Once Human Is Now Free-to-Play on Xbox Series X|S With Game Pass
The strange worlds of Once Human have officially arrived on Xbox Series X|S. NetEase Interactive Entertainment has launched its free-to-play multiplayer survival shooter on Microsoft’s current-generation consoles, giving Xbox players a new post-apocalyptic world to explore, build in and fight through with friends.
The Xbox version supports cross-play, cross-progression and Xbox Play Anywhere, allowing players to continue their survival journey across supported platforms. The game is also available Day One with Xbox Game Pass, giving subscribers access alongside additional membership benefits.
The launch follows the game’s August 25 release and marks a major expansion for the survival title, which combines open-world exploration, base building, combat and creature-collection mechanics in a deliberately surreal setting.
A Post-Apocalyptic World Where Nothing Is Normal
Once Human takes place after a catastrophic event involving a cosmic substance known as Stardust. The substance has transformed the planet, affecting humans, animals, plants and even everyday objects.
Players take the role of Meta-Humans, survivors capable of harnessing Stardust rather than being destroyed by it. Their mission involves surviving in the altered world, establishing a base, battling monstrous Deviants and uncovering the mysteries surrounding the apocalypse.
The game’s developers say its visual identity was heavily influenced by the New Weird genre, which combines elements of science fiction, fantasy and horror with surreal and biological imagery.
That influence is particularly apparent in the game’s creatures. Familiar objects can become disturbing anomalies, turning ordinary parts of the world into something much more unpredictable.
Familiar Objects Become Terrifying Creatures
One of Once Human’s defining ideas is the concept of finding the strange within something familiar.
The game features creatures such as the Devourer, a huge biomechanical worm disguised as a subway train, and the Wanderer, a bus that moves using enormous human arms.
Other creatures blur the boundary between human and alien. The developers point to the Mother of Life as an example, combining recognizable human elements with an otherworldly jellyfish-like form.
The environments follow the same philosophy. Stardust pollution can transform areas of the world, while scenarios such as Dream Zone and Blood Moon can dramatically change the atmosphere and gameplay.
Survival Includes Catching and Using Deviants
Once Human isn’t limited to traditional survival mechanics such as gathering resources, crafting and constructing shelters.
Players can capture anomalous creatures known as Deviations and use them to support their survival. Different creatures can perform different roles, including helping with combat, gathering resources, navigating difficult terrain or defending a player’s territory.
That combination gives Once Human a distinctive twist: players aren’t simply fighting the strange creatures of the apocalypse—they can also turn some of them into valuable companions.
The game’s Xbox description also highlights unusual companions ranging from a gun-wielding alpaca to a small blue dragon chef and mining assistants.
Xbox Series X|S Adds First-Person Perspective
The Xbox version has been optimized for a living-room experience, with controller integration and support for 4K resolution.
One of the biggest additions for console players is the arrival of First-Person Perspective (FPP). Players can switch between first-person and third-person perspectives, allowing them to choose how they experience combat and exploration.
For players using a large television, the first-person view could make encounters with the game’s bizarre creatures particularly immersive.
Xbox Game Pass Members Get Extra Benefits
Once Human is available Day One through Xbox Game Pass, giving subscribers another free-to-play survival game to add to their libraries.
Game Pass members can claim several launch benefits, including an exclusive avatar, a METAPASS Benefit Card containing 300 Star Sources, 30-day benefits and access to try more than 14 outfits.
The benefits also include a discount voucher bundle and Battle Pass XP Cards. The developer says free outfits will also be provided through monthly updates.
Importantly, the developer says Once Human remains committed to a zero pay-to-win approach, meaning paid content is not intended to provide gameplay advantages over other players.
More Than 300 Hours of Content Are Available
The launch version offers more than 300 hours of content, according to the developer, but the game’s roadmap extends beyond the current Xbox release.
The next major expansion is scheduled for October and will introduce the Ocean Expansion, described by the developer as its largest content update yet.
The expansion will take players beyond traditional land-based survival and into a world spanning islands, the ocean surface and the deep sea.
The Ocean Expansion Will Change Survival
The upcoming expansion will introduce a variety of new environments and threats, including ghost ships, unusual lighthouses and enormous mechanical creatures.
Players will also be able to construct an Exclusive Sea Fortress, beginning with a simple wooden raft before upgrading it into a mobile base at sea.
That expansion could significantly broaden Once Human’s survival systems by making the ocean itself a central part of exploration, construction and progression.
What Happens Next for Once Human on Xbox?
With its Xbox Series X|S launch and Game Pass availability, Once Human is positioned to reach a much larger console audience while retaining cross-play and cross-progression features.
The immediate focus now turns toward the October Ocean Expansion and how the game’s developers continue expanding its strange open world.
For Xbox players looking for a free-to-play survival experience with cooperative multiplayer, base building, supernatural creatures and a distinctly surreal atmosphere, Once Human is now available to jump into.
