Once Human Sets Isles of Abyss Entry Rules, but Sign-Ups Wait Until Launch

Once Human has detailed how players can enter Isles of Abyss after the October 21 Pacific version update, with no advance sign-ups for the new scenario's servers. The October 20 announcement covers fresh characters, transfers and keeping a group on the same server. It also moves the expected permanent-server opening to November 18 Pacific, from November 12 in the October 16 preview.

The Steam post is titled "Ocean Expansion: Isles of Abyss Is Now Live," but its body still dates the opening to October 21 after the update. It does not establish that the scenario is playable today. Check the in-game server list for the actual opening time; no precise reopening hour is supplied in this notice.

The first servers open without advance registration

North America and Europe will each start with four PvE servers. South America, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan region will each start with two. The developer says more can open as needed, so these are opening batches rather than permanent capacity limits.

Each PvE server has 12 worlds. Isles of Abyss will not carry a Vision tag at opening; a Vision World version is planned alongside the later S5 Vision release. The November 18 permanent-server date remains an expectation, not a guaranteed appointment.

Choose between a new character and scenario settlement

To keep an ongoing scenario intact, the developer offers a new-character route: create the character, skip the new-player experience, then choose Other Scenarios and an Isles of Abyss server in Scenario Selection.

An existing character whose scenario has entered its Rest Period can instead use Menu, Scenario and Go to Sign Up. Moving that character applies scenario settlement to its level, supplies and other scenario data. Shared Character Cosmetics, Blueprint Level and Mod Level are not cleared. Do not mistake preserved shared progress for keeping every supply from the previous scenario.

Scenario Squads keep friends together, with conditions

Agree on a server name before entering. Friends can form a Scenario Squad through the scenario sign-up interface, then have the leader register the group once servers open. The developer says this puts squad members on the same server.

Only characters with the sign-up system enabled can join a squad; that system unlocks in the current scenario's final phase. A character with a permanent-server merge reservation cannot join until that reservation is canceled. Each character can belong to one Scenario Squad.

The notice also acknowledges a Hive-related issue that can stop permanent-server characters joining squads. Its listed workaround is leaving the Hive before trying again, while a fix is being worked on. This is a specific workaround, not an instruction for every player to leave their group.

If a friend's Isles server is already full, the announcement provides a Special Invitation Code route. Your friend can find that code under Player Info. Xbox console friend-list invitations are supported; the equivalent PS5 feature is still in development, with no release date given here.

RaidZone remains a separate server choice

Isles of Abyss: RaidZone opens through RaidZone mode on the character sign-in screen, rather than the PvE scenario route. Entries marked Console are console-exclusive. Do not assume a similarly named PvE server and RaidZone server are the same destination.

Read the official server-entry notice with your group before selecting a character or transferring. Our earlier autumn update coverage separates previously announced changes from delivery promises, and the Once Human hub keeps the rest of our coverage together. For this launch, pick the correct mode and server first, then check the live list after the update.