Once Human: Isles of Abyss launches on October 22, 2026 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass and PC (Steam/Epic), with full cross-play — and it is free, like every other Once Human update. Announced with a release-date trailer at the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 broadcast (Sept 16–17), Isles of Abyss is the game's largest free content update to date: a brand-new ocean survival scenario with full ship-building, island-and-sea dual survival, deep-sea exploration and endgame boss fights. Reservations are already open in-game and on the official channels. Here's the confirmed date, everything the expansion adds, and exactly what to do before launch day.
Quick answer: when does Once Human Isles of Abyss release?
- Release date: October 22, 2026.
- Platforms: PS5 / PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X/S (including Xbox Game Pass), and PC (Steam / Epic). Mobile (iOS/Android) is part of the same crossplay pool.
- Price: free. Once Human is free-to-play on every platform and Isles of Abyss is a free update.
- What it is: a new maritime survival scenario — a full ocean map you sail across in a ship you build yourself, described by the studio as its biggest update ever.
- Reserve now: the official reservation event is live; signing up ties you to launch-day and milestone rewards.
The one-line version: Once Human's ocean expansion, Isles of Abyss, drops October 22, 2026 on PS5, Xbox (with Game Pass) and PC with full cross-play — free — and you can reserve it in-game right now to claim launch rewards.
Once Human Isles of Abyss release date — confirmed for October 22, 2026
The date is official. During the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 broadcast, Once Human debuted an Isles of Abyss "Release Date Reveal" trailer setting the launch for October 22, 2026. Xbox Wire's TGS recap (Sept 17, 2026) confirmed the expansion and its scope, and outlets including IGN and Windows Central independently reported the same October 22 date and platform list: Xbox Series X/S, Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation 5 and PC.
That date matters because it lands inside a very busy stretch for the game. Once Human only reached consoles on August 25, 2026 (PS5 / PS5 Pro / Xbox Series X/S), so Isles of Abyss is the first major new scenario console players will experience at the same time as PC and mobile — a genuine all-platforms, same-day drop rather than a staggered port.
The trailer leaned into the expansion's hook: a journal washes ashore carrying six survival rules, each pointing to a different threat across five ocean regions, all leading to a larger mystery. The closing line — "Rule 6: If the island moves, it was never an island" — sets the tone for what the deep sea is hiding.
"Once Human, the free-to-play strange worlds survival game, unveiled a new trailer for its upcoming Ocean Expansion: Isles of Abyss — its largest free content update to date. The update brings full ship-building, island-and-ocean dual survival, deep-sea exploration, and terrifying endgame boss encounters." — Xbox Wire, TGS 2026 recap (Sept 17, 2026)
What's new in Isles of Abyss?
Isles of Abyss is not a new region bolted onto the existing map — it's a standalone ocean scenario with its own complete map. Based on the official scenario description and the reveal, here's what's confirmed:
- A full ocean map you sail. Instead of a land-locked world, you explore a cluster of scattered islands separated by open sea. Getting anywhere means getting on the water.
- Ship building. The headline feature is full ship-building — you construct and pilot your own vessel. Earlier previews framed the progression as raft → mobile maritime base, i.e. your ship becomes a moving home you upgrade over time.
- Island-and-ocean dual survival. Survival plays out on two fronts: managing resources and building on islands, and surviving the sea itself — dynamic weather and day-night cycles that change how safe the water is.
- Deep-sea exploration. The map includes an ocean surface and a deep-sea layer, with a bigger mystery to uncover beneath the waves.
- Sea monsters and endgame bosses. The studio confirmed terrifying endgame boss encounters, and the trailer teased anomalous sea threats "waiting to sink your ship." Expect the ocean itself to be a hazard, not just scenery.
- Six survival rules, five regions. The narrative frame is a set of six rules tied to five distinct ocean regions — the structure the scenario's threats and story are built around.
In short: it takes the core Once Human loop — build, gather, fight anomalies, uncover the world's story — and moves it onto water, which changes traversal, base-building and combat all at once.
Which platforms is Isles of Abyss on, and is it on Game Pass?
Isles of Abyss launches October 22, 2026 on:
| Platform | Included | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 5 / PS5 Pro | ✅ | Free update; full cross-play |
| Xbox Series X/S | ✅ | Free update; full cross-play |
| Xbox Game Pass | ✅ | Confirmed at TGS 2026 — Once Human is on Game Pass |
| PC (Steam / Epic) | ✅ | Free update; full cross-play |
| Mobile (iOS / Android) | ✅ | Same game, same account, same crossplay pool |
| PS4 / Xbox One / Switch | ❌ | Not supported — Once Human is current-gen only |
Because the whole game runs full cross-play and cross-progression, an expansion this size arriving on all platforms at once means your progress carries wherever you play. If you haven't linked your accounts yet, do it before you touch Isles of Abyss — see the warning below.
How to reserve Once Human Isles of Abyss and claim rewards
The official Isles of Abyss reservation event is live now ("Reserve Now & Claim Rewards"). Reserving is Once Human's version of pre-registration: you sign up ahead of launch, and hitting community milestones unlocks rewards that land in your account when the scenario opens.
To reserve:
- Open Once Human on any platform (or head to the official reservation page linked from the in-game news feed and the official channels).
- Find the Isles of Abyss reservation / event banner in the news or events menu.
- Tap Reserve and confirm — it takes seconds and costs nothing.
- Watch the milestone tracker; reservation rewards are distributed when Isles of Abyss goes live on October 22.
Reservation rewards are cosmetics and starter-boost items rather than anything that breaks progression, so there's no downside to signing up early. If you already play, do it while you're thinking about it.
Do I lose my current character or base when Isles of Abyss launches?
No — but understand how scenarios work first, because this is the single most misunderstood mechanic in Once Human. Isles of Abyss is a new scenario, not a wipe of the whole game. Starting it is a choice; your existing scenario servers and permanent (no-wipe) servers keep running.
When you do start a new scenario, the game follows its normal carry-over rules:
- Carries over: your character name and appearance, cosmetics, weapon/armor blueprints and their star ratings, Mods, learned furniture formulas, Battle Pass and story progress, and key currencies like Starchrom and Mitsuko's Marks.
- Resets: your character level (back to 1), Memetics, map discovery, and your base placement in that world.
- Moves to Eternaland: crafted items, materials, captured Deviations and regular resources; Energy Links convert to Astral Sand for building your Eternaland hub — they do not carry over as Energy Links.
Entering a fresh scenario also grants Resource Points that cap how much you can bring in from Eternaland, so veterans can't just steamroll a new world. If you want the full breakdown, we cover exactly what carries over and what resets between scenarios, and whether Once Human servers actually wipe.
Before launch day: link your accounts and pick your platform
Two things to sort out before October 22 so you don't hit a launch-day snag:
1. Link your accounts — carefully. Cross-progression works through account linking, and there's a trap the game won't warn you about hard enough: linking is not merging. If both the accounts you're linking already have characters, you must choose one set to keep and lose the other. Link before you create a new console character. We walk through the safe order in the crossplay and cross-progression guide.
2. Decide your performance settings. On console, Isles of Abyss's weather and ocean effects will lean on your display mode. Console offers a Quality Mode (4K/60) and a Performance Mode (120fps) — pick based on your screen before you're mid-storm at sea. Our PS5 and Xbox performance mode guide explains which to run, and if you're brand new, the console beginner guide covers your first hours.
FAQ
When is the Once Human Isles of Abyss release date? Isles of Abyss releases on October 22, 2026, on PS5/PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X/S (including Xbox Game Pass) and PC, with full cross-play. The date was confirmed with a release-date trailer at the Xbox Tokyo Game Show 2026 broadcast.
Is Isles of Abyss free? Yes. Once Human is free-to-play on every platform, and Isles of Abyss is a free content update — the studio calls it their largest free update to date. There is no separate purchase.
What is Once Human Isles of Abyss? It's a new ocean survival scenario with its own complete map. You build and sail your own ship across five ocean regions and scattered islands, survive dynamic weather and day-night cycles, explore the deep sea, and face endgame boss encounters — the classic Once Human loop moved onto water.
Is Once Human Isles of Abyss on Game Pass? Yes. Once Human is available on Xbox Game Pass, and the Isles of Abyss expansion was confirmed for Xbox Series X/S and Game Pass at TGS 2026.
Will I lose my character or base when Isles of Abyss launches? No. Isles of Abyss is a new scenario you choose to start, not a global wipe. If you start it, your level resets to 1 and your base placement resets, but blueprints, Mods, cosmetics, story progress and currencies like Starchrom carry over, and your items move into Eternaland. Your existing and permanent servers keep running.
How do I reserve Isles of Abyss? Open the reservation event in the in-game news/events menu (or the official reservation page) and tap Reserve. It's free, and milestone rewards are delivered to your account when the scenario goes live on October 22, 2026.
Can PS5 and PC players play Isles of Abyss together? Yes. Once Human runs full cross-play across PS5, Xbox, PC and mobile within the same region, so you can sail together as long as you're on the same untagged cross-platform server.
The bottom line
Once Human: Isles of Abyss is confirmed for October 22, 2026, free, on PS5, Xbox (with Game Pass) and PC with full cross-play — the game's biggest content drop yet and its first major scenario to hit every platform at once. It turns Once Human into an ocean survival game: build a ship, sail five regions of a living sea, dig into a deep-sea mystery and fight what's waiting at the bottom. Reserve it in-game now for launch rewards, link your accounts the right way before you start, and set your performance mode ahead of the storm.
Getting ready for the ocean? Line up your Once Human basics before October 22:
- What carries over between scenarios — know what you keep before you start Isles of Abyss.
- Crossplay & cross-progression guide — link accounts safely so you don't lose a character.
- More Once Human guides — console setup, settings and your first hours.
