The spots are filling fast. Once Human has officially kicked off its final Console Open Beta on Xbox Series X|S, and the developers have made one thing very clear: the player cap is real, and once it's hit, the download channel closes.
This is the last major test before the full console launch of Once Human, the supernatural survival game from Starry Studio where you play as a Meta-Human navigating a Stardust-infected open world full of grotesque creatures, base-building, and mutation-driven character progression. The beta opened for pre-download on June 17 at 5:00 PM PT, with servers going live at 7:00 PM PT the same day.
How to actually get in before the cap hits
This isn't a standard store download. To access the beta, you need the Xbox Insider Hub app installed on your Series X|S. From there, head to the Previews section, search for Once Human, hit Join, and you'll be redirected to the store page to install. Players who participated in the previous Closed Beta and kept the game installed will receive an automatic update instead.
The beta runs until July 8 at 11:59 PM PT, giving players just over three weeks to explore the content.
Five scenarios, one apocalypse
Once you're in, the beta isn't a single locked experience. Players get access to five distinct scenarios:
- Novice Scenario (recommended for new players)
- Manibus
- Endless Dream
- The Way of Winter
- RaidZone
All scenarios except RaidZone also include access to Visional Wheel S3: Aberrant Progeny, which adds another layer of progression to the experience. The variety here is deliberate. Starry Studio wants feedback across different playstyles, not just from players grinding the most popular mode.
Exclusive rewards that carry into launch
Here's the incentive to put in the time. Reach Level 20 with any character during the beta and you'll unlock two selection crates, one cosmetic and one weapon skin, that transfer permanently to the full release.
The cosmetic choices are:
Weapon skin options include Dragon Dance (KAM), Reconstructed Matrix (AWS.33), and Gem Symphony (MG4). RaidZone players have a different threshold: more than 3 hours of playtime to qualify instead of hitting Level 20.
Beyond the crates, all earned Starchrom, obtained cosmetics, and up to 6 collected Deviants carry over to launch. Character progression itself resets, since this is a wipe test, but you won't be starting completely empty-handed.
Cross-play setup and what to expect
PC and mobile cross-play is not active during this test, but Xbox and PlayStation players share the same console servers. That means you can team up with PS5 players without any platform friction, which is worth knowing if your squad is split across consoles.
For the full breakdown of what changed heading into this beta period, including the new Starchrom economy and console-specific updates, the Once Human Deviant Update rundown covers the patch details in depth.
What this test means before launch
Starry Studio is calling this the "final" Console Open Beta, which signals that a full launch window is close. The decision to cap player slots rather than open the floodgates suggests the team is managing server load carefully while still gathering broad feedback. The in-game Feedback & Customer Support menu and the official Once Human Discord are the two designated channels for reporting bugs or suggestions.
The window is short and the spots are genuinely limited. If Once Human has been on your radar since its PC release, this is the clearest signal yet that the console version is nearly ready. Get the Once Human leveling guide bookmarked now so you're not scrambling to hit Level 20 before the beta closes on July 8.
