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Once Human Isles of Abyss: release date, time and what's new

Last updated Oct 17, 2026

Isles of Abyss is a new ocean survival scenario for Once Human. It launches on October 21, 2026 (PT), after the maintenance update. In most other regions that is October 22. It is free on every platform. You sail between islands, build your own ship, dive for wrecks, and fight a boss called The Sunken Lord.

This page lists only what the studio has announced. The studio calls its October 16 post a pre-launch preview, and says some details, values and rewards may still change. We will add more detail after launch.

Release date, platforms and cost

Launch
October 21, 2026 (PT), after the maintenance update. That is October 22 in most other regions. The studio has not published the maintenance hour.
Platforms
PC, mobile, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, with cross-play and cross-progression.
Cost
Free update for all players. Xbox Game Pass subscribers get access at release.
Mode
PvE scenario. A separate RaidZone server has PvP.
Length
About 21 days in two phases: Phase I lasts about 5 to 10 days, Phase II lasts 11 days. A rest stage follows.
Worlds
12 worlds per server.
Permanent server
Expected to open November 12, 2026 (PT), before the first servers close.

How to join

  • Finish character creation and the new player experience, then sign up from the scenario selection screen.
  • If you already play another scenario, sign up from the scenario sign-up screen.
  • Characters start at max level. The Cradle system is not available in this scenario.
  • There is no Vision Tag at launch. The Vision World for Isles of Abyss opens later, with the Season 5 Vision release.
  • For the PvP RaidZone, switch to RaidZone mode at the top left of the character sign-in page and pick the Isles of Abyss: RaidZone server. It is one shared water map with no separate worlds.

What's new

Regions

  • Fragrant Cape: the starting area, with coconut groves, flower fields and shipwrecks.
  • Reefshadow Bay: cold and north, with Mist of Deceit that lowers temperature and limits how far you see.
  • Misty Marsh: forest with Black Tide. Gathering Black Tide Clots costs Sanity.
  • Spring Valley: hot coast with Time Rain, which drains Energy, Hydration and durability faster but grows crops and animals faster.
  • Falling Ember: volcanic area with Skyfire meteors that you mine for Skyfire Gold and rare minerals.
  • Small islands between the main ones for docking, supplies and gathering.

Ships

  • Build your own ship from hull, gunwale, bow, deck, handrail and bulwark parts, and save the design.
  • Four drive types: manual, sail, fuel and electric, plus boosters and side thrusters.
  • Route marking, Auto Cruise, underwater teleport, return to ship from another world, and respawn on board.
  • Cannons at launch: Harpoon, Long, Rapid-fire, Repeating Long, Shotgun Turret, Frost and Corrosion. Phase II adds the Rocket Launcher, Oil Drum Launcher, Repeating Shotgun Turret and Freezing Cannon.
  • A Ram for close range and a Naval Mine Launcher.

Sea creatures and animals

  • Giant Squid, Shark, Tuna, Jellyfish, Anglerfish and Bubble Fish.
  • Bay Crocodile: capture it with a Tranquilizer Throwing Needle, breed it, and ride it on water.

New enemies and bosses

  • Rosetta: Abyssal Iron Guard, Vulture: Drowning Light Apostle, and Deviant: Abyssal Sea Kins.
  • Voyagers: enemy ships with crews and naval mines. Phase II adds Giant Voyagers.
  • Calamity Tower (solo, team and Phase II Abyss challenges), Calamity Nest (the Calamity Owl), and the Phase II Sea Calamity Zone and Drifting Greenhouse.
  • The Sunken Lord: the endgame boss. It unlocks when server purification reaches 100%.

Deviations

  • Duet, a new deviation from The Sunken Lord. It changes the weather in your territory.
  • Eight morphed deviations: Shattered Maiden - Sailor Suit, Director Fox - Vacation, Gingerbread House - Oceanic Cottage, Whalepup - Don't Get Wet, Space Turner - Water Cube, Snow Globe - Sunken Treasure, Employee No. H37 - Submarine Attitude, and Chaos - Rebecca.

Gear, items and systems

  • Diving: Basic Diving Suit, Shark Diving Suit, Oxygen Tank, Inflatable Float, Air Cushion and Spear Gun.
  • Protection from the region hazards: Mist Core Clarity Soup, Blaze Core Lantern, Black Tide Protective Mask, Time-Reverse Cookies, Time-Reverse Raincoat, Cooling Patch and All-Weather Stew.
  • Fishing and production: Trawl Net, Advanced Trawl, Tidal Cage, Advanced Tidal Cage, Drilling Well and the Abyssal Sea Fishing Rod.
  • New resources include seafood, Oyster, Pearl, Ocean Trash, Pirate Coin, Ambergris, Fossil, Sulfur Water, Bay Crocodile Skin, Tidal Gum and Tidal Fruit.
  • Beachcombing, drift bottles with treasure maps and ship blueprints, and shipwrecks and underwater labs to explore.
  • Tech progression unlocks higher-rarity gear and ocean facilities. Existing blueprints and mods carry over, limited by Tech level.
  • Heart of the Ocean: a scenario resource for challenge rewards.
  • Two armor mods: Precision Load (lower body) and Turret Enhancement (gloves).

Also in the October 21 update

  • A new weapon, SOCR - Cosmic Visitor, and a new armor piece, Snowline Elite Vest, both built around Frost Vortex.
  • Launch rewards: new Legendary and Gear Blueprints as sign-in gifts, a free launch weapon skin, and a Halloween event with limited cosmetics and Shiny Mods.

Related pages on this site

Some of the announced deviations, recipes and items already have pages here, from the game data we last read on Sep 13, 2026. Their numbers may change at launch. Browse all recipes, items and deviations.

Sources

Gaming gear from Logitech G

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