Once Human Update Adds Major Quality of Life Features

Summary

• Once Human update 1.3.5 introduces several big quality-of-life changes, including the long-awaited ability to delete characters.
• The newly debuted patch also makes Battle Pass progression account- rather than character-based, making the game significantly less grindy for anyone using multiple characters.

Once Human has received some major quality-of-life features, including a reworked Battle Pass system that’s significantly less grindy than its predecessor. These novelties debuted as part of the latest Once Human update, which rolled out in early January 2025.

Developed by NetEase’s China-based subsidiary Starry Studio, Once Human is a free-to-play multiplayer shooter that debuted on Steam in July 2024. Its blend of open-world exploration, looter shooters, and survival crafting games ended up resonating with many a player, as underlined by the fact that Once Human peaked at over 230,000 players shortly following its launch. For reference, that figure makes it one of the top 60 most popular titles ever released on Valve’s storefront, which is quite an achievement on a platform that hosts over 100,000 games.

Starry Studio has been refining Once Human ever since, consistently delivering new updates every few weeks. Continuing this trend, the Chinese developer pushed out yet another patch on January 1. Identified by version number 1.3.5, this release introduces some substantial quality-of-life changes, chief among which is the ability to delete characters. Doing so isn’t instant, but merely triggers a five-day grace period during which players can still cancel the deletion. Any characters slated for removal cannot be customized or otherwise used.

Once Human’s New Battle Pass Is Less Grindy

The second big novelty that arrived as part of the 1.3.5 update is a reworked progression system that no longer requires Once Human characters to personally earn Battle Pass XP if they want BP rewards. Instead, BP progression is now account-based, allowing any member of one’s roster to contribute to new unlocks and ultimately benefit as much as anyone else. Coinciding with this quality-of-life change is the arrival of a new Battle Pass called Frosty Glory.

Another useful addition that debuted as part of the 1.3.5 patch is a vehicle repair function, which can be accessed by unlocking the Vehicle Repair Electric Drills under the Modification II mod tree. As the name implies, this tool will allow players to keep their Once Human vehicles in good condition.

The January 2025 update also introduced some performance optimizations and balancing tweaks, like buffing Ice Cubes’ wilderness durability and making the fridge 20 times more effective at preserving food. The patch also added an attack range indicator to weapon combat facilities and traps during construction, making the process of building reliable defenses less reliant on trial and error. New cosmetics are also part of Once Human‘s 1.3.5 update, together with over a dozen bug fixes and expanded control options.

Once Human Update 1.3.5 Patch Notes

Character Deletion

1. You can now delete characters using the Character Management function.
2. After initiating deletion, there will be a five-day countdown during which you can cancel the deletion process. The character’s name will still be reserved and cannot be taken by other characters during this time.
3. When the countdown ends, the character will be permanently deleted and removed from your character list.

Notes:

1. During the deletion countdown, you cannot use or make any changes to the character, so you should manage your items beforehand. After the character is deleted, all their items will be permanently lost.
2. After deleting a character, a character slot will be freed up on your account. The character limit per account is still 10.
3. If your character is mistakenly deleted, please contact customer support, and we will do everything necessary to recover the lost data in part.

New Wish Machine Prize Pools

After the update on January 1, 2025 (PT), three new Wish Machine prize pools will be available for 3 weeks:

• Money Rain: Includes the Legendary weapon blueprint ‘Raining Cash.’
• Depth Charge: Includes the Legendary weapon blueprint ‘Jaws.’
• Armored Cowboy: Includes the Legendary gear blueprint ‘Cowboy Boots,’ and the Savior Jacket, Savior Gloves, and Savior Shoes.

Optimizations

Vehicles

Added the vehicle repair function:

• You can now unlock Vehicle Repair Electric Drills under Modification II and craft them at the Intermediate or Advanced Workbench. Vehicle Repair Electric Drills can be used to repair vehicles’ HP in the wilderness.

Ranching

The ranching game mode has been updated as follows:

1. Reduced the Energy and Hydration loss rates of animals.
2. Food deposited into the Animal Trough will no longer spoil but cannot be withdrawn.

Wilderness

1. Added an option to control weather reminders in the Settings. The default setting varies between scenarios.

Construction

1. Attack ranges of trap and weapon combat facilities are now displayed when building them.
2. Added separate Recent tabs to Structures, Facilities, Furniture, Cosmetics, and Eternaland in Construction mode. In these tabs, components are sorted by frequency of use.

Controls

1. Added a setting for the Glide key. You can now independently customize the Glide control.
2. Simplified the controls for interacting with enemy drops and containers (e.g. Trash Cans and Medkits). Now, you can press the key to quickly pick up items, or press and hold to view their details before collecting them.
3. You no longer need to click on individual items to clear their red dots. Switching tabs will automatically clear all red dots in the previous tab.
4. After switching TABs, all red dots from the previous TAB are cleared.
5. You no longer need to click on individual items to clear their red dots. Closing the tab will automatically clear all red dots within it.
6. After closing the screen with the current red dot, all red dots from the previously selected TAB are cleared.

Survival, Open World, and Crafting

1. Increased the Durability of Ice Cubes in the wilderness.
2. Improved the Fridge’s functionality. Food items placed in the Fridge now last 20 times longer.
3. Expanded the types of furniture formulas that can be disassembled at the Designer’s Workstation. All furniture formulas obtainable from the Designer’s Workstation can now be disassembled into blueprint fragments.

New Shop Arrivals

New Battle Pass: Frosty Glory (available from January 1 post-update, PT)

• “The moon’s placid light illuminates the glorious frost.”
• A new Battle Pass theme is here, including the ‘Frosty Glory’ fashion set (Epic), ‘Love at First Sight’ weapon skin (Epic), ‘Cutie Cub’ Cradle skin (Epic), and ‘Elegance of Time’ furniture formula series (Fine).

Experience greater convenience with the new cross-character sharing feature:

• The Battle Pass is now shared across all characters on the same account. Every character can collect Battle Pass EXP and contribute to the Battle Pass level, giving you the freedom to choose which character to play.
• All cosmetic rewards from this Battle Pass cycle will be shared across all characters on the account, eliminating the need to grind with multiple characters.
• Automatic outfit recommendations will be provided. Let’s see which one looks the best!

Lightforge Loot Crate: Stardust Edge (available on January 3 at 10:00 AM server time)

• “A glimmer of hope amidst the dust, exuding a sharp, chilling edge.”
• The limited-time Lightforge Loot Crate: Stardust Edge includes the ‘Stardust Mayfly’ fashion set (Legendary), ‘Weapon Rack – Ice’ facility skin (Legendary), and ‘Ice Age – Crossbow’ weapon skin (Epic).
• Plus, a new feature that lets you choose your favorite reward:
  • You can now redeem Lightforge Collection items with Lightforge Gems!
  • Every 20 Lightforge Loot Crates will yield at least 1 Lightforge Gem!

Lightforge Loot Crate: Arcane Celestial will be removed from sale on January 2, 6:00 AM server time.

Post-update shop arrivals (January 9 update, server time):

• “I bring news of spring!” The spirit bird of the east brings good tidings from afar! The ‘Aerial Navigator’ collection set (Epic) and ‘Liberty Plume’ theme pack are coming to the Shop.
• “The sun shall never forsake this garden.” The ‘Afternoon Garden’ territory furniture pack (Epic) lets you create a pure and refreshing place of rest.
• Fine weapon skins and bundles will also arrive. To learn more, go to the in-game Shop.

Bug Fixes

• Ranching
  1. Fixed an issue where Planter Boxes in sealed rooms would sometimes still detect natural light.
  2. Fixed an issue where after interacting with the Flamingo or Sea Turtle, they could not be recalled and their Details button would become unresponsive.
  3. Fixed an issue where animals would not eat or drink while the player was offline.
• Storage
  1. Fixed an issue where Storage Crates would automatically switch to the Food tab.
• Deviations
  1. Fixed an issue where Lonewolf’s Whisper would not attack some large bosses.
• Camera Mode
  1. Fixed an issue where photos could not be uploaded to the Photo Frame furniture item if the network connection was weak.
• Wilderness
  1. Fixed the issue with water reflections in areas with high contamination.
• Gameplay
  1. Fixed an issue in The Prime War where the Shadow Hound’s ultimate attack would land too close to the Staroid Restrainer.
• Deviants
  1. Fixed an issue where the Star Walker elite enemy would sometimes clip through walls.
• Public Crisis Events
  1. Fixed an issue where new Ammo Crates would not spawn in the ‘Battleship Blockade’ Public Crisis Event.
  2. Fixed an issue that would occasionally teleport players underground instead of to a Public Crisis Event.
• UI and Controls
  1. Fixed an issue where opening a crate would sometimes be interrupted, forcing the player to open it again.
• Cosmetics
  1. Fixed an issue where Shadow Panther fashion pieces for female characters would sometimes clip through other outfit items.
  2. Fixed an issue where the character’s eyes would sometimes be rendered on the lenses of Glasses-type fashion pieces.
• Vehicles
  1. Fixed an issue where vehicles would bounce after hitting a tree.
  2. Fixed an issue where the player could not dismount the Pickup Truck or RV if a building was above the vehicle.