The Once Human developers announced on October 16 that the new survival scenario Isles of Abyss launches officially on October 21 after the maintenance update. It’s a PvE scenario available on all platforms, including PC, console, and mobile.
What Changed
The core experience cycle lasts about 21 days, split into two game mode phases followed by a rest stage. Phase I runs approximately 5 to 10 days, with its duration decreasing as the server’s purification progress advances. Phase II lasts 11 days, and as purification progresses, the endgame challenge of The Sunken Lord unlocks.
Isles of Abyss has 12 worlds per server. When the scenario launches on October 21, it will not include a Vision Tag. Later, alongside the S5 Vision release, the Vision World for Isles of Abyss servers will open.
After completing character creation and the new player experience, players can sign up from the scenario selection screen. Metas already in other scenarios can also sign up through the scenario sign-up screen. The sign-up and entry rules are the same as those for other scenarios.
The Permanent Server for Isles of Abyss will open before the first batch of servers closes, so all Metas can merge into it. It’s expected to open on November 12, 2026 (PT).
The announcement introduces the story and core characters. A shipwreck brings players to these waters. Malla rescued the player from the sea and is an experienced captain who can use “communion with the deep” to sense the pasts of the drowned. Ran is sharp and straightforward, investigating clues and seeking ways to deal with environmental threats. As the truth is revealed, Malla will call the Metas to assemble, while Ran joins frontline support.
The archipelago spans from tropical coconut groves to cold tundra. Different islands have unique ecologies and cultural landscapes. Beneath the waves, schools of fish swim among ruins and coral gardens, while predators lurk. Areas affected by strange phenomena are called Haywire Zones.
In Haywire Zones, phenomena such as the Mist of Deceit, Black Tide, Time Rain, and Skyfire change local exploration rules. They bring survival pressure in terms of view, temperature, sanity, and supply consumption, and produce corresponding special resources. Players should prepare protective items, dishes, and supplies before entering these areas.
Fragrant Cape is the starting point. Among flowerfields, coconut groves, and rocky shallows lie scattered city ruins and grounded shipwrecks. Players can gather basic supplies along the coast and search for materials in abandoned ships.
Reefshadow Bay is at the northwestern end, near the cold northern continent. It has cold tundra, reef cliffs, and floating ice, with bones, coral, and mining ruins. The Mist of Deceit is a unique weather phenomenon there. It lowers environment temperature and limits visibility; the lower a player’s HP, the smaller the field of view. Maintaining a larger field of view helps earn greater exploration rewards. Gathering Mist Core Grass yields Mist of Deceit Wicks, used for cannonballs and electricity facilities.
Misty Marsh is a dense forest with giant trees, toxic marshes, fungi, and rotting wood. Sunken ship caves and a trade zone among the trees provide vertical exploration space. The giant trees cannot be chopped down, but their trunks and canopies contain gatherable resources. The Black Tide brings ever-deepening Stardust contamination, along with Stardust Ore and contaminated plants. Pollution Zones such as Wild, Phantasmal, and Mirror appear in special locations. Players can gather Black Tide Clots from the black water near Sporocysts, used for diving items and water circulation facilities, but gathering consumes Sanity. Higher sanity allows more clots.
Spring Valley has mangroves, swamps, and waterfalls forming a hot and humid coast. Sea arches, whirlpool caves, and skeletal Wonders are scattered throughout, and giant crocodiles pose an additional threat. When Time Rain occurs, it accelerates Energy and Hydration consumption and causes items and gear in the backpack to continuously lose durability. It also accelerates the growth of crops and animals in the wild and in territory. Defeating enemies and gathering crops in the rain yields Bottled Raindrops, used for water-based production and farming and breeding facilities.
Falling Ember is an active volcano in the middle of the ocean, with lava, black sand, and basalt forming a high-temperature archipelago, with hot springs and sulfur scattered throughout. When Skyfire descends, meteors deal damage.
Who It Affects
The launch affects all Once Human players on PC, console, and mobile. Existing Metas can sign up after the maintenance update on October 21. Players who want to merge into the permanent server should plan for the November 12 opening.
For every announcement, check the Once Human update tracker.
