A look at how the looter-shooter overcame a rocky start, lessons learned from live-service challenges, and the ambitious Season 3 update
A Triumph at GDC 2025
NEXON took the stage at this year’s Game Developers Conference (GDC 2025) to share the journey behind its co-op looter-shooter, The First Descendant. During a session titled “Persevering Through a 57 Metacritic as a Live Service Game,” Executive Producer Beomjun Lee opened up about the challenges of launching a game to a lukewarm critical reception and how continuous updates and community engagement fueled the title’s comeback.
“This session allowed me to highlight the key lessons we’ve learned from managing the game,” said Lee, “including insights from months of live service, the importance of engaging with our community, and a glimpse of the upcoming Season 3 mega update.”
Overcoming Early Hurdles
When The First Descendant debuted, it carried the weight of a 57 Metacritic score—hardly the reception NEXON hoped for. But months of live service taught the development team some hard-earned lessons:
- Listening to Player Feedback – Implementing updates driven by community input allowed the game to quickly pivot and correct early missteps.
- Evolving Content – Season 2 saw significant overhauls, from new Descendants to story arcs, adding depth that reignited player interest.
- Live Ops Best Practices – By focusing on transparent communication, the devs have earned trust and fostered excitement for each incoming patch.
Season 2 Success: “Beyond The Void”
Recent achievements prove these strategies are paying off. With the Season 2 Episode 2 update, The First Descendant saw:
- +18% increase in new players vs. the previous update.
- +25% daily active users.
- A peak concurrent user count of 23,000 on Steam, reaching #17 globally in revenue.
Key to this surge was the introduction of a new field called “Sigma Sector” and a fresh progression system, “Arche Tuning System”, which inspired players to share builds and strategies. New and returning users were also guided through well-structured events, ensuring they could quickly level up and join endgame content.
Season 3: “The Breakthrough”
Following Season 2’s momentum, NEXON teased the biggest update yet, Season 3: The Breakthrough, coming this summer. Players can expect:
- A Larger Battlefield – Explore expansive new environments ripe for looting and shootouts.
- New Transportation – Hit the road (or rails) with fresh vehicles to get around in style.
- Colossus Battles – Take on massive foes in epic set-piece encounters, capitalizing on open fields.
- Lounge Space – A new social area designed for Descendants to hang out, party up, and gear up together.
With each new season, the devs aim to evolve the storytelling and deepen the connections between Descendants—a hallmark that’s been well-received by fans thus far.
What’s Next for The First Descendant?
Beomjun Lee closed out the GDC session by emphasizing the team’s commitment to ongoing improvements, from polishing gameplay loops to expanding narrative depth. Thanks to player feedback and steady content updates, The First Descendant is on track to deliver a “pivotal moment” for both existing fans and those eager to jump back in.
Stay tuned for more details on Season 3: “The Breakthrough,” and get ready to see how NEXON continues to reshape the game’s fate in the months ahead. If the latest metrics are any indicator, the community can expect even bigger—and bolder—leaps in the future.
