Once Human's Paid Name and Appearance Changes Remain a Frustrating Paywall in 2026

I still remember the moment I launched Once Human for the first time back in 2024. The character creator was surprisingly deep — not quite Dragon's Dogma 2 levels of facial geometry chaos, but packed with enough sliders to tweak jawlines, cheekbones, nose bridges, and even the way my survivor walked. I spent almost an hour building my ideal post-apocalyptic avatar, or so I thought. A few months later, I logged back in and immediately hated everything about him. The name I picked in a hurry? Silly. The hairstyle? Embarrassing. And that’s when I discovered the cold, hard truth: in Once Human, changing your identity comes with a real-world price tag.

I’m not against free-to-play monetization. Developers need to eat, and a game this ambitious doesn’t run on goodwill. But locking basic re-customization options behind premium consumables feels like a design choice that punishes players who didn’t min-max their appearance on day one. As of 2026, the system remains unchanged, and it’s worth warning anyone jumping into the wasteland for the first time — or returning after a long break.

A Name Change Requires Real Money, Not In-Game Effort

If you regret the name you slapped on your character, you can’t just visit a barber or pay some NPC with Starchrom. The only way to fix it is a Renaming Card, one of those rare items that can’t be crafted, looted, or earned through any activity. No boss drops it, no event rewards it. It exists solely in the cash shop.

Here’s the process I had to go through:

1. Open the pause menu with Escape and navigate to Shop Events, or just hit F2 for a direct shortcut to the Shop.

2. Inside the Shop, click on the Other tab. There it was — the Renaming Card, staring at me with a price in real currency. 😑

3. After buying the card, I returned to the game, hit Escape, and clicked my profile icon in the top-right corner.

4. Selecting the option to edit my name consumed the card instantly. I typed the new name, held my breath, and confirmed.

That’s it. One click, one card gone. No confirmation like “Are you sure?” beyond the initial purchase. It’s a one-shot deal, so if you typo your new name, you’ll have to swipe your card again.

Changing Your Appearance Requires Yet Another Paid Token

If renaming stings, wait until you want to tweak your nose or swap that haircut. For any physical alteration, you need a Chrysalis Token. Again, it cannot be obtained through gameplay. No amount of grinding, exploring, or defeating world bosses will grant you one. The Shop is the sole provider.

Once you’ve traded your hard-earned cash for a Chrysalis Token, you still have to jump through a small crafting hoop. You must build a Floor Mirror inside your territory. The recipe isn’t complicated — 20 Logs and 10 Glass — but it does require you to own a territory and have the necessary materials. If your base is cramped, you might need to expand with some Wooden Platforms first.

Here’s my step-by-step after buying the token:

• Enter build mode by pressing B and find the Furnishing Items category under Furniture.

• Craft the Floor Mirror and place it somewhere accessible.

• Interact with the mirror. The game immediately consumes one Chrysalis Token and throws you back into the full character creator screen.

Time freezes while you re-sculpt your face. You can adjust everything — body shape, skin tone, tattoos, scars, hairstyles, even the subtle asymmetry of your eyes. It’s genuinely a fantastic customization suite, but knowing you paid real money for each visit adds a layer of stress. If you accidentally hit confirm before you’re satisfied, you’ll need another token. There’s no “try before you buy” preview; once you exit, the token is spent. 😅

Why This Monetization Feels Off in 2026

Two years after launch, Once Human has grown in many ways. We’ve seen new zones, seasonal wipes, and an evolving story. Yet the Renaming Card and Chrysalis Token remain pure cash-shop exclusives. In an era where most live-service games offer appearance recustomization for in-game currency or even for free after a major patch, this feels outdated.

I understand that character creation is a one-time event for many players, and that selling these tokens generates revenue. But the problem is the lack of alternatives. Even a single free rename token given per account, or a Chrysalis Token as a rare drop from a seasonal boss, would soften the blow. Instead, the game says: “You didn’t set up your character perfectly on your first try? Too bad. Pay up.”

This design disproportionately hits new players who are still learning the world and may not realize how permanent their initial choices are. It also affects returning players who want to refresh their identity after months away.

My Advice for Wasteland Wanderers

If you’re jumping into Once Human in 2026, take your time in the character creator. Treat it like a permanent decision, because the only way to change your mind is a credit card. Test different animations, examine how your character looks in various lighting conditions, and maybe even write down your intended name on a sticky note before typing it in. 😅

For those who already messed up and are considering buying a token, double-check every detail before you hit confirm. The mirror is ruthless — it doesn’t give second chances.

In a game that otherwise respects player agency with deep survival mechanics and a huge open world, the name and appearance paywall sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s a small annoyance that steadily gnaws at your enjoyment every time you see your character and regret a choice made in haste. I hope the developers eventually add a way to earn at least one free token through gameplay. Until then, your virtual face and name remain protected by a paywall, and that’s a disappointing reality in 2026.