Once Human hits consoles with its biggest update yet
NetEase dropped update 2.3.26 for Once Human on March 26, 2026, and it's not a minor patch. The Deviant Update opens the game to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S for the first time through a temporary console beta, while also overhauling a core progression system that PC players have lived with since launch. New enemy types, cross-platform play, and a cleaner economy system all land at once. Here's what changed and what it means for how you play.
What is the Deviant Update?
The Deviant Update is the internal name for Once Human patch 2.3.26, released March 26, 2026. According to the NetEase announcement, it's described as one of the largest updates in the project's history. The headline features are the console beta launch, a reworked economy system, new enemy types, and the foundation for cross-platform play going forward.
The console beta is explicitly temporary. It ended on April 8, 2026, meaning any progress made during that window was reset afterward. Players who participated still received rewards for their time, so jumping in was worth it even knowing the reset was coming.
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Console beta progress was reset after April 8, 2026. Any rewards earned during the beta period were still kept, but character and world progress did not carry over.
How does the new Starchrom economy work?
The most significant systemic change in update 2.3.26 is the removal of the blueprint fragment system. Previously, players had to collect blueprint fragments to unlock gear and progression items. The Deviant Update replaces that with direct use of Starchrom, the game's primary currency.
This is a meaningful simplification. Blueprint fragments added an extra layer of resource tracking that many players found tedious, particularly when trying to target specific gear. Going straight to Starchrom cuts out the middleman and makes progression more readable at a glance.
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If you were hoarding blueprint fragments before the update, check how NetEase converted those into Starchrom equivalents. Don't leave currency on the table by ignoring your inventory after the patch.
Starchrom replaces blueprint fragments
What new threats were added in the Deviant Update?
Two new enemy types appear in update 2.3.26. The Evolved Devourer is an upgraded version of an existing threat, pushing players to adapt their loadouts rather than relying on strategies that worked before. Mimic Trees are a separate category of danger entirely, described as environmental threats that expand the types of hazards you'll encounter in the world.
Both additions are positioned as gameplay expansions rather than simple reskins. The Evolved Devourer name implies stat and behavior changes over the base Devourer, while Mimic Trees suggest a more environmental, ambush-style threat.
warning
Don't approach Mimic Trees the same way you'd handle standard environmental objects. The "mimic" designation suggests they behave differently from what they appear to be at first glance.
Evolved Devourer combat encounter
Cross-platform play: what does it actually mean?
The Deviant Update introduces cross-platform play between PC and the new console platforms. NetEase described this feature as also "laying the groundwork for further development," which suggests the cross-play implementation in 2.3.26 is the starting point rather than a finished system.
For PC players, this means the pool of players you can encounter, cooperate with, or compete against just expanded significantly. For console players joining through the beta, it meant jumping into a world that PC players had already been building in.
The temporary nature of the beta (ending April 8, 2026) was specifically structured so console players could test the experience without a permanent commitment, while NetEase gathered data on cross-platform performance and balance.
Cross-platform lobby in action
Should you play Once Human on console?
Based on the available information from the Deviant Update announcement, the console beta was a limited-time test that has already concluded as of April 8, 2026. What it established is that Once Human is now officially targeting PS5 and Xbox Series X/S as platforms, with cross-play infrastructure in place.
For players who missed the beta, the Deviant Update still matters because the economy and enemy changes apply to the PC version as well. The Starchrom simplification and new threats like the Evolved Devourer and Mimic Trees are permanent additions to the game, not console-exclusive content.
For a broader look at what's happening across survival and open-world games right now, browse more guides at GAMES.GG to stay current on the titles worth your time.
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The console beta has ended, but NetEase confirmed that participating players kept their earned rewards. Full console availability beyond the beta has not been announced in the available source material.
Quick reference: Deviant Update key facts
- Update version: 2.3.26
- Release date: March 26, 2026
- Console beta platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S
- Console beta end date: April 8, 2026
- Progress reset: Yes, after beta ends (rewards kept)
- Economy change: Blueprint fragments replaced by direct Starchrom use
- New enemies: Evolved Devourer, Mimic Trees
- Cross-play: PC and console cross-platform play introduced