Starry Studio has confirmed that its supernatural open-world survival game, Once Human, will receive a significant update in August 2024, introducing a highly requested first-person perspective mode and expanded cross-play functionality. These additions arrive as the developer continues to refine the title’s multiplayer experience, following its global PC launch in July 2024.
The transition to a first-person viewpoint is designed to provide players with a more immersive look at the game’s post-apocalyptic environment, which features distinct “New Weird” horror aesthetics. According to official announcements from the development team on the game’s Steam page and social media channels, the update is part of a broader roadmap intended to address community feedback and improve accessibility for players transitioning between different gaming platforms.
First-Person Immersion and Technical Updates
The introduction of the first-person perspective marks a shift in how players interact with the game’s combat and exploration systems. Previously, Once Human functioned primarily as a third-person shooter, a design choice that helped players manage the game’s complex inventory and crafting menus. By integrating a first-person mode, Starry Studio aims to heighten the tension during encounters with the game’s various “deviant” entities and boss fights.
Technical performance remains a priority for the developer. Since the game’s release on July 9, 2024, the studio has been actively monitoring server stability and client-side bugs, as detailed in their official Steam community updates. The August update is expected to include optimization patches alongside the new camera perspective, addressing reports of frame rate drops and connection latency that some players experienced during the initial launch window.
Cross-Play and Future Platform Expansion
Cross-play functionality is central to the upcoming August roadmap. While Once Human is currently available on PC through Steam and the Epic Games Store, the developers have stated their intention to bridge the gap between these storefronts and facilitate a more unified player base. This move is significant for a survival game that relies heavily on social interaction, base building, and cooperative raids.
The developer confirmed that these updates are part of their “Season” structure, which dictates how the game world resets and evolves. According to information released on the official Once Human website, each season lasts approximately six weeks, allowing for the introduction of new scenarios and challenges. The August updates will be deployed within the framework of these ongoing seasonal cycles, ensuring that both new and veteran players can access the features without disrupting current progress.
What the August Update Means for Players
For the active player base, these changes represent a direct response to community requests. The demand for a first-person camera was one of the most frequently cited suggestions during the game’s beta testing phases. By prioritizing this feature, Starry Studio is attempting to align the game’s mechanics with the preferences of traditional shooter fans who often prefer the precision of first-person aim.
The upcoming changes are summarized below:
- First-Person Mode: A new camera option for more immersive combat and exploration.
- Cross-Play Enhancements: Improved connectivity between PC storefronts to foster a larger, more integrated community.
- Performance Optimization: Bug fixes and server-side stability improvements based on data collected since the July 2024 launch.
- Seasonal Integration: All updates will be rolled out as part of the ongoing seasonal content cycle, maintaining consistency with existing game scenarios.
Players are encouraged to monitor the official Once Human Discord server and social media pages for specific patch notes and release times for the August update. As the game continues to evolve, developers have indicated that they will release further schedules regarding future scenarios and potential console ports, though no specific dates for console releases have been verified at this time.
Have you experimented with the current survival mechanics in Once Human? Share your thoughts on the upcoming first-person mode in the comments below.