Once Human hits consoles with its biggest update yet
NetEase rolled out update 2.3.26 for Once Human on March 26, 2026, and it's a major shift. The Deviant Update brought the game to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S through a limited console beta, while simultaneously gutting and rebuilding a core progression system that PC players have dealt with since day one. New enemy types, cross-platform play, and a streamlined economy all hit at the same time. Here's what changed and how it affects your playthrough.
What is the Deviant Update?
The Deviant Update is NetEase's internal label for Once Human patch 2.3.26, which went live March 26, 2026. The patch notes position it as one of the biggest updates the game has seen. The major additions are the console beta launch, a rebuilt economy system, new enemy types, and the infrastructure for cross-platform play moving forward.
The console beta ran for a limited window and closed on April 8, 2026. Any progress made during that period was wiped after the beta ended. Players who jumped in still earned rewards that carried over, so the time investment wasn't wasted even with the reset looming.
How does the new Starchrom economy work?
The biggest systemic overhaul in update 2.3.26 is the complete removal of the blueprint fragment system. Before this patch, you had to collect blueprint fragments to unlock gear and progression items. The Deviant Update scraps that entirely and switches to direct spending of Starchrom, the game's primary currency.
This is a real simplification. Blueprint fragments added a layer of resource tracking that slowed down progression and made targeting specific gear a hassle. Cutting straight to Starchrom removes the extra step and makes it easier to see exactly what you need at any given time.
Starchrom replaces blueprint fragments
What new threats were added in the Deviant Update?
Two new enemy types show up in update 2.3.26. The Evolved Devourer is an upgraded version of an existing threat, forcing you to rethink loadouts instead of coasting on strategies that worked before. Mimic Trees are a different category of danger, described as environmental threats that expand the kinds of hazards you'll run into in the world.
Both additions are meant to change how you play, not just add more things to shoot. The Evolved Devourer name suggests stat and behavior changes over the base Devourer, while Mimic Trees sound like an ambush-style environmental threat.
Evolved Devourer combat encounter
Cross-platform play: what does it actually mean?
The Deviant Update adds cross-platform play between PC and the new console platforms. NetEase framed this feature as also "laying the groundwork for further development," which reads like the cross-play implementation in 2.3.26 is a starting point, not a finished system.
For PC players, this expands the pool of people you can encounter, cooperate with, or compete against. For console players who joined through the beta, it meant stepping into a world that PC players had already been building in.
The beta's temporary nature (ending April 8, 2026) let console players test the experience without a permanent commitment, while NetEase collected data on cross-platform performance and balance.
Cross-platform lobby in action
Should you play Once Human on console?
The console beta was a limited-time test that closed on April 8, 2026. What it established is that Once Human is now targeting PS5 and Xbox Series X/S as platforms, with cross-play infrastructure in place.
If you 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.
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