Isles of Abyss, the new PvE scenario for Once Human, is scheduled to launch after maintenance on October 21, 2026 (PT). The team has announced support for PC, console and mobile. No maintenance end time has been given, so the exact availability time in France remains unconfirmed.
Server purification will determine how quickly the opening phase ends and unlock the final challenge, The Sunken Lord. Across the islands, environmental hazards will also change survival conditions, from fog that restricts visibility to rain that accelerates both production and equipment wear.
How to join Isles of Abyss
In the October 16 announcement, the team outlines two registration routes. New characters must complete character creation and the new-player introduction, then use the scenario selection screen. Characters already taking part in another scenario can use the scenario registration screen. This announced procedure does not establish that registration is already open on October 16.
Isles of Abyss will have 12 worlds per server. That number describes the server structure, not its player capacity. The scenario will launch without a Vision Tag; its Vision World is planned for later with the S5 Vision, which has no date in the announcement.
Purification sets the pace of the opening phase
The main cycle is expected to last approximately 21 days, comprising two phases followed by a rest period. Phase I will last around 5 to 10 days, with its duration decreasing as server purification advances. Collective progress therefore affects when the server moves into the next phase.
Phase II will last 11 days. Purification progress will also unlock The Sunken Lord, making it relevant both to the scenario’s pace and access to its final challenge.
A permanent server is expected to open on November 12, 2026 (PT), before the first wave of servers closes. That date is provisional. The approximately 21-day cycle describes progression through the scenario, rather than a worldwide availability window.
Island hazards bring distinct survival trade-offs
In Reefshadow Bay, Mist of Deceit will lower the temperature and reduce visibility. Your field of view will shrink further as your health drops, tying your ability to see the surroundings to your physical condition.
In Misty Marsh, harvesting Black Tide Clots will consume Sanity. Higher Sanity allows you to gather more, so harvesting draws down the same reserve that improves your yield.
Spring Valley’s Time Rain will accelerate Energy and Hydration consumption, along with wear on items and equipment in your backpack. It will also speed up the growth of crops and animals. Faster production thus comes alongside greater pressure on supplies and the condition of what you carry.
Skyfire meteors will damage nearby characters and buildings while warming their surroundings. Mining them will provide resources including Skyfire Gold, placing a gathering opportunity alongside a hazard to players and structures.
Squid threaten ships, while Bubble Fish replenish oxygen
Giant squid will be able to immobilize ships with their tentacles. Severing those tentacles will drive them away. Underwater, bubbles from Bubble Fish will restore oxygen during dives.
Bay Crocodiles offer another way to travel on the water’s surface. Players can capture them with a Tranquilizer Throwing Needle, raise them in their territory and use them as mounts.
For players planning to join, October 21 is the scheduled launch date after maintenance; November 12 remains the expected opening date for the permanent server. Within the scenario, purification will influence how long the opening phase lasts and when the final challenge becomes available.
See also our Once Human game page, our article on Once Human: after the October 21 update (PT) and our article on Once Human: fixes announced on October 10.
