Once Human, the free to play survival game set in a strange, mutated world, is heading out to sea. Its Isles of Abyss expansion launches on PlayStation 5 on October 22, according to a PlayStation Blog post by Vincent Tao, the game’s lead game designer. The post also shows October 21 in brackets, which most likely reflects time zone differences.
The expansion costs nothing extra. Players download Once Human from the PlayStation Store and the new content comes with the game.
The developers call Isles of Abyss the game’s largest free expansion yet. Inven Global reported that it arrives on PC, mobile, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S with cross play and cross progression, and described it as the biggest expansion since the game’s official service began in 2024.
A hostile ocean with five new regions
The expansion adds five oceanic regions. Players wake up on a starter island and then choose the order in which they explore the other four. The story treats the whole ocean as one living creature called the Sunken Lord. Watchful lighthouses known as the Tower and ghost ships called Voyagers act as parts of it.
Each region has its own hazards, including thick fog, black tides and fire raining from the sky. Regional bosses wait inside giant towers, and the final challenge is the Sunken Lord itself.
Build a sea fortress, not just a boat
Everyone starts on a basic wooden raft. From there, players can build and upgrade their vessel into what the team calls a mobile Sea Fortress, which serves as a base, workshop and artillery platform at once. The blog post gives examples ranging from a classic pirate ship with broadside cannons to an industrial drilling rig or a sci-fi aircraft carrier.
Friends can sail together as a fleet and design their ships to handle different threats. Progress on land and at sea feeds into each other: materials found on islands unlock naval technology and heavier weapons, while deep sea trips bring back materials that improve gear and bases on land. An underwater layer adds sunken ruins to search, rare resources and deep sea hunting.
Made for the DualSense
According to the developers, the PS5 version uses DualSense haptic feedback to convey waves, storms and hits on your hull, and the adaptive triggers add resistance when you fire naval cannons or launch grappling lines. The console’s SSD keeps the switch between land, ship and underwater areas quick, the team says.
What it means for players
Because Once Human is free to play, PS5 owners in Canada and the US can try the expansion without paying for anything. The announcement does not mention any regional limits. Players who already have the game installed only need the update, while newcomers can grab it from the PlayStation Store.
If you liked building bases on land, the ship building system is the main reason to return. It is clearly designed for groups, so it is worth lining up a few friends before you set sail.
