Once Human, the free-to-play supernatural survival MMO from Starry Studio (a NetEase subsidiary), has kicked off its final console open beta today, June 17, ahead of the game's full console launch later in 2026. The test is live on Xbox Series X|S and PS5/PS5 Pro, and spots are strictly limited.
Beta Schedule and How to Join
The pre-download opened at 5:00 PM PT on June 17, with servers going live at 7:00 PM PT. The test runs until July 9 at 12:00 AM PT.
Players in North and South America, Europe, Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, and Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan are all eligible to participate.
There is no NDA. Because a user cap is in place and the download channel may close if capacity is reached, players should move quickly - but once the game is successfully downloaded and added to the library, there are no queues to contend with.
To join on Xbox, players open the Xbox Insider Hub app, navigate to "Previews," search for Once Human, click "Join," and then install from the store page. Players who participated in the previous closed beta and still have the game installed will receive an automatic update.
What's New: Open, Global, and Cross-Console
This is Once Human's final beta, and the key upgrades over the previous closed test (which ran in March) are that it is now open rather than closed and available globally rather than in just North America and Europe.
Cross-play with PC and mobile is not supported during this test, but Xbox and PlayStation players share unified console servers - meaning players on both platforms can team up together.
Scenarios, Gameplay, and the Beta Reward
The open beta offers five playable scenarios to suit different playstyles:
| Scenario | Notes |
|---|---|
| Novice Scenario | Entry-level, learn the ropes |
| Manibus | Core story scenario |
| Endless Dream | Mid-tier challenge |
| The Way of Winter | Seasonal scenario |
| RaidZone | PvP-focused, separate reward rules |
Players in all scenarios except RaidZone also gain access to Visional Wheel S3: Aberrant Progeny. RaidZone participants need more than 3 hours of playtime to qualify for the beta reward instead of the level requirement.
The headline reward for reaching Level 20 during the beta is a Cosmetic Selection Crate and a Weapon Skin Selection Crate - with three choices in each category. Cosmetics include the Abyssal Dragon Set, Noise Manifesto Set, and Wasteland Sheriff Set; weapon skins cover three weapons from KAM to MG4.
Progress Carry-Over
This is described as a wipe test, meaning character progress resets before the full launch. However, the following carry over permanently:
- All earned Starchrom (the in-game premium currency)
- All cosmetics and outfits obtained
- Up to 6 collected Deviants
Road to Full Console Launch
Once Human is developed and published by Starry Studio, a NetEase subsidiary, and originally launched on Windows on July 9, 2024, followed by iOS and Android on April 23, 2025. The full console version is planned to release later in 2026 for Xbox Series X|S and PS5.
On PC, the free-to-play launch hit over 10 million downloads. The console open beta is Starry Studio's final opportunity to stress-test server infrastructure and gather controller-specific feedback before that wider rollout.
The studio is directing bug reports and suggestions to the in-game Feedback menu and a dedicated channel on the official Once Human Discord.
For deal hunters, Once Human is free-to-play - but Starchrom and cosmetic bundles are where spending happens. Check live prices below before topping up.
Pick up Once Human Starchrom or top-up bundles from as little as €8.23 through verified sellers.
