Once Human is a free-to-play multiplayer open-world survival game. Starry Studio develops it and NetEase Games publishes it. You play a Meta in Nalcott, a world changed by a substance called Stardust.

This guide covers what a new player decides first: where to play, which scenario and server to join, and what the official pages say about accounts and PC requirements. Everything below is the developer’s or the store’s own statement. Nothing was played or tested for this page.

Dating note. The facts were read on November 6, 2026. The latest version announcement is 3.1.2 (November 4, 2026), and the next update is scheduled for November 18, 2026. Scenarios, rewards and rules change with each update, so check the in-game screen before you commit. Version 3.1.2 is the latest note read, not a confirmation of every older rule below: each one is dated to the version that stated it.

Once Human at a glance

Developer / publisher	Starry Studio / NetEase Games (Steam page)
Price	Free to play, with optional purchases
Genre	Multiplayer open-world survival
Platforms	PC (Windows), iOS, Android, PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S
Game modes	PvE and PvP scenarios, played on servers

Platform dates

Platform	Date	Source
PC (Steam)	July 9, 2024	Steam store page
iOS and Android	April 23 to 24, 2025 depending on region	Developer post of April 23, 2025
PlayStation 5, PS5 Pro, Xbox Series X|S	August 25, 2026	Console launch announcement

Is it pay to win?

The developers answer this in their console launch FAQ. They say the game is free to play, that all game mode content can be experienced for free, and that paid features buy cosmetics, the Battle Pass and other content that does not affect gameplay or fairness. They also write: “We promise this is not a P2W game.” That is the developers’ statement. This page did not check it.

Who can play together

These limits come from the same FAQ.

• Platforms. Console, PC and mobile players can add each other as friends, team up and play together. PlayStation and Xbox players can play together.
• Regions. Players in different regions cannot play together. Servers in each region run in separate data centers. Check the region in the upper-right corner of the sign-in screen.
• Console-exclusive servers. Servers with the “Console” prefix can be entered only from consoles. PC and mobile players can view characters on them but cannot play there.
• One device at a time. The same account cannot be signed in on several platforms at once. Signing in again logs out the previous device.

Choose a scenario and a server

A scenario is a themed way to play with its own map, rules and story. Each server belongs to one scenario. Scenarios run in phases, from a few days to dozens of days, and the server unlocks more modes, mechanics or map regions as the phases advance.

The developers’ August 2026 server announcement lists these scenarios.

Scenario	Type	Developer description
Manibus (Novice)	PvE	A survival scenario for beginners. Recommended for any new player.
Manibus	PvE	For players with some survival experience.
The Way of Winter	PvE	Survive extreme ice and fire temperatures by building Thermal Towers.
Endless Dream	PvE	Server-wide cooperation against Dream Zone enemies.
Deviation: Survive, Capture, Preserve	PvE	Secure Deviations, assemble a team and challenge the Deviation League.
Evolution’s Call	PvP	Warbands compete for frontier resources.
Prismverse’s Clash	PvP	Two factions fight over Prism Deviations.

A newer scenario came after that table. Isles of Abyss is a PvE ocean scenario that launched after the October 21, 2026 update. The developers describe a core cycle of about 21 days in two phases, 12 worlds per server and a ship you build as a mobile territory. It is open on all platforms.

The developers recommend that beginners start with Manibus (Novice). On July 9, 2026 (version 3.0.1), the novice scenario was renamed Manibus (Novice). Try PvP scenarios once you know the basics.

Pick a recent server. The developers say that servers opened earlier are still open, but that progress differs, so new players should prioritize the latest servers in the recommended list. If a server is full, a friend can send you a Special Invitation Code from their character profile. Codes have limited uses.

What happens when a scenario ends

After the current scenario server enters its 14-day rest period, it merges into the permanent server for that scenario. The merge is automatic. You can also sign up for a new scenario or return to Eternaland. Eternaland is a private domain that belongs only to you.

The FAQ says that when you leave for a new scenario, weapons, armor, materials, medicine, Deviations and calibration blueprints move to Eternaland. To bring items back into the new scenario you spend Resource Inheritance Points, and different items cost different amounts. Read the Scenario Sign-Up screen before you confirm.

On September 15, 2026, the developers announced a gradual merge of permanent servers of the same scenario. Their notice for The Way of Winter merge says your Tech points and level reset to zero on the new server, and the system reissues the corresponding Tech points within three business days. Other scenarios may follow other rules, so read the notice for yours.

Your first hours

The developers’ own beginner handbook (April 24, 2025) gives this order. It predates the latest versions, so treat it as an orientation, not a current checklist.

1. Follow the main story tasks. They get you oriented. The quest system was renamed in January 2026 (version 2.3.1): the old “Stardust Journey” is now “Main Story Task”.
2. Use the built-in help. Summon V and browse its encyclopedia, or open the in-game survival manual.
3. Pick a World with your friends. If you cannot find your team, you are probably in a different World. The 2.3.1 notes renamed “Realm” to “World” and “Rift Anchor” to “Worldstone”.
4. Play at your own pace. The handbook says there are no daily chores and no leaderboard pressure.

Version 2.3.1 also changed when features unlock. In Manibus (Novice), Commissions unlock at level 10 and the Scenario Challenge unlocks at levels 30 and 50. In regular Manibus, Commissions unlock at level 8 and the Challenge at levels 25 and 40.

Sanity

Older guides say that low Sanity lowers your maximum HP. Version 2.1.2 (August 27, 2025) removed that deduction, according to its notes. One gear set, the Treacherous Tides set, still has its own Sanity-linked HP effect in the September 2026 notes. Read an item’s description before you rely on it. In RaidZone, the 3.0.2 notes (July 22, 2026) replace Sanity with a “Mentality” stat in pollution zones, so do not carry this section over to that mode.

Tech: your unlock tree

Tech is the unlock tree for your character. In version 2.3.1 the developers renamed the Memetics system to Tech, and the Ciphers currency to Tech Points. Older guides and some later notes still use the old words. The April 2026 notes (version 2.3.6) describe a Tech Point allocation system where you spend points to unlock the Tech you want, and a new Tech enhancement system.

Deviants and Deviations

Two similar names cause confusion.

• Deviants are hostile mutated creatures in the wild.
• Deviations are creatures you secure and put to work.

The developers’ handbook lists three types of Deviations: Combat Deviations help in fights, Territory Deviations produce resources for you, and Crafting Deviations act as formula books.

Build your first Territory

Your base is a Territory. Its Territory Terminal manages repairs and reinforcement. The base building guide on this site covers the rules in detail. Two facts matter on day one.

• You can move a Territory. The notes refer to relocating one, so your first spot is not permanent.
• Eternaland is separate. The handbook describes it as a timeless realm for you alone, where you can build on a much larger scale and invite friends.

Gear and progression

Gear works through blueprints and Starchrom. Since the March 25, 2026 update (version 2.3.5), you unlock and upgrade blueprints directly on the Blueprint screen with Starchrom. Starchrom is capped, and the screen shows the cap for the current cycle (the 2.3.5 notes say monthly, a developer reply of September 29, 2026 says weekly). The weapons guide on this site covers the details.

A Visional Wheel is a limited-time game mode that runs on top of scenarios. The November 4 announcement says the next Visional Wheel is about to turn, with details to come in upcoming developer blogs.

Playing with friends

1. Be in the same region.
2. On the scenario screen, choose More Servers and enter your friend’s server. The server name is in their character’s sign-in information.
3. If the server is full, your friend sends a Special Invitation Code from their character profile.
4. If your scenario has not reached its rest period, you can leave your current server for free the first time through Scenario, Scenario Description, Scenario Exit. Then sign up on your friend’s server.

Linking your account

Linking is optional, and the developers recommend it. These rules come from the console launch FAQ.

• Only one set of characters survives. If both accounts already have characters, you keep the characters of only one. The others are discarded.
• Older characters have a safeguard. Characters created more than 30 days ago are protected from accidental linking. In that case the FAQ advises linking with a different, empty account.
• One PSN or Xbox account links to one game account.
• Unlinking takes time. A PSN or Xbox account can be unlinked only after 30 days. A game account that was linked to a PSN account cannot be linked to another PSN account afterward.

You can link in the game through Settings, Account, Link Account.

PC requirements

These figures come from the Steam store page on November 6, 2026. They can change.

Minimum

Component	Requirement
OS	Windows 10 64-bit
Processor	Intel Core i5-4460 / Snapdragon X
Memory	8 GB RAM
Graphics	Nvidia GTX 750ti 4G / AMD Radeon RX550 / Qualcomm Adreno X1
DirectX	Version 11
Network	Broadband internet connection
Storage	100 GB available space
Notes	SSD is highly recommended

Recommended

Component	Requirement
OS	Windows 10 64-bit
Processor	Intel Core i7-7700 / Snapdragon X2 Elite
Memory	16 GB RAM
Graphics	Nvidia GTX 1060 6G / AMD Radeon RX 580 2304SP / Intel ARC A380 / Qualcomm Adreno X2
DirectX	Version 12
Network	Broadband internet connection
Storage	100 GB available space
Notes	SSD is highly recommended

The 3.1.2 announcement lists the PC launcher update at about 2.98 GB and the in-game update at about 433 MB. At the console launch, the developers listed the client size at about 80 GB on PlayStation and about 100 GB on Xbox.

Common beginner mistakes

• Starting on a PvP scenario. Start on Manibus (Novice).
• Picking an old server. Check the recommended list for the latest ones.
• Choosing the wrong region. Players in different regions cannot play together.
• Linking accounts without reading the warning. If both accounts have characters, only one set survives.
• Leaving a scenario without checking what carries over. Read the Scenario Sign-Up screen first.
• Trusting an old guide. Blueprints, mods, calibration and terminology all changed in 2026. Check the date.

What this guide does not cover

• No ranking, build, route or tier list.
• No test or play session by Gimaxo.
• No prices for optional purchases.
• Details of Isles of Abyss beyond the points above, and any Visional Wheel details not yet announced.

Sources named in the text: the Steam store page and Steam community announcements for Once Human (developer posts from 2024 to November 5, 2026), including the Console Launch FAQ (August 24, 2026), the server announcement of August 26, 2026 and the version notes 2.1.2, 2.3.1, 2.3.5, 2.3.6, 3.0.1 and 3.1.2.