When does the Once Human ocean expansion release? Starry Studio has set October 22, 2026 as the global release date for Isles of Abyss, the ocean expansion for Once Human. The free update arrives October 21 in Pacific time on PC, mobile, PS5 and Xbox Series X and S with full cross play and cross progression across every platform.
Quick Facts: What You Need to Know
- Expansion: Isles of Abyss (Ocean Expansion)
- Game: Once Human by Starry Studio
- Global release date: October 22, 2026 (October 21 PT)
- Price: Free update for all players
- Platforms: PC, mobile, PS5, Xbox Series X and S
- Cross play: Yes, with cross progression on all platforms
- Headline features: Custom warships, mobile sea fortresses, five sea regions
A Living Ocean Ruled by the Sunken Lord
Isles of Abyss is the largest content update in Once Human history since the survival shooter launched in 2024. It pushes the Stardust polluted world out into a vast and uncanny ocean filled with new survival mechanics, five distinctive sea regions and threats that turn the water itself into an enemy. The expansion follows the console launch of Once Human on PS5 and Xbox, which brought the game to a much wider audience ahead of this update.
At the center of the expansion sits a disturbing secret. The sea is not just an environment but an ancient and awakening entity known as the Sunken Lord. Beneath shrouded waters and distant lighthouses, something vast and hostile watches every surge of the tide. Starry Studio frames the ocean as a living presence that hungers for those who dare to cross it, which sets the tone for everything players will face on the water.
The recently released Release Date Reveal Trailer introduces Malla, an enigmatic navigator who has reportedly drowned a thousand times. Her logbook warns players through six critical rules that expose the lethal traps of the deep, from predatory lighthouses to disguised living islands. These rules outline the unique hazards players must overcome to survive, and they double as a preview of the strange encounters waiting across the five regions.
Shipbuilding and the Land Sea Survival Loop
Naval play is the core of Isles of Abyss. Players can craft, customize and upgrade vessels ranging from agile skiffs to massive mobile sea fortresses. Each ship can serve as a fully functional base, workshop and heavy artillery platform, so design choices directly shape how a crew handles oceanic hazards. Starry Studio says vessel design dictates tactical approach, which encourages creative problem solving and adds depth to every voyage.
Survival spans three connected layers that feed back into core progression. Players navigate treacherous sea surfaces, explore mysterious islands and descend underwater in search of buried treasure and aquatic resources. Each layer supports the others, creating a shared survival economy between land and ocean. Details on the expansion are listed on the official Once Human site, alongside the full trailer and platform information.
The PC audience can already prepare through the Steam page for Once Human, where the base game is available ahead of the free update. Because every layer of the loop connects to player progression, time spent salvaging wrecks or charting islands should pay off when upgrading ships and gear for harder waters.
Free Update With Cross Play and Game Pass Access
Isles of Abyss arrives as a free update for all players on October 22, with October 21 Pacific time as the North American date. Cross play and cross progression work across PC, mobile and consoles, so squads can sail together regardless of platform and carry progress between devices. That matters for a game built around shared bases and long expeditions, since crews no longer need to match hardware to play together.
Xbox Game Pass subscribers get immediate access to the expansion on release day as part of the base game offering. With naval fortresses, a hostile living sea and five regions to chart, Isles of Abyss looks positioned as a fresh starting point for returning survivors and a natural entry moment for new players joining through consoles and mobile.
Isles of Abyss FAQ
When does Once Human Isles of Abyss release?
Isles of Abyss releases globally on October 22, 2026, which is October 21 in Pacific time. Starry Studio confirmed the date alongside the Release Date Reveal Trailer, and the expansion launches at the same time on PC, mobile, PS5 and Xbox Series X and S.
Is the Isles of Abyss expansion free?
Yes. Isles of Abyss is a free update for all Once Human players on every platform. Xbox Game Pass subscribers also get immediate access to the expansion on release day through the base game.
Does Isles of Abyss support cross play?
Yes. The expansion supports full cross play and cross progression across PC, mobile, PS5 and Xbox Series X and S. Players on different platforms can sail together and carry their progress between devices.
What is the Sunken Lord in Isles of Abyss?
The Sunken Lord is the ancient and awakening entity at the heart of the expansion. Starry Studio describes the ocean itself as a living and hostile presence, and the new navigator Malla and her six rules of survival warn players about the traps it sets, from predatory lighthouses to living islands.
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