The First Descendant release date, trailers, gameplay, and features

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The First Descendant will be released on July 2, 2024. The game arrives on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Nexon Games revealed the release date of its new shooter looter at Summer Game Fest this year. The First Descendant tasks you with protecting the continent Ingris from invaders known as Vulgus. The game wowed us with its sci-fi world and characters right from minute one. With stunning Unreal Engine 5 visuals and unique abilities from a team that includes former Battlefield devs, here’s what you need to know about The First Descendant.

When is The First Descendant release date?

The First Descendant releases on July 2, 2024. It will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. A Nintendo Switch port has not been announced. The game has come a long way from its closed playtests, with a variety of UI and action systems being reworked based on player feedback. You can check these changes out in detail via their dev notes.

Players got to try the game’s combat via a beta which ended on May 26. According to a blog post from the developers, it was focused on “[identifying] and [resolving] any remaining technical issues related to CPU and GPU for a better gameplay experience.” The developers had an open beta last year as well, which took place between September 19-25, 2023. In another post, producer Lee Beom-jun noted that the “development team is thoroughly examining every opinion the community is sending.”

A player shoots enemies with a gun in The First Descendant. — Use powerful weapons and suit powers. Image via Nexon Games.

All The First Descendant trailers

In addition to the new Summer Game Fest trailer, the developers have dropped multiple character trailers. These revealed Bunny’s electric powers and Sharen’s sneaky assassin abilities. The First Descendant’s reveal trailer at The Game Awards 2023 showed off a battle between a player and a massive Colossus.

The First Descendant gameplay explained

The game’s Summer Game Fest trailer showed off the third-person shooter’s core gameplay loop of defeating enemies to earn better gear in scenario missions. There’s a clear emphasis on movement here, from Bunny’s manic sprints to grappling hooks. Missions can be cleared in 4-player co-op or solo, letting you work through battles the way you want. Ultimate weapons will grant you improved stats, much like Destiny 2’s exotics. The First Descendant borrows liberally from established looter shooters like Destiny 2 and promises plenty of endgame content.

Players can work towards unlocking all the characters (known as Descendants) to get access to unique playstyles and abilities. As for the co-op missions, you’ll be able to replay them with difficulty modifiers to keep things interesting. Teamwork is a clear focus here, with gunplay built around taking advantage of the various unique characters you unlock. Loadout building is back on the menu, with characters being able to hold three guns, four secondary accessories, and sub-weapons.

A player enters an icy region in The First Descendant. — Missions are set in a variety of gorgeous environments. Image via Nexon Games.

The First Descendant game modes

While some modes are still under wraps, publisher Nexon Games has already shown off their objective-based Infiltration Missions and combat-oriented Special Operations. I’m particularly stoked for the latter, considering that its waves of increasingly difficult foes are not unlike Halo’s Firefight mode. You can bring your friends along as well, letting you grind for gear together.

Reclamation Operations is another activity aimed at endgame players, with solo options and adjustable difficulty settings. These are accessible in the Albion hub region. Once again, I couldn’t help but be reminded of Halo’s skull system that gave players more flexibility in terms of the challenge they wanted to face. Massive raid bosses will show up in Void Intercept battles, letting you work with allies to earn exclusive loot. And yes, there’s a battle pass with loads of cosmetics for players to work through. Since it’s a free-to-play game, expect it to have its fair share of microtransactions.

The First Descendant system requirements

Fortunately, the looter shooter has a low barrier to entry, requiring only a GTX 1050 Ti or an RX 570 to play. Its recommended settings bump these up but most gaming machines will be able to run the game at solid frame rates. The game is releasing for last-gen consoles too, meaning that the devs have done their best to optimise its visuals for a wide range of machines. Here are its minimum system requirements:

OS: Windows 10 64-bit or later
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 1050 Ti | AMD Radeon RX 570
CPU: Intel Core i5 3570 | AMD FX 8350
RAM: 8 GB RAM
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 30 GB

And here are The First Descendant’s recommended system requirements:

OS: Windows 10 64-bit or later
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 2060 | AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
CPU: Intel Core i7 7700K | AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
RAM: 16 GB RAM
Network: Broadband Internet connection
Storage: 30 GB

About the Author

Antony Terence is a Guides Writer for VideoGamer. While he is particularly fond of city-builders, shooters, and strategy titles, he won’t turn down a good JRPG or a turn-based roguelike.