Once Human expands with free Isles of Abyss launch on PS5

Hey everyone, we have huge news to share with you today. Once Human’s largest free expansion yet, Isles of Abyss, is officially launching tomorrow, October 22 (October 21) on PlayStation 5.

The update takes the strange worlds survival you know and love, and plunges it into uncharted waters. Starting tomorrow, you can leave the safety of dry land behind, set sail across five brand‑new oceanic regions, and face down brand new threats unlike anything you’ve ever encountered before.

Isles of Abyss introduces a "living" ocean. The water surface you navigate is its physical body, while eerie lighthouses called "The Tower" and spectral ghost ships "Voyagers" act as its organs and manifestations of its dark will. The sea constantly watches you, reacts to your presence, and feeds on your fear.

Exploration will bring dynamic regional threats, suffocating mysterious fogs, violent black tides and skies raining temporal fire. Players must brave these anomalies, defeat regional bosses anchored in colossal towers, and ultimately confront the Sunken Lord itself.

Survival now hinges on building mobile Sea Fortresses. A basic wooden raft is only the starting point; you can customize and upgrade your vessel into a fully functional, mobile base, workshop, heavy artillery platform and primary survival tool. Options range from classic wooden pirate ships with broadside cannons to industrial drilling rigs, sleek sci‑fi carriers or abstract floating fortresses, the design is entirely up to your imagination.

Ships serve as tactical answers to the ocean’s threats. You can team up with friends to form entire player fleets, coordinating ship designs to tackle hazards together. The expansion also creates a seamless land‑sea dual progression loop: resources gathered on mysterious islands fuel naval tech and heavy weaponry, while deep‑sea exploration yields specialized materials that enhance terrestrial gear and base progression.

PlayStation 5 features have been tailored for the aquatic journey. DualSense haptic feedback lets you feel the low, rumbling heartbeat of the Sunken Lord beneath your hull, the rhythm of crashing waves, roaring sea storms and hull‑creaking impacts during naval combat.

All details are sourced from the official PlayStation Blog announcement.

PlayStation Blog