Once Human Celebrates Second Anniversary with 'Dreamy Maelstrom' Event

Metas, the world of Nalcott is hitting a major milestone. Once Human is officially celebrating its second anniversary, and the development team is marking the occasion with a massive event dubbed "Dreamy Maelstrom." Running from July 9 through July 30, 2026, the celebration packs in new gameplay, limited-time rewards, and a slate of fresh Deviations.

The Dreamy Maelstrom Event Lineup

Before the festivities officially kick off, a warm-up campaign is running from July 1 to July 9. Players can make reservations via their mobile numbers to unlock milestone rewards. These include the "Crimson Insight" anniversary theme and, depending on how many friends you invite, the potential to earn a Stardust Secret Crate - S13 (Legendary).

The core of the celebration, Dreamy Riftpits teams of 1-4 players against waves of enemies. As you clear waves, you'll choose from various enhancements, including powerful "Overclock" mods that can grant exaggerated combat effects like instant-kills on low-health enemies or omnidirectional shrapnel. Hard mode introduces environmental hazards like black rain and meteorites for those looking to push their limits.

New Deviations and Rewards

Three new Deviations are joining the roster for the anniversary:

• Crimson Insight - ZapCam: A limited-time, crimson-themed version of the familiar ZapCam.
• Mr. Wish - Penguin Hope: A crossover "demolition expert" penguin obtained via anniversary events and RaidZone modes.
• Behemoth: A powerful new companion that offers a unique riding experience in the wilderness.

Players can also take advantage of "Dreamy Check-in," which awards the legendary blueprint "QBJ97 - Fiery Trees and Silver Flowers" just for logging in, along with furniture formulas like the "Pounding Heart Neon."

Community and Returning Player Bonuses

The anniversary isn't just about solo play. The "Hourly Resonance" event encourages players to gather on the event island at specific times (10:00-12:00 and 19:00-23:00 daily) to dance and boost venue popularity to claim group rewards.

For those who have been away, the game is rolling out significant "Reunion Gifts." Returning players will receive Starchrom scaled to their time away, a legendary gear blueprint of their choosing, and a Deviation selection box. New players joining during this window will receive a similar starter pack to help them get up to speed quickly.

The update also introduces the RaidZone: RaidFest and first-person perspective modes, rounding out a substantial content drop for the second-anniversary cycle.