mods, and other rewards.
Would you rather spend your first stretch building a ship or preparing for deep-sea exploration? Follow along for more on the scenario’s phased progression and Sunken Lord endgame through X, Bluesky, YouTube, Instagram, Steam, and Telegram.
Once Human
Developed by Starry Studio
Once Human is a multiplayer open-world survival game set in a strange, post-apocalyptic future. Unite with friends to fight monstrous enemies, uncover secret plots, compete for resources, and build your own territory. Once, you were merely human. Now, you have the power to remake the world.
- Genre Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Adventure
- Platforms Xbox Series X|S, Android, PC (Microsoft Windows), iOS, PlayStation 5
- Perspective Third person
- Modes Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative, Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO)
- Release July 9, 2024
- Publisher Starry Studio, NetEase Games
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Age Rating
