Once Human’s Isles of Abyss scenario is live after the October 21 update

Once Human’s Version 3.1.1 update went live on October 21, 2026, bringing the Isles of Abyss ocean survival scenario into the game. NetEase’s announcement describes it as a PvE scenario available across the game’s supported platforms, with a separate Isles of Abyss map for RaidZone mode. This replaces the earlier pre-release framing of the island as a coming expansion: the publisher’s update notice says the scenario launched with the patch.

The setting shifts the survival loop onto scattered islands and open water. The developer says players can gather resources, build facilities, dive for underwater finds, and face threats with companions. Isles of Abyss runs in phases over an approximately 21-day core cycle. Phase I is expected to last roughly five to ten days, with its length decreasing as the server’s purification progress advances. Phase II is listed as 11 days. During that latter phase, the server progress meter gates access to the Sunken Lord challenge; the developer says its entrance platform appears after purification reaches 100 percent. That means access timing depends on the server’s progress rather than a fixed calendar date for every player.

The announcement also identifies new equipment and combat options. It lists new weapons and armor, two armor mods, and a first-person over-the-shoulder feature. The scenario’s larger encounters are built around ships and environmental defenses: NetEase’s pre-launch dev blog describes players using ship cannons, clearing naval mines, and disabling turret support structures before attacking protected targets. Those details explain the scenario’s ocean focus, though the exact encounter flow and difficulty are best confirmed in the live client.

Version 3.1.1 also opened Isles of Abyss: RaidZone, a new ocean map for the game’s RaidZone mode. The update notice lists a limited Halloween event and other seasonal content alongside the scenario launch. It also warns that the update download is unusually large because it contains the new scenario and RaidZone resources. The listed launcher download for PC was about 26.28 GB, with a further in-game download; actual sizes can vary by platform and client state.

For players deciding whether to return, the key distinction is between the scenario being live and its late-stage challenge being immediately available. The scenario launched October 21, but the Sunken Lord’s appearance depends on the server reaching the stated progress threshold. Check the current server status and in-game scenario screen for phase timing, entry rules, and any changes made after the launch announcement. The developer’s November 4 update date was a schedule at the time of the October 21 notice, not a guarantee that timing will remain unchanged.