Once Human's Isles of Abyss Update Targets October Launch

The console launch of Once Human has brought a busy stretch of fixes, account checks, and reward clarifications, but the bigger story is already moving toward what comes next. NetEase is working through several problems affecting XBOX purchases, pre-order rewards, cross-platform features and progression, while also preparing another automatic account check for August 31.

If you are still waiting for something you bought on console, that date matters. NetEase plans to review pre-order bundle claims and Battle Pass Meta Pass activations again, with missing or inactive items set to be reissued or activated. Players who purchased the Meta Pass are also due compensation on September 1, although the exact contents have not been revealed yet.

The recent fixes are part of a broader effort to stabilize the Once Human console version after launch.

Some problems were already addressed by August 26, followed by a larger update on August 28. The issues covered several parts of the experience, including XBOX top-ups and purchases that were not being credited properly. Pre-order bundles were among the affected items, and login problems were also reported.

Cross-platform features have needed attention too. Some players found their Hive friends list disappearing after logging in through another platform, while incorrect messages could appear when trying to interact with blocked friends. Beginner progression, controller interactions, and various audio problems were also included among the issues being addressed.

For you as a console player, these problems are not being treated as one reward bug. NetEase has separated actual delivery failures from rewards that may simply require additional steps before they appear. That distinction is important because some items that look missing are actually tied to the way the claiming process works.

The pre-order reward system has several requirements that can easily be overlooked. These include using the first character you created, reaching certain points in the tutorial, obtaining and activating vouchers, and handling a selection gift pack correctly. In other words, not every reward that fails to show immediately means the delivery system has failed.

There was, however, a genuine delivery platform problem affecting some players, and that issue has now been fixed.

For anyone still affected, the August 31 automatic review is the next major checkpoint. NetEase is expected to check accounts for pre-order bundle claims and Meta Pass activations and reapply anything that should have been delivered. That means you probably have one more date worth waiting for before contacting support about missing purchases.

If the relevant items are still absent after the August 31 check, support becomes the more sensible next step. The previous fixes on August 26 and August 28 may already have resolved some cases, but the additional account review is intended to catch remaining problems. The September 1 compensation is separate.

Anyone who purchased the Meta Pass is included, according to the current information, but NetEase has not explained exactly what the compensation will contain. There has been speculation that it could involve additional Meta Pass time or possibly other in-game currency, but those possibilities are not confirmed and should not be treated as the final reward.

While those console issues are being cleaned up, the Once Human developers have also quietly outlined a much larger piece of content. The Isles of Abyss scenario is currently planned to enter its final test around the middle of September. The scenario may appear under a different translated name in some places, including a reference to a forbidden island, but it is the same upcoming ocean-focused content.

The important part is that this is planned as a global test rather than a China-only experiment.

The announcement currently comes from the Chinese developer side, which sometimes publishes information before the global channels receive the same details. That means the timing and details may appear later in other regions, but the planned test is intended to reach global players.

Mobile players are also being brought into this test for the first time. The final testing period is expected to last around 10 days, giving players a limited window to try the new scenario before its broader release. As there are no specific registration details or dates for the test yet, you need to take mid-September as the date right now rather than as something fixed.

The October launch window will be the next big milestone on the horizon. If the testing phase proceeds as planned, Isles of Abyss is expected to follow in October, making it one of the most significant additions planned for Once Human. The developers have described it as their biggest content update so far, and the focus is clearly on making the ocean more than just scenery.

Developer feedback around the scenario points to several changes built around that goal. Player feedback reportedly showed that the ocean needed to feel more active and meaningful, so the new content is being designed around progression, a more reactive ocean environment, a sea fortress, mechanical enemies, and deeper exploration.

That expanded ocean system also includes ships and ship-based combat.

Recent footage has shown players engaging in battles at sea, while the new scenario is expected to feature larger encounters and bosses tied to the ocean setting. Deep-sea exploration is another part of the plan, giving the update a different structure from the more familiar land-focused activities you have already seen.

Taken together, the upcoming content gives you two very different things to watch. In the short term, the focus is on making the console experience more reliable and making sure purchases and rewards reach the accounts they belong to. In the longer term, the developers are preparing a major scenario that expands how you interact with the world. There is also another smaller release arriving during this period.

The Lightforge Loot Crate featuring Dust Firebreaker is scheduled for September 2. The preview shows both female and male skins, along with a bike included in the promotional material. It is expected to appear around the same period as the ongoing console fixes and other scheduled updates. Another point worth keeping in mind is account progression between PC and console.

If you are moving your progress between platforms, the transfer and merge process can be confusing, particularly because choosing the wrong option can affect how your progression is handled. Once Human's account flow already accounts for what transfers, what merges, and what stays separate. The timeline itself is simple.

August 31 is the date for the automatic recheck of console pre-order bundles and Meta Pass activations.

September 1 is when Meta Pass purchasers are scheduled to receive compensation. September 2 brings the Dust Firebreaker Lightforge Loot Crate. Mid-September is the current target for the final Isles of Abyss test, and October remains the target for the scenario’s full launch.

For now, the most immediate thing you need to know is that the Once Human console rollout is still being actively cleaned up, while the next major chapter is already taking shape. Once Human is not simply receiving small fixes after its console debut; the developers are also using player feedback to push Once Human toward a much larger ocean-focused experience.

The coming weeks should therefore be a mix of account fixes, compensation, and testing. If your console purchases are still missing, August 31 is the next checkpoint to watch. If you bought the Meta Pass, September 1 is the date tied to compensation. And beyond those short-term fixes, the ocean-focused update could change the way you approach Once Human when October arrives.

For now, that makes the immediate priorities fairly easy to follow. You can expect more attention on account delivery first, especially for players who bought items around the console launch. At the same time, the upcoming testing phase gives the developers a chance to see whether the new ocean mechanics work as intended before release.

These fixes and dates are only the opening stage of a longer rollout.

The combination of fixes and new content also shows that the console launch is being treated as the start of a larger rollout, rather than the end of the current development push. The coming weeks should therefore be a mix of account fixes, compensation, and testing.

If your console purchases are still missing, August 31 is the next checkpoint to watch. If you bought the Meta Pass, September 1 is the date tied to compensation. And beyond those short-term fixes, Isles of Abyss is the update that could change the way you approach the game when October arrives.