Once Human Season 2 Faces 'Demoralizing' Feedback, Devs Pledge Course Correction

It's been a turbulent few months for Once Human, the ambitious free-to-play multiplayer open-world survival game from NetEase's Starry Studio. Since its official launch in July 2024, the game soared on Steam, often seeing over 100,000 concurrent players, a testament to its initial appeal and the hunger for a new, high-quality survival experience. As of 2026, the game is deep into its second season, but the journey has hit some unexpected turbulence. The studio recently took to its official Discord to share a candid update, admitting that the reception to Season 2 has been, in their own words, "demoralising."

A Studio's Candid Admission

The team's statement, first highlighted by outlets like Eurogamer, was a rare glimpse into the raw, unfiltered impact of player feedback on developers. "Since the start of Season 2, we've received a lot of feedback," the statement read. "Some of it has been quite demoralising, but what's important is that it's made us aware of how your experience has been affected by the changes we've made." This feedback, as reported by PC Gamer, is funneled through a private system on Discord where comments go directly to the developers and are not posted publicly, making the intensity of the reaction all the more significant.

Despite this internal storm, Once Human maintains a strong presence on Steam. According to SteamDB, the game continues to hold a solid daily average of over 100,000 concurrent players, with an all-time peak of 231,668. These numbers are nothing to scoff at; they are the sturdy hull of a ship navigating rough seas. However, the studio is clearly aware that player retention is as fragile as a house of cards in a windstorm, and foundational issues need addressing.

Pinpointing the Pain Points: Builds & Tags

Starry Studio identified two primary areas where Season 2 missed the mark, creating friction points for its dedicated player base.

1. Weapon Builds: The changes to progression and customization left many players feeling their carefully crafted arsenals had been undermined. It was as if the rules of chess had been changed mid-tournament, invalidating established strategies. In response, the studio is developing a blueprint conversion system to give players more agency and flexibility in adapting their gear to the new seasonal landscape.

2. Scenario Tags: This system, intended to help categorize and match gameplay experiences, apparently caused more confusion than clarity. The developers have committed to refining this feature based on the results of a dedicated player survey, acknowledging that a tool meant to guide players should not feel like a labyrinth with no exit.

The studio concluded its message with a pledge: "We value your opinions and hope that we'll be able to fulfill all of your requests in future updates."

The Delicate Balance of Feedback

This situation highlights the complex, often painful, relationship between live-service game developers and their communities. Feedback is the lifeblood of a game's long-term evolution, a compass pointing toward what works and what doesn't. Yet, the studio's use of "demoralising" serves as a stark reminder that on the other side of every critique is a team of individuals who have poured years of work into their creation. Constructive criticism fuels improvement, but its delivery can sometimes feel like salt in an open wound.

For players in 2026, the story of Once Human Season 2 is a case study in live-service growing pains. The initial launch was a meteorite striking the gaming landscape, creating a crater of opportunity. Now, the hard work of cultivating that crater into a sustainable ecosystem begins. The developers' willingness to listen and their concrete plans for a blueprint system and tag overhaul are positive signs. The game's resilient player count suggests there is a strong foundation and a community rooting for its success.

Only time will tell if Starry Studio can successfully navigate this feedback storm and steer Once Human back toward the sunny reception of its launch. For now, the community watches and waits, hoping the next update will feel less like a demoralizing setback and more like the turning of a new page.

Quick Facts at a Glance (2026):

Recent trends are highlighted by Metacritic, a leading aggregator of game reviews and player sentiment. Metacritic's user score fluctuations for live-service titles like Once Human often reflect the immediate impact of major updates, with Season 2's reception mirroring similar patterns seen in other multiplayer survival games when core progression systems are reworked.