Once Human is now live on Xbox Series X|S, arriving Day One on Xbox Game Pass with exclusive membership perks. Developed by NetEase Interactive Entertainment, the free-to-play survival shooter supports Xbox Play Anywhere, cross-play, and cross-progression across Xbox and PC, with a new First-Person Perspective (FPP) toggle rendered at 4K resolution on consoles.
What changed: Xbox launch adds Game Pass perks, 4K FPP toggle, and full cross-play/cross-progression. Why it matters: Console players get feature parity with PC plus Day One subscription benefits. Who should care: Survival-shooter fans and Game Pass subscribers evaluating new multiplayer titles.
Platform Features & Game Pass Perks
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Platforms | Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| Resolution | 4K on Xbox Series X|S |
| Perspective | Toggle between First-Person and Third-Person |
| Cross-platform | Cross-play and cross-progression via Xbox Play Anywhere |
| Monetization | Free-to-play, zero pay-to-win mechanics |
Game Pass subscribers receive the following launch benefits:
- Exclusive Avatar
- METAPASS Benefit Card — 300 star sources, 30-day benefits, 14+ outfit trials
- Discount Voucher Bundle
- Battle Pass XP Cards
- Free outfits with monthly updates
Core Design & Content Scope
The game draws on the New Weird literary genre — cited influences include Jeff VanderMeer’s Annihilation and China Miéville’s Perdido Street Station — blending horror, science fiction, and surreal biological mutations. Players control Meta-Humans battling anomalous creatures called Deviants across transformed environments such as Stardust Pollution Zones, the Dream Zone, and the Blood Moon event.
Beyond combat, players can catch and tame anomalous beings called Deviations for combat and utility purposes, including levitation traversal and territorial defense. The current content offering exceeds 300 hours.
What’s Next: Ocean Expansion
The Ocean Expansion, scheduled for October, is described as the largest content update to date. It introduces survival mechanics across three environments — islands, ocean surface, and deep sea — alongside encounters with ghost ships, lighthouses, and mechanical behemoths. Players can construct Exclusive Sea Fortresses, upgrading from a wooden raft into a mobile maritime base. The expansion lands in October and represents the next major test of whether Once Human can retain its growing console audience post-launch.