Almost Time to Explore a Vast Ocean in Once Human
Starry Studio has officially locked in a release date for Isles of Abyss, the massive ocean-themed expansion for Once Human. The free update launches worldwide on October 22, 2026 (October 21 PT) across PC, mobile, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. It will also come with full cross-play and cross-progression available from day one.
Described as the largest update in the game’s history, Isles of Abyss takes players beyond the familiar Stardust-ravaged world. It invites players into a sprawling ocean filled with danger, mystery, and new survival opportunities. The expansion introduces five unique sea regions, an overhauled survival experience, and a terrifying new threat lurking beneath the waves.
That threat comes in the form of The Sunken Lord, an ancient entity that transforms the ocean into a living nightmare. According to the newly released reveal trailer, players will encounter Malla, a mysterious navigator who claims she has “drowned a thousand times.” Her warnings outline six crucial rules of survival, revealing deadly hazards ranging from predatory lighthouses to living islands.
One of the expansion’s headline features is its deep shipbuilding system. Players can construct and customize vessels ranging from nimble skiffs to massive Mobile Sea Fortresses. They can turn them into floating bases complete with workshops and heavy weaponry. Exploration will span the ocean surface, remote islands, and the depths below, creating a new land-and-sea survival loop that drives progression.
With free access for all players and day-one availability through Xbox Game Pass, Isles of Abyss looks like a game-changing update for Once Human. If the ocean wasn’t terrifying enough already, October 22 may change that forever.