We’re extremely excited to announce that Once Human, our free-to-play unusual worlds survival shooter, is now formally obtainable on XBOX Series X|S! Since our launch on August 25, it’s been superb seeing the XBOX neighborhood leap into the wasteland. With full help for cross-play and cross-progression, and XBOX Play Wherever (XPA), you may survive alongside all your folks regardless of the place they play – and relaxation assured, the sport stays strictly dedicated to a good expertise with zero pay-to-win mechanics.
Even higher, we’re thrilled to announce that Once Human is out there Day One with XBOX Game Cross, full with unique membership advantages! To rejoice our launch right this moment, we’d like to offer you a behind-the-scenes take a look at how we introduced our surreal, unusual worlds to life, and offer you a sneak peek at what’s coming subsequent.

The Strange Worlds of Once Human: Meet The ‘Strange’ Inside the ‘Acquainted’
Once Human is ready in a post-apocalyptic world the place the outburst of a cosmic being referred to as “Stardust” has altered the planet right into a supernatural panorama. On this world, gamers – referred to as Meta-People – should battle grotesque anomalous creatures referred to as “Deviants,” set up private territories, and uncover darkish conspiracies.
When establishing our visible id, we drew heavy inspiration from the “New Bizarre” style. New Bizarre is a literary style that blends fantasy, science fiction, and horror by surreal, grotesque, and organic weirdness, typically remodeling the on a regular basis into the uncanny. Key examples embrace Jeff VanderMeer’s “Annihilation” (a part of the Southern Attain trilogy) and China Miéville’s “Perdido Avenue Station.”

From the very starting of Once Human‘s sport design, we now have strongly aligned with this model, extending it from creature ideas to the shaping of numerous, anomalous worlds. Our core philosophy for designing anomalies and monsters is just not merely to create weird shapes, however to “unusual inside the acquainted” to evoke a deeper psychological resonance. Creatures like the Devourer (an enormous biomechanical worm disguised as a subway prepare) and the Wanderer (a bus strolling on large human arms) flip peculiar, on a regular basis objects into residing anomalies. This highlights the residual magnificence and horror of being “as soon as human,” as seen in the Mom of Life: a hybrid retaining human traces, like a tattered white costume, fused with an alien jellyfish head.
Moreover, this New Bizarre aesthetic profoundly shapes our environments and gameplay. The Stardust Air pollution Zones had been designed to reflect Space X’s transformative Shimmer, the place actuality itself mutates. Past that, anomalous environments like the Dream Zone, which plunges areas into twisted, surreal nightmares throughout the Countless Dream state of affairs and the Blood Moon – a dynamic international atmospheric and fight occasion that mutates the world and empowers its monsters – deeply alter the open-world ambiance and its underlying gameplay guidelines. We’re additionally always increasing this New Bizarre model in our degree design. In areas like the Securement Silos, gamers encounter mind-bending spatial dislocations and illusionary reflections, providing a wealthy, surreal visible expertise that frequently pushes the boundaries of the style. In our world, nothing is sort of what it must be.

The place Cthulhu Meets Creature-Catching
Survival goes past conventional crafting. Gamers can catch and tame anomalous beings referred to as “Deviations” to help in fight and survival. Some can present levitation talents for tough terrain, whereas others act as defensive instruments to your territory. By combining New Bizarre unusual worlds with creature-catching mechanics, whether or not you’re exploring, constructing, combating, or taming anomalies, each second gives one thing surprising.
Re-engineered for the Sofa: The XBOX Expertise & First-Particular person Perspective
We’ve optimized Once Human from the floor up for XBOX Series X|S to ship a flawless front room expertise with seamless controller integration and beautiful 4K decision. To present you full management over the way you courageous the horror, we’ve formally introduced the extremely requested First-Particular person Perspective (FPP) to consoles. You possibly can dynamically toggle between First- and Third-Particular person at any time. Switching to FPP on an enormous show brings you eye-to-eye with the unusual chaos!



Unique XBOX Game Cross Advantages
For our XBOX Game Cross members, we’ve ready some unique perks to kickstart your journey. Subscribers can declare an Unique Avatar, a METAPASS Profit Card (which incorporates 300 star sources, 30-day advantages, and permits you to strive 14+ outfits), a Low cost Voucher Bundle, and Battle Cross XP Playing cards. It is going to additionally embrace free outfits with month-to-month updates.
What’s Subsequent: The Ocean Growth
Presently, Once Human gives over 300 hours of content material, however we’re simply getting began. This October, we will probably be launching our greatest content material replace up to now: the Ocean Growth. This enlargement delivers a revolutionary survival expertise spanning islands, the ocean floor, and the deep sea. The ocean is a residing entity the place you’ll encounter gazing lighthouses, ghost ships, and mechanical behemoths. You’ll be capable to construct your individual Unique Sea Fortress, ranging from a easy picket raft and upgrading it right into a cell maritime sanctuary.
Rally your teammates, declare your Game Cross advantages, and put together to enter the anomaly. We’ll see you in the wasteland on XBOX TODAY!
Once Human
NETEASE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT PTE.LTD
PC Game Cross
Final Game Cross
Once Human is a multiplayer survival sport set in the unusual worlds. Be a part of forces with pals to combat for survival, assemble your sanctuary, and conquer terrifying aberrations to unravel the reality behind the apocalypse. Do you continue to maintain the reply to what it means to be human?
·EXPLORE A SUPERNATURAL OPEN WORLD
The world has fallen. An extraterrestrial substance referred to as Stardust has contaminated all the pieces—crops, animals, even the air we breathe. Most people could not survive… however you are totally different. You are a Meta-Human—considered one of the few who can harness Stardust’s energy as a substitute of being destroyed by it. With your talents, you may combat again, rebuild, and even rule this damaged world.
·CHALLENGE YOUR SURVIVAL INSTINCTS
The Starfall has reshaped all the pieces on the Nalcott. You, as a surviving “Meta,” should combat to outlive throughout an unlimited 256 km² seamless map. Traverse frozen tundras, scale lively volcanoes, cross raging rivers and treacherous swamps, or journey by deserts and oases. Whether or not you hunt, farm, construct, or wage all-out battle—your solely objective is to outlive.
·TEST YOUR SKILL IN BATTLE AGAINST MONSTROUS FOES
You are not alone in your combat towards the historic horrors. Workforce up with others to discover the unknown and outsmart your rivals. Face thrilling battles the place technique, teamwork, and fast considering resolve who survives. Work collectively, share your strengths, and combat for the final remaining sources—as a result of solely the strongest will make it out alive.
·FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY
Stardust turned folks, animals, and objects into monstrous creatures, and now these horrors have taken over the world. However the tables have turned—we’re the hunters now, and the Deviants are the prey.
·FORGE YOUR BASE, UNLEASH YOUR CREATIVITY
Construct your base wherever in the wild! Customise your hideout nevertheless you need—add a patio, kitchen, storage, and extra. Retailer your loot safely and defend it with lethal traps and weapons. Get inventive and construct the final survival fortress!
·DEVIATION PALS ALWAYS BY YOUR SIDE!
From a gun-toting alpaca to a tiny blue dragon chef, or perhaps a hardworking mining buddy, these unusual and highly effective creatures are all over the place, prepared to affix your crew. They will combat by your aspect, assist collect sources, and preserve your territory working—however do not forget to handle them! Give them a comfortable residence, test in typically, and preserve them comfortable… or they could simply insurgent.
With Deviants round, surviving the apocalypse simply bought a complete lot much less lonely.
