Once Human: Release Date, Platforms and Everything We Know So Far

Once Human, the third-person shooter survival game set in a dystopian future where the world has been ravaged by an unknown disaster, leading to the collapse of civilisation, is nearly upon us as the planned post-apocalyptic multiplayer game seems to pass their initial closed beta testing and is ready for release.

Developed by Starry Studio and published by NetEase Games, Once Human came onto the scene in 2022 and received its first beta in November. After less than two years since its announcement, the game brought forth good news at the Summer Games Fest as a new trailer drop featuring the game’s official release date, platforms and more.

Everything We Know So Far About Once Human

Release Date and Platforms

As depicted in the trailer above, Once Human will arrive on PC via Steam, the Epic Games Store and on Mobile via Google Play or Apple Store on July 9, 2024. Unfortunately for console players, Once Human will not arrive on their platforms, but there is always hope for a future release.

Regardless, the trailer garnered widespread attention, and fans flooded the official website to pre-register the game. As of the time of writing, the global pre-registration of Once Human has reached 14.9 million. Unluckily, this means players will not receive the Dragon’s Grip Gloves, targeted at 20 million pre-registration unless the game backtracks and reduces it to 15 million or gift it to players as a celebratory item during launch.

Plot and Story

Post-apocalyptic seems to be the theme in 2024, with Wuthering Waves releasing earlier and with the imminent arrival of Once Human, as Once Human follows the typical troupe of waking up in a post-apocalyptic world with mutated creatures and mysterious anomalies and trying to survive with the remnants of human society.

In this game, you, the protagonist, are a Meta-Human who wakes up in the post-apocalyptic world where an alien entity called Stardust has taken over human society. As per tradition, humans, animals and plants have mutated into horrifying beings called Deviations and will not hesitate to rip you to shreds on sight despite you having your protagonist plot armor of surviving.

Besides Deviations, you must also be aware of other human survivors raining bullets of hell at you or the evil whispers of some lunatic fractions. As often in these games, after solving the misunderstandings, you will set foot on discovering the truth behind Stardust, its origins, and its goal as humanity’s last hope. Whether your journey is all in lonesome or with comrades, the choice is yours to venture.

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Gameplay and Features

Defined as a “supernatural multiplayer open-world survival game”, the gameplay revolves around exploring and surviving the wilderness of the open world with elements of crafting and base management mixed in. For example, other than surviving against Deviations and enemy fractions, Stardust has polluted the earth and water, meaning any tainted water you drink will reduce your “Sanity” (HP). Ever-changing seasons, varying biomes, and weather conditions also lessen your chance of survival.

Hey survivors! 🛠️ How's your territory construction coming along? Share some screenshots of your awesome (or maybe not-so-awesome yet) base in the comments!
Is anyone else's base still missing a roof?🤔#OnceHuman pic.twitter.com/LqOUTARhhA

— Once Human (@OnceHuman_) June 11, 2024

Therefore, how does one get by that? Firstly, if you are feeling bold enough, once you defeat bosses from another dimension, they will drop goods and mitigate the effects of Stardust on the world. If you are more calculating and less risk-taking, you can start by utilising the game’s spectacular building mechanics. For instance, you can construct buildings from a small residence to a manor where you can chill and plan things out with your comrades. As the game removes the downsides of rebuilding anytime you move, you can relocate anywhere you want.

Once you have a stronghold, it’s time to craft weapons. According to the developers, the game features seven weapon categories, and collecting resources and blueprints allows you to craft weapons tailored to your style. Lastly, combat is not limited to regular mobs and enemy fractions, as there is also a Stronghold Conquest, where players can enjoy PVP to take control of the Beacon Area.

Deviants

Venturing deeper into games means harder and tougher-looking enemies and bosses, and in Once Human, dubbed the Great Onces, are Deviant’s variety of eldritch horror. For example, there is the Wanderer (Not the one in Genshin Impact), a gigantic structure comprised of a standard public transit vehicle plus many white appendages that stretch down to the ground and provide vital structural support. Black tendrils are detected protruding from beneath the entity’s chassis.

Furthermore, there is the Arachsiam, which many with arachnophobia would agree is the game’s most nightmarish boss. Bearing a skull face with gigantic spider features, one wrong move in the dense mountains and forest could end up with you in the creature’s belly.

Lastly, for a more wholesome ending, some Deviants, such as Mr Wish, are more adorable creatures you can team up with and will rush to aid you in case of a pinch.

Closing Thoughts

With everything considered, Once Human stands out as a promising title in the survival game genre, offering a unique post-apocalyptic world filled with danger, mystery, and the opportunity for deep exploration and strategic gameplay. Whether you are soloing or playing with friends, players can look forward to a challenging and immersive experience in this dark, intriguing universe.

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