The First Descendant
News, coverage and analysis tracking The First Descendant across the outlets.- The First Descendant Gets Overhaul Roadmap Following Nexon’s “No Staying Power” AssessmentNexon has acknowledged that The First Descendant failed to maintain player retention, citing deeper design issues rather than superficial problems. The development team has outlined a three-phase "Completing the Game" roadmap to address core gameplay systems, improve the main story and early progression, and add new content. This overhaul follows mixed player reception since the game's launch in June 2024 across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Nexon CEO admits The First Descendant had 'no staying power,' and that can't be addressed with a quick fix: 'These are design issues that are not fixed with a patch'Nexon CEO Junghun Lee admitted that The First Descendant suffers from fundamental design issues that cannot be fixed with simple patches, leading to a lack of player retention. The game, which saw a high of 10 million players in its first week, has since dropped to around 5,000 concurrent players on Steam, receiving a 'mixed' user rating.
'Did Not Work': The First Descendant Considered a Failure by Its DeveloperNexon has acknowledged that its live-service title, The First Descendant, has failed to retain players, less than two years after its release on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PC. Company president Junghun Lee stated that the game suffered from "retention challenges" and "design issues that are not fixed with a patch." Despite a strong launch on PC with over 264,000 concurrent players, interest quickly waned, with player counts dropping significantly post-release.
Steam's upcoming homepage overhaul makes finding new games so much easierValve is overhauling Steam's homepage to make it easier for users to discover new games amidst a growing library and an influx of AI-generated content. The update will provide more information on why games are recommended, include micro-trailers, and streamline the Discovery Queue. New sections for wishlisted items and DLC will also be added.
110,000 mixed Steam reviews later, Nexon bluntly puts The First Descendant in the "did not work" category:…Nexon has openly acknowledged that The First Descendant, a third-person looter shooter released in June 2024, has failed to retain players despite a strong launch. President and CEO Junghun Lee stated that the game's issues are design-related and require structural changes rather than simple patches, indicating a significant underperformance.- FACE ELEMENTAL ONSLAUGHT AGAINST GUARDIAN ‘USCIAS’ IN VINDICTUS’ THE FLAME OF ETERNITY UPDATENEXON's action RPG Vindictus has received its 'The Flame of Eternity' update, introducing the 'Where Earth Meets Sky' raid featuring the boss monster 'Uscias.' The update also adds a new upgrade tier for Eriu Weapons, Level 125 Eriu Chest Armor, and other new equipment. Vindictus is available on PC and this update is part of its Season 4, Episode 14 content.
- Visions of Mana and More Reviews, Reynatis Preview, Age of Mythology Retold Steam Deck Impressions, News, and More – TouchArcadeThis week's Steam Deck Weekly features impressions and reviews for several games including Visions of Mana, Umamusume: Pretty Derby – Party Dash, Gori: Cuddly Carnage, Bloons Card Storm, and Age of Mythology: Retold. The article also covers previews for Reynatis and Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn, alongside news on upcoming releases, DLC, and Steam Deck Verified/Playable updates.
- Massively Overthinking: What’s the most important takeaway from the last MMORPG you quit?The Massively OP staff discusses their experiences quitting MMORPGs, exploring reasons ranging from developer decisions and corporate agendas to limited time and a loss of personal connection. Key takeaways often involve understanding what makes a game truly engaging beyond its mechanics, with many highlighting the importance of community and shared experiences over gameplay alone.
- CELEBRATE DUNGEON FIGHTER ONLINE’S 11TH ANNIVERSARY WITH A CHALLENGING NEW UPDATE!Dungeon Fighter Online is celebrating its 11th anniversary with a new update that includes the World Boss: Contagion challenge and the 'Galactic Voyager Package' sale. The update also features several in-game events, such as 'Celarion Survivors' and 'Celarion Resource Deep Exploration,' offering players various rewards. Dungeon Fighter Online is available for free on PC via its official webpage, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
- The First Descendant Introduces Sharen Balance Updates, A New Melee Weapon, New Dungeon ‘Legion Laboratory’ and More in New Dev LivestreamNEXON has detailed upcoming updates for The First Descendant, including balance adjustments for the Descendant Sharen, a new melee weapon called 'Crime and Punishment,' and a new dungeon named 'Legion Laboratory.' The March update, launching on March 12, will also introduce new modules, weapon balance changes, and in-game events.
Nakwon: Last Paradise, an Upcoming Multiplayer Zombie Survival Game Announces a Closed Alpha Test on PC, Kicks Off on March 11 | Console CreaturesNexon has announced a closed alpha test for its upcoming multiplayer zombie survival game, Nakwon: Last Paradise, for PC. The test will run from March 11th to March 16th and will feature new weapons, enemies, a weather system, housing, and a skill tree. The game is set in a zombie-apocalypse South Korea where players must scavenge for resources and survive encounters with both zombies and other players.- MMO Week in Review: The clock strikes MidnightThis week's MMO news roundup covers the early access launch of World of Warcraft: Midnight, BitCraft entering its second early access phase, and Gamigo reviving Gloria Victis. The article also touches on layoffs at Corepunk, Discord's postponed age verification rollout, and various updates and issues across numerous other MMO titles.
Nexon snaps up Arc Raiders' Patrick Söderlund as executive chairman to "lead the next phase of growth" for the companyNexon has appointed Patrick Söderlund, founder of Embark Studios and Arc Raiders, as its new executive chairman. Söderlund will focus on accelerating global strategy and leading the company's next phase of growth, working closely with CEO Junghun Lee. This move comes as Nexon aims to expand its presence in the live-service sector, building on recent successes like Dave the Diver and The Finals.