We all thought Palworld would be a hit, but I don’t think anyone—even its creators—expected the seismic impact it made on Steam last January. At its peak, Pocketpair’s monster-focused survival game attracted over two million players at a time. Now, six months later, it’s averaging just over 100,000. That’s a significant decline, but Palworld is one of the lucky ones: Big games, especially mid-budget survival horror projects, come, thrive, and disappear at an alarming rate, and the competition is stronger than ever. It’s a tough world. Once humanOne of the most popular games on Steam, it has every chance of succeeding, but in such a crowded genre, how does it stand out from rivals like Stalker 2, Soulmask, and the highly regarded Palworld itself? Speaking exclusively to PCGamesN, developer Starry Studio explains.
In the futuristic and futuristic future of Once Human, an alien spore has infected the surface of our planet, transforming plants, wildlife, and humans into dangerous, mutated versions of their former selves. Somehow, you, the player, are immune to the effects of this contagious “stardust.” In fact, it makes you stronger, allowing you to unlock new powers and abilities that transform you into a true superhero.
Dropped into the destroyed but surprisingly pretty landscape of our former home, you are free to do everything you expect from survival games and MMOs. Complete quests, hunt wildlife, farm animals and crops, build your own home, customize everything – Once Human is just a canvas for all your agent whims.
Before its launch, Once Human had become the fifth most requested game on Steam. 15 million players pre-registered to play Once Human, and it attracted over 300,000 users during Steam Next Fest. Despite its freedom and wildly varied mechanics, Starry Studio says that Once Human is not trying to be an “all-in-one” game.
“The combination of MMO and survival game elements sets Once Human apart, offering a unique blend of cooperative and competitive interactions in a survival-focused environment,” said Derek Qui, Head of Overseas Operations. “Additionally, Once Human is also distinguished by its focus on player feedback and commitment to creating an immersive and engaging gaming experience. Our goal is to compete with our own standards, ensuring that we consistently deliver a game that resonates with our audience.”
“We want to make it clear, however, that our intention is not to create an “all-in-one” or “ultimate” video game that combines popular elements from other games. While we are inspired by the innovative elements found in a variety of successful titles, our goal is to create a unique and captivating gaming experience that stands on its own merits. Once Human is a carefully crafted game with its own narrative, gameplay mechanics, and world-building.”
Still, from what we’ve seen so far, Once Human looks like a pretty expansive sandbox. There’s PvP and PvE, co-op and solo play, and a massive open world made up of a variety of contrasting biomes. Some people want short or at least time-limited video games, where the mechanics are limited and the creator has a strong sense of direction, almost a dictatorship – you play for as long as it lasts, then move on.
Others want a long-term commitment, a game they can expand, explore, upgrade, and grow into for weeks, months, or even years; rather than playing “games,” they want to commit their time wholesale. a gameIf video gamers’ tastes can be broadly divided into two categories, Once Human certainly appeals to those who prefer the latter. The problem for Starry Studio is that there are more games of this type than ever before. So how does Once Human manage to stand out?
“Once Human stands out for its unique and immersive universe, offering players a captivating and visually stunning environment that sets it apart from other survival games,” explains Qui. “The game features a richly detailed and meticulously crafted world, creating a unique atmosphere that captures players’ imaginations.”
“Additionally, the game’s monster design is innovative and compelling, with a diverse array of intricately designed creatures to enhance the overall gameplay experience. Each monster presents its own set of challenges, adding depth and excitement to the gameplay.”
“Our post-launch roadmap also includes regular updates aimed at addressing player feedback, optimizing game mechanics, and ensuring a smooth and enjoyable experience for all players. Additionally, we plan to introduce new content, such as expansions, in-game events, and additional features that will enrich the world of Once Human and provide new and exciting experiences for our player community.”
But while size and quantity are Once Human’s strong points, that doesn’t mean everything Starry Studio imagines will end up in the finished game. On the contrary, many ideas have already been left behind.
“During the development process, we had to abandon some important ideas to preserve the integrity and coherence of the game,” Qui explains. “Some ideas, as intriguing as they were, didn’t fit the overall vision of Once Human or didn’t integrate well with the core gameplay mechanics.”
“An example. At first, we wanted the game to be more realistic. There was a territory system with a set of mechanics that were more in line with the concept of survival. Players had to regularly provide resources to the territory, like “paying the rent.” However, after considering player feedback, we eventually reduced the survival design in this area. We agreed with players that the feeling of survival should bring fun to the game rather than be a burden.”
After a series of tests and betas, the full release date for Once Human arrives on Tuesday, July 9. One of the most sought-after games on Steam, naturally, expectations are high.
But given the number of competing survival games that have already landed in 2024, and more that are still to come, Starry Studios’ ambitious MMO, FPS, co-op, crafting, and farming game potentially has some tough battles ahead. It may not try to please everyone at once, but it’s certainly close. Whether that’s really what gamers want today remains to be seen.
You might be wondering, “when is Once Human coming out?” Luckily, we have the full list of release dates. You might also want to take a look at some of the best sandbox games available on PC.
You can also follow us on Google News for daily PC gaming news, reviews, and guides, or grab our PCGN Deals Tracker to score great deals.