🎮 NEXON Shares The First Descendant’s Comeback Story and Season 3 Vision at GDC 2025
NEXON took the stage at GDC 2025 to reflect on the evolution of its free-to-play looter shooter, The First Descendant—a game that launched with a rocky start but is now on the rise. Executive Producer Beomjun Lee delivered a powerful session titled “Persevering Through a 57 Metacritic as a Live Service Game,” detailing the lessons learned, the game’s growth through Season 2, and an exciting preview of the Season 3: The Breakthrough update, arriving this summer.
🚀 From Criticism to Comeback: A Live Service Success Story
Originally released in July 2024, The First Descendant struggled out of the gate, receiving a 57 Metacritic score. But instead of folding, the dev team doubled down—listening to community feedback, refining their systems, and evolving their roadmap for the long-term health of the game.
“It was a privilege to present The First Descendant at GDC 2025,” said Beomjun Lee. “This session allowed me to highlight the hard-earned lessons from live service development, the importance of community engagement, and offer a glimpse into the ambitious changes coming with Season 3.”
🔥 What's Coming in Season 3: The Breakthrough
Launching in Summer 2025, Season 3: The Breakthrough promises a massive overhaul and expansion of the game’s world and mechanics. Here’s what players can expect:
🧭 Bigger Battlefields – Explore expansive open zones with dynamic environmental challenges.
🚙 New Traversal Vehicles – Fast-travel across fields using futuristic vehicles.
⚔️ Colossus Battles – Massive, cinematic boss encounters in large open arenas.
🏛️ New Player Hub – A brand-new social lounge space for meeting, strategizing, and gearing up.
📈 The First Descendant’s Metrics Are Climbing
Thanks to the momentum from Season 2: Episode 2 – Beyond the Void, The First Descendant is seeing a strong upward trend in performance:
🔼 18% increase in new players
🔼 25% growth in daily active users
💥 Peak of 23,000 concurrent players on Steam
💰 #17 globally in Steam revenue rankings
These numbers are a clear sign that the game’s live service pivot is paying off.
🧬 What’s Driving Player Engagement?
A combination of new content, accessible systems, and immersive storytelling is helping The First Descendant attract both new and returning players:
✨ Storytelling & Characters
Players praised the deeper character development and worldbuilding.
Serena (new Descendant) and Gley (central to Season 2’s narrative) are fan favorites.
🧠 Systems & Strategy
The new Sigma Sector field is fueling exploration and discussion.
The Arche Tuning System adds new layers to player progression.
🎯 Retention-Focused Events
Streamlined onboarding events helped convert new players into long-term fans.
The team’s effort to simplify growth paths paid off with increased user retention.
🔍 About The First Descendant
Originally launched in July 2024, The First Descendant is a next-gen, third-person co-op looter shooter RPG built in Unreal Engine 5. Players take on the role of Descendants—elite fighters defending Earth from alien invaders.
The game blends strategic 4-player boss raids, cinematic storytelling, and deep progression systems to create a unique live service experience. With each update, NEXON continues to refine its systems, proving that with the right feedback loop, a struggling game can bounce back stronger than ever.
📲 Want to stay updated?
Follow The First Descendant on social platforms and wishlist it on Steam.
💬 Are you jumping in for Season 3? Let us know your thoughts @OnThaSticks or in the comments below.
