Summary
A new free-to-play co-op game,The First Descendant, surpassed 170,000 concurrent players on Steam within two hours of its launch.The First Descendantrolled out globally on the platform on July 2 after multiple rounds of beta tests conducted over the past few years.
The Korean-made game is the latest addition to the online looter-shooter genre, featuring RPG elements and co-op support for up to four players. Players must face off against an alien threat to save humanity, and the sci-fi title puts a focus on co-op gaming, requiring players to work together to vanquish various enemies and bosses.The First Descendantconcluded its final betain May, and the game is now officially available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
According to data found onSteamDB,The First Descendantamassed 170,242 concurrent players just two hours after going live at 12 AM PDT earlier today. Its instant popularity with players has only increased, with thethird-person shootercrossing the 200K mark within five hours of release. At the time of writing, the Nexon title has 221,177 Steam users playing the game with an all-time peak of 229,257 concurrent players. Moreover,The First Descendantalso currently sits sixth among the most-played games on Steam.
The First Descendant Gets Impressive Response On Steam But There’s A Catch
While leagues of players have tried the free title,The First Descendantisn’t getting entirely favorable reviews. On its Steam page, the co-op game currently has a “Mixed” rating based on 5,349 user reviews. Out of these, only 2,269 reviews are marked as positive, with some players liking the game overall despite facing some technical issues.
On the flip side, negative reviewers criticized the game for being too similar topopular online looter shooterslikeDestinyandWarframe, as well as for its perceived “pay-to-win” elements. A few user reviews suggested that, whileThe First Descendant’s gameplay doesn’t seem to be an issue, its story may need some more work.
As soon as the game launched, some players revealed that they had not received their in-game purchases despite completing their payment. Developer Nexon has acted quickly to remedy the issue, while alsoissuing compensation forThe First Descendantplayersas an apology. Given the prompt way in which the devs are responding to player feedback, many players are eager to see howThe First Descendantperforms over the next few weeks and if the game can sustain or grow its initial popularity.
The First Descendant
WHERE TO PLAY
The First Descendant is a next-generation third-person co-op action RPG looter shooter featuring high-quality graphics created in Unreal Engine 5.Players become a Descendant whose mission is to combat alien invaders – The Vulgus who crossed dimensions over 100 years ago and brought with them the devastating Colossi and destruction – for the survival of humanity and to protect Albion and the continent of Ingris. Players will encounter spectacular stories of forces fighting over the Iron Heart as they grow stronger through various missions and raids.Encounter features that make The First Descendant’s gameplay unique: a variety of characters with unique concepts and combat styles, massive boss battles with up to four player co-op, free movement and coordinated action with grappling hooks, a variety of weapons and compelling customization options.
